The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-15


rican System, Sub Treasury law, or Ma
tional Bank--can permanently succeed, unless
it has, before its adoption, the decided support
Of the wishes and intelligence of the People
The qualifications of statesman, therefore,
under free government, are very different from
those of an able Grand Vizier in Turkey, or a
Prime Minister under a Monarchical Govern
ment and his task is much more arduous one.
He must be able, not only 10 devise good laws, and
effect their adoption by the National Legislature,
but to do it in such way as not to exasperate
opposition: law must not merely have the
sanction of perhaps an accidental or adrotly
obtained majority, but be made as palatable as
possible to the minority-and for this, spirit OF
sincere moderation and patriotism is necessary.
Our Government itself is the result of spi-
rit of compromise, and the great questions OF
public poliy by which its stability have since
been tested, were finally settled by compromise.
1t is to lie lamented that the distinguished Sen
ator from Kentucky, whose agency in some of
these compromises has earned for him such well
merited applause, could not, during all his
course, have displayed the same conciliatory
temper which he was always ready to manifest
when the calls of patriotism became urgent and
the danger of the state imminent. But seeing
or what is the same to him, believing that he
sees-hs own course clearly, no public man has
less tolerance for the doubts or scruples OF
others; and his conviction of the magnitude Of
the benefit to be derived from his plans of pub
lie good, induces him to overlook all interview
ing obstacles and hurry on, by the shortest road,
to the consummation of his projects, leaving
their wisdom to be made manifest to the People
entertains no doubt, rather than by abstract rea-
soning which he despises, and regards as the
imbecility Of theorst. He would carry into
the administration of free government the
spirit of a Richelieu, Cardinal Ximenes, or
Chatham-a spirit which regards the mass OF
the People as incapable of understanding their
true interests, and as requiring at most to be
humored and hattered, and not reasoned with
Thus, by the aid Of his individual talents and
commanding influence, the American System
was forced upon the country, at least prema-
turely, and before the People could clearly I'M
derstand the mode in which it was to benefit
them. Restrictions of any kind are, from
their very nature, adverse to the spirit
of free Government-and the expediency
Of an exercise on the part of our Fee
deral Government of the tremendous power
of controlling and directing the whole industry Of
the country, deserved at least to be most ma
turely and cautiously considered. The most
profound writer's on political economy differed
as to the question of free trade; the weight Of
theoretical authorltyIwas indeed rather against
restrictive system. Yet the policy was urged
upon the country as if all doubts were frivolous
or Notwithstanding were disregarded or
laughed at-until the country suddenly found it.
self on the brink of civil war. Then, and not
till then, the better temper and better genius OF
Mr.. Clay prevailed and spirit of moderation
and compromise was displayed which would
have been more beneficial, as well as more grace
full, in the outset of his project.
But even this compromise came too late, and
part, at least, Of the present embarrassments of
the country may be traced to the premature and
l-digested adoption of the restrictive system
If the People had been fully prepared for that
system-if they had clearly dscerned its bene-
its-and its opponents had been convinced that
their efforts to overthrow it would have been
regarded by the People as little betterithan fac
tious-more concert and union would have been
displayed in providing for the changes to be ef-
fected by such policy upon the general cond-
ton and finances of the nation. One of Its re-
suits was to produce an OVERLOOKING Treasury,
for which, after the payment of the public debt,
no safe vent could be agreed upon, for the sys-
tenn of Internal improvement was as much
vexed question as the Restrictive system. The
surplus in the Treasury led to extravaganza, waste
and corruption in every branch Of Government
and its deposile in the local banks gave the
first impulse to that spirit of speculation which
afterwards ran wild throughout the land
1t may be said that Mr.. Clay's system, taking
it in all its parts-Domestic Manufactures, Inter-
nal Improvement, National Bank, Land Bill
&c.-would have worked well as whole. But
to expect the decided, settled, and speedy as
sent of the People, in free country, to such a
stupendous system, each feature in which had
its separate, Jealous friends and opponents,
showed but little practical knowledge Of human
nature, or of the capacities Of our republican,
federative form Of government.
The compromise which was the result of this
high toned and ultra policy, is now itself an OBJ
stacle in the way of restoration of public pros
perity. Now, that high duties are rendered alb
solutely necessary by the wants of the Govern
ment, and would be cheerfully ganted, the bug
bear of the American system haunts the imagi-
nation of its foes, and the compromise is held
up as a shied-as national compact of almost
equal authority with provision of the Consttu-
tion--and its terms liable to as profound discus