The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-07


| understand, by himself
Mr., PROFIT then read he following extract from
Mr.. FIllnore's remarks:
" Mr. +. could not conceive what the object of
the attacks which OF late had almost daily proceeded
from those said be the peculiar friends of the Presi-
dent So frequent had they been In that quarter that
he almost induced to believe that there was a
deadly game playing on that floor To Kill one OF The
political parties here. If not, why this continual OPP
pos ZION from those gentlemen TO all measures brought
forward for the public servicel Why did the party
press throughout the country under he control OF the
Administration pour out the vals OF wrath upon the
maj ry of this House for neg lect and delay OF the
public business, without the least notice of the obsta
Giles and interruptions continually thrown IN by the
Presidents peculiar friends here, who did TO
ad and distract the of the public business than
both the other parties put together 1t was high time
that gentlemen OF both parties in the House should
look to this that they should take warning from The
course of these peculiar friends of the Adminslra-
ton"
Mr.. PRoFFIT continued There, sir, is specimen
of the concentrated venom with which the chairman
of the Committee of WAYS and Means assals the
friends of the Administration 1t is not only charge
against those whom the gentleman is pleased to call
the peculiar friends the President but attack
on the President himself; an intmaton that, through
his friends in this House he interrupts and illustrates
the action of Congress Sir, deny that any one OF
the friends of the Administration has, at any time or
in any manner delay ed the progress of business by
facous opposition. call sir, upon the gentleman to
| make good the charge thus wantonly made
| He says too that he believes we g are playing
deadly game this floor kill of the political
parties" Sir envy not the feelings oil the man who
could conceive a thought SO exec-able; and most sin
cerely do WISH for the honor of this House, that the
chairman of one of its most important committees,
who could harbor suspicion weakly wicked could
least have the prudence TO keep 1t ranking In It's ht
depository, his own heart.
1 scorn to defend yself or friends from an imput a
ton palpaby absurd. Ii it possible for US so
far to fol get what is due characters and to
the honor of the country to engage in such designs
| it required action from U.S. The gentleman and
his friends destroying themselves fast enough TO
CRAFTY even their most deadly enemies They seem
To have been Intenty bent on committing political
| suicide from the moment they obtained power; and
now in their dellriu.n they madly aud ravlngly
rail those who would stay the upied blow, OF dash
the poison from their lips.
Call upon the gentleman to make good his asser
ton that party press throughout the country under
the rot of the Adninisti auon. deny 1t; and
particularly do deny that any part of the press
the inslgaton of the Administrator ITS friends
msIepesenting the course Of the majority on this
floor, improperly accusing of delaying the pubic
business. The gentleman ana ms friends are IN
large ority how comes 1t that little or nothing has
been done2 They have the presiding officer OF this
House; the control of every important committee
officers of their own selection printer OF their own
choice they hold undisputed command OF the egsla-
tive power They, at the extra session, could pass
| bank bill in two three hours without amendment
dcbae bill, Sill, appropratlng millions OF the
public money and grant ng exclusive privileges tor
twenty years. Political objects were then to be &C
complIshed and hey could act with lightning speed
no1o when the country demands action, they or
will do nothing
They then could pass a BILL imposing taxes
the amount of millions, without the alteration OF
word and scarcely with even decent consideration
Now, sir, they are powerless for good, and indus
trously active only petty schemes and party olcy
They could then hurriedly pass bankrupt bill, bill
for the distribution of the proceeds of The public lands
forfca,ion and navy bills, &c. The same members |
compose this body the friends of the Administra ion
stood then upon the some ground they now occupy
and yet the gentleman says that we obslruc the public
business.
The truth is, that he and some of his hiends are
determined that nothing shall be done. They want
excitement; it is the element in which they live, and
he only one IN which they can exist; anu the only
difficulty with them is, how they may best conceal
their policy.
! The gentleman feels the force of these truths.
The thunder-tones Of the People, echong from all
quarters of the Union have at last startled him and
his friends from their fancied security and, In the
extremity of despair he exclams that the peculiar
friends Of the President retard the public business
more than both the other parties put together" Sir
to what weak and shallow devices will some men re-
sort and low indeed must be their estimate OF the
intelligence of the People for them to hazard such
declaration Why, sir, it is but few hours since
| that the friends Of the Administration were deri-
sively named as &c corporal's guard" think the
gentleman himself sneerlngly called us half dozen
| mpractcabes. And now, sir, he attributes to six
members the power TO thwart t,oo hundred and thirty
sir all anxiously bent speedy despatch of bus-
ness What very influential and powerful men must
compose that guard'' Why, sir, if it TO
combine with the entire Opposition it would still be
in lem minority, and yet the gentleman ventures
declarations such as have just read
But the gentleman, not content with these unjust-
fable assertions and nuendoes, says that the Com
mittee of Ways and Means though reluctantly
quescing the views of the Secretary, have thought
it proper to guard against sale OF the bonds with
out notice. so that the administration might not haze
the opportunity Of selecting its taro'ites, and hroc
ing the scales into their hands" Sir the respect
due to this body prevents me from using the lam
guage of rebuke justly due the gentleman for this
nsnuation. The Secretary OF the Treasury did not
/ express wish to sell the bonds acithom notice. He
is high-minded, honest man. And by what right
does the gentleman intimate that the Administration
would if it could, throw these bonds into the hands
of its peculiar favores" add thus play into their
opn hands" And this language is used by the gen.
| tleman as Chairman of the Committee of Ways and
| Means. BY his course and by the temper he has
manifested, the country must judge why it is that
the public business is delayed, or rather entirely
rested. And any man Of spirit, either in this
House in the country expect that the friends of
the Administration will submit to hear such language
coming from such source? Can any one attach
blame to US for replying to it? Is it not rather an
imperative duty to refute such charges, and expose
the authors of our present troubles, even in their
naked deformity'
Sir, this task shall be mine but before proceed
to review the conduct of the gentleman at this and
the extra session. and give to the country the real
thors of the mischievous policy pursued, will read
one more extract from the gentemans remarks for,
as he has commenced the attack, am determined to
put him on trial before the People
Mr.. PROFIT then read the following from Mr.. Fill
more's remarks
"We had tried one loan bill; and had listened to
| voice which counseed the House to consult public
opinion and reduce the term it had to to three
years and to raise the interest from five to six per
! cent and what the consequence The meas