The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-18
WITHHOLDING SUPPLIES.

1t is currently rumOred, and, 10 some extern,
believed, that the Federal party, in this Rump
Congress-" have, in one of their midnight eau
cuses, seriously and deliberately entertained
the proposition that they will pass no Revenue
bin or make any further appropriations to the
support of the Government as dernier resort
to coerce the Executive into the embrace Of
their odous and unconstitutional measures.
If we mistake not, the People of these States
will not be trihed with in this manner but will,
if such daring infraction of the duty of Con-
gress should be attempted, Indignantly hurl the
conspirators from the seats they disgrace.
What withhold supplies to make the Pres-
dent--the Peoples choice-violate the Constitu-
ton he has sworn to support! Vain imagining !
empty idle, superauous hope John Tyler
fears no appeal to the People affecting the dis
charge of his public Duties nor will he, by any
threats of this sort, be driven from his proprie-
ty-HE WILL DO HIS DUTY, COME WHAT MAY.
But the Federal Clay wings in this, as in all
other matters, since they commenced Touring
forth their torrents of defamation and vile SLAM
der on the President are cutting their oaon
throats and fast sinking into that oblipion
whence comes no resurrection in this life or
the next. For whose benefit are the supplies
threatened to be withheld by these Jacobinical
dsorganizers? For the People and their Go
vernment, and not for John Tyler? He (the Presi-
dent) is less interested in this scheme of dia-
bolical treason than Congress ITSELF or, IN fact,
any other departmental the Government
This Government is the Peoples (and not a
King's) and the President and Congress are but
the representatives Of their sovereignty. Ifsnp-
plies, then, be withheld Gas in England upon
the ground that it is punishment to the King)
tits the People who are sought to be starred in
to Federalism and not John Tyler, who repre-
sents them.
There is no sort of analogy between with
holding supplies in England and in this country.
There the King has the power Of declaring war
and making peace, of making treaties, &c.
The power of SUPPLIES, originally, was intend
ed, and so used, by the Commons, to prevent
war or disgraceful peace. 1t never was used
by the Commons to arrest the ordinary admin
islration of the Government, nor would such a
use Of it by the People, euen Of that monarchy,
have been tolerated for one moment. II would
have been treason there, as it ought to be here,
should the Federal majority dare leave their
seats without first having provided the ways
and means, and made all needful appro-
priations to give credit and efficiency to the adj
ministratve departments of the Government.
But they aoiH not do it-they dare not do 1t
Such sweep of Indignation as would follow
the preparation of this outrage on the public
trusts cannot well be conceived, much less ex-
pressed.
We might even venture to predict that it
would bring i'll its train an utter destruction to
all the cherished hopes Of The friends of a mod
crate Tariff for incidental protection. The
hopes of the High Tariff party, beyond all
doubt, would be utterly blasted, for none such
would, ever again, be able to find their way to
Congress, in numbers sufficient to attract any
attention whatever The enemies of the Tariff
system might we'll desire to see the madness of
the Federal Wings consummated in the COM
mission of the act they dare hold as rod over
the Presidents for then the Compromise, being
the last alternative measure, would continue in
operation, raising, as many suppose it will, suf-
icient revenue for the Government until an
other Congress of friends to the People could
be placed in the seats Of those who now dis
grace them, and seem determined to continue
doing So We are well assured, by many
friends Of Free Trade, could the Compromise
act be so modified as to impose an uniform duty
of 20 per cent on all importations, as many in
Congress and the country desire TO see done
without any regard to discrimination, the rev.
of dollars. We are not friendly, as at present
advised, to this idea of admitting importatlons