Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-01


n no common feeling with the great whig party .
this Union. The defeat Of the Wings, II such !
could be called. in the fall elections, was easily &C
eoun ed Tor. There WAS lorpor an indifference
in the Wing ranks, and FOR the best reason-they
. had common object. IL had been the Bank
question which enabled the party TO triumph, in III,
West particularly. Reform of the currency by
uni,ed States Bank had been the theme OF Whie
defamation on every STUMP. The West had nc
dockynrds, sea.walls arsenals, dry docks or any
other Of those fertile sources Of Federal cxpendi
turc which were enjoyed IN other parts Of the coun.
, try. All it asked or hoped from the Federal Gov
eminent was n good circulating medium But when
the new President plucked away what had been
the chief object of hope, and the Wings were mos,
'mpudcnty told thatit had never been made ques-
ton IN the Cabinet, was il wonderful that they
were at u stand, like an army whose General had
deserted them and gone over to the cncmyl
Ana what were they to have in place of that eff
Gent national bank which had been the object OF
their eSpec,ations7 He told that the "patriots''
IN So'h Houses would pass the bill for the iiscali,y
me miserable halfway. go-wetween thing, half
cd from the White House. Yes, this would be Ia &.
Ken by the patriots in Congress-! In these days il
was the very easiest of all things in this world to be
u patriot" man had nothing to do but to go
over the lines into Canada, to barn barn. and then
| burn dwelling house full of women and children,
| then TO massacre some dozen a half dozen poo
pie. and cross back into the United States, aud at
once his name would be found inscribed the ro |
y,
shorter, was TO get up in this House, openly re-
| nounce the political principles u had avowcd
| and defended for ycaIs-ay, through his whole pub
| nc Ihc-to iorsnko and dcnouncc his long tried
riencs and associates, and break oil his promises
| a conhdins constituency, and Straight he would be-
come patriot of the very first water; he would 5c
received ard honored by the occupant ofthe White
House as one who had done good service, and, per-
adventure, besides all that there prospect that
inc gentemnn's valuable services would not be lost
To his country, but that he might be called to some
nigh post which CHARGED to have good fat salary
attached to il, where he might aid a patriotic
Chei Magistrate by his patriotic counsel and CO
operation IN carrying out his pure patriotic designs
to be completed, possibly, within a second term
Some gentlemen, since the unexpected change in
party prospects, had suddenly manifested a very
peculiar iondness tor office; and with that fondness
had developed remarkable facility in seeing new
truths and adopting new principles: while some of
them, thus suddenly enlightened, having untor;u
nateiy failed IN obtaining Offices, had us suddenly
become obiuscated in their understanding
as 1t were, IN all their brightness and had cruelty
turned about and denounced our patriotic Presi-
deLt.
Now It would have been the easiest thing in the
world for MIR w. To make speech for this fiscal
~, declare 1t to be we'll known to every body that
he never had been the advocate Of Bank of the
United States, that the President and his counsel |
ors had struck out n happy device TO give the
country sound currency and low exchanges, and
that as patriot he could never consent TO his
Country suSt Tor three years longer the evils OF her
present condition, and therefore he held it his duty
10 his constituents, and to all and sundry whom II
might concern, to give the measure his cordial
anu Jealous support. This was speech W it'll which, |
should he make II, none could ind fault aud in fact
his claim 10 be patriot would thenceiorth be set
tied thing. True. the wig party had achieved a |
great victory, and they csnc up to this place painting
with patriotism, land very possibly with a love OF
office, tool Ia augh1 when, on sudden their lead
er had shot off at rslt angles from the track which
had led them 10 Strength and triumph. From that
moment plain mad was opened for individual am
bton to honor and 10 office, to profit and to pow er
although he VINO pursued II must disgrace himself
before the world; though he must fasIiy his prln-
| ciples an be:rly his constituents; though he
knew ard they declared that he misre presented
hers ,c could still hold on TO his place and his pay
and e'uId declare that, though the President had
SON; peculiar notions about banks and currency
| hi, intentions were oil right, and it was a duty to
s!stain him. TINS was sure and safe ROAD
glorious and a profitable speculation. Let those
pursue II who would. a manly, upright, homes,
mana man who preferred principle 10 place |
would choose n very different course. A ptoof Of
this had been set before the world by some of the
late Cabinet. Would to God il had been by all
One still remained in place there, for whom MIR W.
had ever cherished profound respect and regard;
but II seemed that something had interviewed and
beclouded his powerful understanding. Mr. W.
trusted IN God the motives which had actua,ed his
conduct had been pure; that they had been mo-
tives indeed patriotic; bu: he confessed his own pre.
As TO this new fiscal affair, MIR w. said nc had
looked into 1t us well as he could, and 10 him il
seemed that that portion of the Presidential Message
which referred to 1t might very well have been d.
vIded into two separate Reconnaissance directed TO
the Wings Of the two Houses and the other to the
Democrats. The scheme neither more nor less
than General Jackson's old SCENE for Treasury
bank-a scheme SO ably exposed by distinguished
gentleman from South Carolina, and which not n |
SOLITARY editor throughout the country nor one sim
gle member OF Congress in either branch, had had |
unblushlng eiirontery enough to advocate The |
Secretary OF Stale himself, at that time openly on
posed IT, though now, II seemed, he was strong in It's
iavor Had The retiring Cabinet recommended 10 |
the President such measure as this, they might |
well have been denounced for gross and omen
inconsistency MIR w. here adverted to the history
OF the session OF 1887, when United States Bank
had so decidedly majority in its favor and to the
sudden and marvellous change when / IA democra. |
tic members had afterwards voted for Mr. Van Bu- |
ren's sub-Tfeasury scheme The fact at that day. |
was charged as evidence of the power of Executive
influence IN Congress; and violent was the revo.
luton of principle demanded by party Discipline
that portion Of the patty revolted, burst tho oLA
from their necks, and resisted So sacri-
flee of conscience and 81 honor. like sacrifice |
was now demarded from Mr. W.; he was invited TO
violate the tie, TO break the link of honor and OF |
confidence 10y which he was bound TO his constitu. |
ents. lie could not do 1t. lie trusted in God he |
never should be guilty OF an act so base AID he |
concluded by say that he had lOnged for an oppor-
tunity Of saying, in the face of Heaven before his |
constituents, his State, and his country that what.
ever others chose to do, he should stand by his |
principles.