The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-19

v.,o nowcr was in the Constitution aud that DO
came us as good citizens, TO submit - ~. exer1's.
I'M the Constitution should be changed ON say ~.
the veto was Of Roman aud not English or's'n' uu
made no laudatory remarks upon the subject.
with regard 10 my defence Of asoTals 4n Ask tins
audience 10 tell me IN what this assumption coss.I
for declare to you l know not what u 10 s"
lenge investigation upon this point ana sa' a.
say have heard bat ono thing reteHsu W -. ".as
connection-and that is that when te iresiacn' ID"
s, 49, 80 h;s r.rasoos for certain line Of policy
which he pursued said that perhaps the PRESIDENT
,night as veil desire, and had AZ good right TO
NAP. trown hin sentiments and to give his reasons,
as a member of Congress. That however, Is ul-
fling natter, and we viii say more about it.
Iremember, however, reading All article in Low
ELL paper, signed many whigs,' wherein the writer
expressed wish that he had il in his power to read
all my speeches. Well, gentlemen, l wish with all
nv heart that he had-provided his patience was
canal 10 the work for it would be pretty serious
tax assure you, inasmuch as | am ono of those
members of Congress who are compelled to speak
often But he expressed that socitude under the eX-
pectaton that he would discover some treason some
extraordinary crime-some terrible paradox or here
81 yelled within them. Gentlemen, they are all DC
fore the world, and aPprehend that no such idea
to be found in them. My primary my shocking no
ton was, rs he says and has generally Deen said
that the President was q coordinate branch OF the
legislative department. did not say So SAID that
ne was coordinate branch Of the Government
But suppose had said they say did, did not
saw so, but will tell you who did--and that was
Henry Clay Daughter and cheers) and say he ut
tered the truth. He said it, and James Madison said
IT, and Thomas Jefferson, and Joseph Story, and
Martin Van Buren,, and George Evans said it,-and
though have not said it, yet will and do say it
, or
Well what nexti Why, that voted for the tariff
before the veto and against afterwards out OF re-
gard for the President. Gentlemen this is not true
i is a mistake for in no one Of my votes did con-
slider the wishes of the President, but only how
might give satisfaction to my constituents There Is
ono instance, particularly brought forward against
me- and that is my vote in relation to the little tariff
bill-but gentlemen, il erred there, erred in ex-
celent Wing company, for ! voted with Mr., Adams
and others of the same politics wi h him. And, gen.
temen after this there is nothing left but the vague
complaint that have generally supported this admin
stration.
Gentlemen, on certain day in June last, certain
individuals in these United States fit to come out
with new candidate for the Presidency. II seemed
to them good to make that leap in the dark. Before
that time, they and l had acted together on many
questions, though many others did not. But
they then fit to make that leap, and did not
fit to follow them; and for that alone-because would
not run on to track in opposition to the admins
traon which they and had put in power-for that
am denounced as a traitor Well, gentlemen trail
tor is a hard word-a very hard word but it often
luckily happens to be the that the hardest words
are US for the softest idsasthat the most bitter
denuncialions bestowed where there is grounds
for them--and that what is wanted in fact IS made
up in invective What is the treachery charged
upon me- Is it to the Constitutions No, because
| have always adhered and still adhere to that and
will suffer myself to be led astray from ii point
of fact, SO nearly can understand what it is. Is
to my district Who is that says that have not
done my duty this district to the best of my hum
Bile ability 10 what is it then To nothing but an
assumed party standard; am traitor because re-
fuse to put the collar to sacrifice the interest OF
the country party. This is called treachery But
would remind you that my advice to Congress has
always been for peace, Cancellation and harmony
and il my advice had been followed, il members of
Congress- instead of casting about to make issue
with John Tyler, had postponed that issue-the wing
party would now have been united and powerful. |
knew and said that the premature discussion of the
succession to the Presidency would shatter the whg
party into fragments-as it has shattered it Gap
pausc) What, then, is the pivot on which turn all
these imputations, not only upon me, but upon the
administration?
Gentlemen, il, during the extra session, the
friends of MIR. Clay had chosen to be quiescent-to
act In concert with the adminstration-if they had
followed the advice given them to adhere the Go
vernment-it would have been in the power of the
party to make any individual they pleased the next
President. SO powerful were they in the triumph
ant victory they had just achieved that they could
have done almost anything they chose But there
was one reason to the contrary Ii the issue had not
then been determined upon against the Government
1t was feared that the administration would go so
prosperously, glorously and happily that John w.
Ter and Daniel Webster would become the most pop
uar men in the United States--that the difficult
ty. Well, why should they not' Had they not
perfect right to become popular? Why should not
that consequence be permitted to follow the acts Of
John Tyler was virtually pledged not to be cand-
date for reelection. Well, suppose he pedg-
ed have once stated, and repeat it now for it is
the fact of facts in this matcr-that John Tyler So
hcltous that no mputation of interest should attach
to him, that the Bank question should not be wrecked
through his means, proposed to the Harrison Wing
Cabinet to come out at once declining re-nomina-
ton, and that they advised him against any such pro-
ceedihg that they recommended him not to decline
TO this there is, and be, no answer so far as |
know, is conclusive as to his purposes
Gentlemen, came here, thinking TO find as was
warned, an angry and inhamed body of men, filled
with iostility towards the administration. | have
thus gone over the material facts touching the adj
minstration but cannot forbear from contradcting
now, most emphatically, the imputations sought to
be cast upon the character, intelligence and intellect
of the President And had not things CHANGED ex-
acty as they have, gentlemen, not one would have
dreamed Of the obloquy which we daily see thrown
upon mantle son of patriot of the Revolution
and himself chosen to several Offices of honor by
his native State-Rrpresentative and Senator in
Congress, Governor, and finally, by the votes of the
whole people, Vice President of the Republic 1t is
dishonorable to the character of the country that
such oboquy should be heaped upon any man.
much more upon the Chief Magistrate of the ma
ton.
Gentlemen, no sense, either of public or personal
honor, could reconcile it to me to abstain from what
have said. do not ask if it is to willing or unwil-
ling ears that address myself, but speak what
have spoken because 1t is true, and because it is the
duty of every public to utter the truth to the
people, and not to gloze facts in obedience to
the phrensy Of The hour.
We are all embarked 10 the same vessel, and for