The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-19

been called for More than four months have
now elapsed since the reports of the Secretaries
above named were handed in, and thanks TO the
same spirit that had been manifested on the cur
rency question, nothing definitive has yet been
done by Congress. 1t must not be supposed
that we confound all of the Wing members OF
the National Legislature in the same censure'
as we are perfectly aware of the fact that large
portion of that party have been anxiously desl-
rous to carry out these truly Wing measures bat
when we see the late Senator from Kentucky ca
Wiling at the amount of the estimates, and behold
him and his peculiar adherents wasting time
with matters of minor importance and dis
cussing abstract truisms, we must attribute to
them, and them alone, the delay that has oc-
cured OF the friends of the late admins
tration in Congress, taking them as a party,
it is needless to say anything more than that
whilst they make merry at the folly OF the
Wings, they adhere to the principles practlsed
by them whilst in power; principles which have
ruined the country, and have called forth a
burst of popular Indignation, unprecedented In
our annals as a nation. Thus 1t will be seen
that the Executive administration has, so far as
was in its power. carried out Wing principles
in regard to the national defences.
In turning our attention to the third object TO
which we proposed to direct our remarks, to
wit, the recognition of the right on the part OF
the States to an equabe distribution of the pro-
ceeds of sales of the public domain, 1t will be
well to advert TO the circumstances under which
such distribution was 10 take place. When the
bill was passed by Congress, it was supposed
that after cancelling all outstanding indebted
ness, and paying the current expenses OF the
Government, there would be surplus in the
Treasury. Under those circumstances the bill
received the ready sanction of the Executive
Department, and it was not until an entire
change in prospects had taken place, involving
probabilities of war and dishonor of national
credit, that the President and his advisers pro-
posed to suspend the operation of the contem-
plated measure. Of the propriety of such
suspension, under the novel state of affairs which
has come up, there can be as little doubt, as OF
the justice and propriety ofthe measure. regard
being had solely to the condition of things un-
der which it was adopted
In concluding this article it is only necessary
to say further that the fourth principle for which
the Wings so manfully contended, the adoption
of general bankrupt system, whereby honest
debtors should be released from old OBJ igations,
and the subsequent earnings of their industry
be secured to themselves and their families, re-
ceived the prompt approval of the Executive,
and has happily gone into beneficial operation.
Now, we will ask all dispassionate, thinking
Wings, men who are not bound hand and foot
to the car Of any one man, and who look to
measures without reference to individuals in
the formation of heir political opinions, whether
the present Administration has not in every
thing acted up to the principles which brought
the great Harrison, or, if the term be more
agreeable, Wing party into power We
look to measures and not men, and defy the
most bitter opponent of Mr.. Tyler to lay his
finger on single point, not overlooking that Of
condemsnimg prescription for opinions sake,
in which he has not fully and entirely fulfilled
all the pledges involved in his connection with
the party. At the same time we call upon can
did men to say, whether the disasters under
which the Wings have suffered and continue to
suffer, be not owing to the course pursued by
the authors of the Manifesto, who so unscrupu-
" proclaimed war, interminable war, against
Mr.. Tyler and his measures, merely because in
the conscientious exercise of his prerogative, he
thought proper to differ from them in regard to
the particular manner in which one of the prin-
ciples of the Wing party was to be carried out.