The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-14
MR.. MANGUM.

| to the will of one man amongst them, and ac
cusng its members of not acting according to
| the convictions of their own hearts, and that,
| too, whilst it gave to the Government the food
| on which it lives. We think the honorable
| Senator has fallen into mistake, for whatever
we may have thought of the disposition of a
| certain portion of Congress to follow the coun-
ellis Of one man, we attributed the weakness to
the heads, not the hearts of the members. As
for Congress giving to the Government the
pabulun, on which it feeds, we cannot under
stand what the honorable gentleman means
We had thought that the Government was COM
posed of an Executive, Legislative and Ju-
dicial Department, all OF which were equally,
in their respective spheres, the instruments of
carrying out the will of the sovereign People,
and it is somewhat new to us to hear Of one
branch of the Government furnishing food 10
another. If by the pabuluns the speaker meant
to say revenue, we would most respectfully ask
whether it is not the taxpayers who furnish it
alike for the use Of members Of Congress and
Executive officers. Mr. M thinks that the Ex-
ecutive Department of the Government should
be treated with odium aud contempt, and that
both parties should rise and vindcate their
power and influence with coordinate branch
of the Government He believed moreover,
that while this press, the Madisonian, was un-
der the control of the Executive, the People
would be continually agitated with regard to
false issues. Does Mr.. M. suppose that the
way to vindcate the influence of Congress with
the Executive Department is to treat it with
odium and contempt2 Is he so weak as to
imagine that the gentlemen composing the Ex-
ecutve Department are to be dragooned into
subserviency to the will of a certain portion of
The members of Congress? If such be his i'm
preston we can tell him he is most egregiousy
mistaken, as he will find whenever he thinks
proper to try the experiment. There IS way
to vindicate the influence of Congress Nth
coordinate branch Of the Government, and
that way consists in the exercise of ordinary
courtesy, and not in making virulent personal
attacks on the Chief Magistrate and the mem
bers of his Cabinet, who, thank Heaven, have
not yet to learn from him any one else the
respect due to the stations which they occu-
py As for putting down the "Madiso-
man." the gentleman must have consult
ed his feelings rather than his reason,
when he imagined that it is in the power
of Congress to put down the freedom of
the Press in this land Of liberty. Let that
thing be once attempted, and it will be found
that the American people has word to say in
the matter. We have heard of an humble
plant that thrives the better the more is trodden
on and from this example the North Carolina
Senator may learn wholesome lesson. Men
in power may try to trample on the liberty of the
Press, when 1t is thought to infringe their high
prero gative; but there is an energy from be-
meath that will cause it to shoot upward and
spread its branches with tenfold vigor All that
the Madisonian has done has been to state facts
fearlessy, and frankly, appealing to the People
to pass judgment in the premises, and 1t will con-
tinue to do so, notwithstanding the noisy fury
and impotent violence of certain gentlemen.
This paper has studiousy avoided the imputa-
ton of motives, except when forced to do so by
the mad assaults of those who would make ev-
cry thing yield to partisan purposes and if, in
such cases, the developments have caused the
az gressors to vince under the operation, they
must thank themselves for the consequences of
their own temerity. Is the President to be
styled, IN anslDer to limitations to dinners,
"weak Facilitating, and faithless?" and are his
friends not to be at liberty to show that the
charge emanates from personal jealousy and dis
appointed ambition? Are members of the Ca
bnet to be assailed with ribaldry of the vilest
kind ?-and are their friends not to be permitted
to show the motives that give rise to such
assaults, as unfounded as they are shameful =?
Perhaps it would suit the gentleman who
seems to have succeeded to the SC eptre of the
'great departed" to be permit tied to entertain
the Senate with TRADES against coordinate
branch of the Government, willis the friends
of those who conduct that branch shall sit qui-
city and suffer his allegations to go uncontra
dicled. Thanks be to Heaven, the time has
not yet come when men, who are exerting eve
ry nerve and devoting themselves day and
night to promote the public welfare, cannot
find honest, warm-hearted friend S, friends of
the country and not Of especial Presidential
candidates, to espouse their cause.
A word more to the Senator from North Ca
rona before we close. He is in error when he
supposes that zoe ever lose respect for the
members of Congress, until they shall show US
the example, by INDUCING in course which
will prove the absence of all proper self-esteem
on their part. We are willing to regard what
ever may be said or done in the fair and free
discussion of the merits of men, as tied
with measures, as the result of becoming zeal
in behalf of opinions honestly entertained, and
in case of difference of views between us,
shall feel inclined to waive our own opinions in
| \ e IL