The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-07-09
SPEECH OF MR.. WATTERSON,
ON THE VETO MESSAGE.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, July 3, 1912.


ON THE VETO MESSAGE.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES, JULY Z, lo42.
Mr. WATTERSON remarked that it was but
seldom he attempted to speak in the House, especially
Jnr;ng the present session. He had intended to
have SPOKEN now would he have done so, but for
The yery extraordinary speech Of his honorable col
league (Mr. Caruthers, )-extraordnary, not only
for lis bitter denunciation of the President traitor
but for its unprovoked attack on the Democratic par
~ Sir, (said Mr.. Waltersony it is no business of
mine here to become the champion of the President;
there are others here able TO vindicate him. Ne
is President of my choice. he was elected by
those who now abuse and denounce him. But, sir,
should be false truth and LonoI If were not to
say that, on this occasion, award to the President
my warmest appreciation for this Vsto-not only for
tins one but for the two Vetoes of the called session
On all three of these OCCASIONS the President has
bly, stepped forward, and indicated the Constitution
and sustained the Just expectations of his best
friends. Sir, | repeat that | applaud he President
for his course these memorable occasions On
others, have differed with him, widely differed, and
expect still be compelled to differ from him
ny more. But hope the time will never come when
could consent JOIN in ndiscrminate and uni ust
war upon the character and public services of any
President, only because had aided in his cleo
ton. Sir this charge of treason and deserton
against the President, has not the merit of
city TO sustain it. 1t sung from one end of the
w mig party 10 the otner-tnTOugu anu all
over this country-during the called session OF Con-
gress. On the breaking up of that body, the cee-
brated Manifesto sent out in every direction and
all the flaming orators OF the party proclaimed 1t
wherever they went. But, sir, mark the result-not
the destruction of John Tyler, but in the utter
overthrow and destruction of his accusers. But |
must return to my honorable colleague, General Ca
rulhers, who, taking no warning from the past now
repeats this bold and reckless charge against the Pre-
sident, and directly charges coalition and bargain
l,,txta he, M Il
league is the last here who should have charged
John Tyler to be traitor In 1886, he voted for him
to be Vice President Of the United States. He did
the thing in l84O For four long years he held
him up to the country great and good man, wor-
thy fill the second office of the greatest Republic in
the world In 1885, he voted for John Tyler through
his party electors, on the ticket of Judge White
He must therefore have voted for him he did for
Judge White-as Anti-Bank, Anti-lnternal In
provement Ant-Distribution, and Anti Tariff man.
Ii so, they were then together harmonlzng and
agreeing on all these great topics. But John Tyler
Is still An bank Anti Distribution, and Anti-Pro-
tective Tariff and for being so, my colleague joins IN
denouncing him traitor. Traitor to what :? 10
his old principles No; for he holds them now as
he did in 1886 when my colleague warmly sup
ported him the White ticket. One or the other,
them must have changed and my colleague admitted
frankly the other day that he had changed and seemed
proud of it. Sir, this admission shows at once the
true secret of all this denuncauon against John Ty
They were once good Jackson men, and opposed TO
all the leading of Mr. Clay-they were OPP
posed to National Bank, to distribution of the pro-
ceeds of the public lands, and to high Protective
Tariff, and as such they nominated Judge White and
john Tyler as President and Vice President of the
U United States In the course of time and by evil
socatons with those to whom they had always before
been opposed, they changed their oplnionsthey uni
ted themse YES to the Clay party-hke all new and
awkward converts, they shouted louder for a Bank,
n nv
of the old Federal professors, who were the fathers
of the church. But John Tyler when brought to
the test, under oath, and acting unGer all the
responsibilities of his station, could not did not and
would not chance sides with them. He stood by the
Constitution by his conscience, by his recorded opn
ions in the Legislature of his native State in the Sc
nate Of the United States, and qrould not desert
them. Sir, this is his only treason He would not
like them desert his ancient principles, and for this
he is now denounced by my colleague and his other
Wing associates. In confirmation of all this want
to show you what good Jackson and White and
Tyl man my colleague in 1886, and how violent
ly he was then opposed to those with whom he is now
politically associated. | refer you to a few extracts
from able speech made in the Legislature of Ten
nessee, TO which listened with the highest sasfac-
ton. Mr. Speaker if whilst read you shall conclude
that my colleagues speech Of 1885, rather better
than that of yesterday, you must remember that he
then speaking the right side and in better
cause-a cause that was natural to hm-the old cause
in which he raiscd-the Republican, the De-
mocraiIc, or the Jackson cause Now he is cramped,
eltered by associations which he abhorred and
espouslng doctrines which in that very speech he
eloquent in denouncng
!" The truth Isl the race is between White and Van
Buren, the candidate Of the People, and of the Balti-
more Convention. These gentlemen are both talent
ed, and have both fought in the republican ranks.
They have been good Jackson men. White to be
sure, has done him more service, fer he commenced
by many years, and has fought harder for he
always has been in the hottest of the action and the
old chief has never sounded his political waI-trump
but w bite in the field, and at his side he has
never called for vanguard, but White has stepped
f,rward
White has out on all the vetoes and mes sages
and every leading measure of Jackson's adminisra-
ton; and is therefore pledged print and under his
own hand upon them, and WILL as sure as he is an
honest statesman, carry them out, if he should
coed. Mr.. an Buren's situation has not been such
make it necessary that he should take sides upon
these agItatng questions and II seems to be admit
ted on all hands, that he of those politicians
who will not obtrude his sentiments upon the public
on questions which have two sides, but is modest ant
retiring in his policy there is Perhaps exception
in this course. would not do an injustice. On ont
occasion, In toast, if mistake not, he hid say un
compromising opposition 10 the U nted States Bank.
Since what little OF his sentiments is good, wha
pity it is canno, ge; more in toasts or some NOR
solid way. But WbIte has made lengthy argument
that subject, for which he has been Iauded to tb
skies by the very men who are now abusing him HI
has, since 1917, been standing upon the strong
ground, that the Bank of the United States, and al
the banks of that kind uncons utonal, wei
as inexpedient
IfJudge White cannot be elected, would much prefe
his election MrVan Buren's) TO that of any opposition
man, notwithstanding my objections to him for you
have seen, sir, from what have said that have ma
ny objections 10 him. when compared to White blu
still would much prefer him to any whose prin
clpes adverse to those which have characterize
and made glorious the present administration"
Mr.. Speaker this extract leaves no shadow of doub
about my colleagues position in 1885. He was
Jackson man. Now he is Clay man. lie was ;
White man, and a Van Buren, man, because they
were po'h good Repubicans-they &C. had fought il
the Republican ranks" All both so good that they
bad Gl,Iohk In the z pi,hl, =