The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-08

tona advisers. Sir, one OF the causes which led me
to assume the position which now occupy was, that
the majority in power in this Congress would not per-
nit man to think for himself. A seli-consttuted
csbal, of which the chairman of the Committee OF
WAYS and Means was one, undertook to dictate 70
and domineer over those who honestly differed with
them in opinion and because and Others chose 10
resist their usurpatons and assumptions nave been
traduced by every vile paper belonging 10 the party
in power and grossly assaed and misrepresented IN
this House. Not content with abusing our puDic
character we have been charged with seeking ONCE
and low sinister motives have been freely attributed
AZ influencing our conduct. Why, sir II was but
few weeks since that had paper thrust into my
face, recommending member OF this House Tor
offce-one sir who has been open IN his oppositloh
TO President Tyler and who only the other day uh-
dertook TO lecture the gentleman from virginia Nhr
Wise, } know not whether it was done by the con-
sent of that member.
(Several voices exclaimed, Name nun ha"e
him"
Mr. JOHN C. CLARK rose and asked Mr.. PROFIT
if he alluded to him lfso he wished to have the
floor.
Mr.. PRorFIT having yielded the floor
Mr.. CLARK said that some of his friends hau, as NJ
understood signed paper recommending hlm TO o.
fee but that il was without his knowledge or consen',
aud that he applied for office, either personally
or by writing that he considered 1t highly improper
for a member of Congress to seek offce; that olher
members besides himself had been recommended ioi
office Mr. Sergeant had been recommended Tor 'nr
mission to England, and yel NO one had found iaui'
| with that gentleman on that account.
Mr. WISE said that he too, had paper thrust in'o
! his face by an flicer of the House recommending
| Nh CLARK for office He believed il was for Consult
| Liverpool. Ii, Mr.. Wise) undertook to say tha'
| Mr. Sergeant not only did not apply Tor ONCE ou'
| that he never sanctioned the recommendation ana
the best proof of the correctness OF his assertion was
that when the mission was rendered TO MI sergeant
| that gentleman declined II
/ Mr. | ",
s...i... noa view iork san toned the application
in his favor. said that paper was thrust into NY
| face tor my signature, which refused. The recon-
mendation of Mr.. Sergeant can well understand :
! Our relations with Great Britain were in most deli
cate position several questions of importance. =
| Members of Congress naturally felt much solictude
that our interests that Court should be intruscd Il
competent hands. MI Sergeant was known to COM
bine all the qualities necessary for the office, and he
was, without consultation, recommended to the Exc
| cutive. The appointment was offered to Mr. Ser
gean', and as my friend Mr.. Wise has said the best
proof that not sought, that 1t was declined
But must confess Sir, that cannot understand how
officer of this House, or any other person, would
presume to take the liberty of drawing up recon-
| mendation in favor of member OF this House for
some inferior Office cbargeship, or colecorship OF
consuship-without the knowledge or consent OF the
person interested 1t was certainly taking most un-
warranfable liberty.
| [Mr GENTRY here asked Mr. PRorrr if he would
permit hun to ask him question: which he would adj
init was father of delicate nature.
Mr.. PROFIT said that he would answer any ques-
lion the gentleman might put if it was in his power.
Mr.. GENTRY then asked Mr. PROFIT if he Mr..
had not been an applicant to Gen. Harrison for
the mission to Texas. If MIR. p. had not, great in
Justice had been done hun.
Mr. PRoFFlr replied: |, sir, shall certainly answer
the gentlemans question, as we have always been,
and hope always will be, on terms of personal friend
ship | never either verbally or in writing, applied
to General Harrison any of his Cabinet tor that
office for any other Neither did any person apply
for me. And | now say that, if any paper can
be found upon the files of any Department of this
Government asking for Office for me- and signed by
my friends will take the responsibility and consider
it personal application for do not believe that any
one, especially officer Of this House, would dare 10
take the responsibility ofapplygfor office for me with
out my consent So far from asking for the
office the gentleman has referred to- that did, at the
request of member from Tennessee, sign recon-
mendation for colleague of his, whose father had
died in defence of Texas, and who himself one
OF the most estimable and worthy men | met (;
and, not content with that addressed letter TO Gen.
Harrison urging his appointment. know, sir, that
the party presses and vile party letter writers have
given currency to this SANDER. | never thought it
worth while to notice it, and should not now had not
the gentleman from Tennessee asked me the ques-
ton.
& .'ess .l h"s ." my about sy
but do not intend that party press shall impugn
my motives, and charge me and my friends with seek
Ing Office, when their own paItsans from all quarter
deadly enemies of the Administration personal re-
vilers of the President and his friendsare daily be-
sieglng his doors, begging for official patronage.
But have been led, sir from the course of remarks
intended to make by these interruptions and inter-
rogaores will proceed to show that to the legsla
ton OF the extra session, which we have heard so
loudly lauded, is TO be attributed very many of
pre- en difficulties Most of the measures passed
that session were effected by bargain and die
tation. The bank bills out of which nearly all the
difficulties in the Wing ranks have arisen, never did
meet the appreciation OF a 1.-THE OF Its members. Nearly
the whole country now accords TO the President cre
dit for sagacity and praise for his frmness And yet
the gentleman from North Carolina Mr. Stanly)
ellis us that if the President will only dsprove the
statement of Mr.. Ewing, he will yet support him.
Surely, Mr.. Chairman, the gentleman cannot rest his
support or opposition to the Administration upon the
result of personal misunderstanding between the
President and the ex-Secreary. That issue can
have but small bearing upon the measures of the Ad
mnstration, which, presume, are the grounds
which gentlemen ought 10 support or oppose any Ad
IN nistration, matter who Is at its head The gen
tleman says the President was seduced from the
w hig ranks. Seduced, indeed | should think that
gentleman had already sufficient proofs of his firm
ness and devotion to principle, or hey would have
been able TO sejuce him to sign the bank bills tor
they certainly cajoed, and pray ed, and threatened
enough to move most Sir did gentlemen
themselves issue manifesto"-a species of papal
bu DISCRIMINATING the President and ordering
all good and lirge subjects to beware how they coun
enanced hun Did they not therein declare that they
would hereafter h Id communion with him 2 Did
they not also and ordan that certain amend
nents Of the Constitution and divers other doc
trlnes thereby and thereafter to be considered
engrafted on the true hg creed That manifesto
protested To be the unanimous voice OF the Wing
members Of Congress, but was in reality only sane
toned ny lean minority Still that is OF no moment.
A small minorty-very small-ot the Wing party
ruled it during that ever memorable session. Yes
sir, many of the Wing members disapproved that
manifesto, and amented that IL the light
[Several gentlemen said give us the NAMES ~
Mr.. PROFIT said he would
The CHAM decided that it was not in order to men
ton gentemen's names.
Mr. PROFIT continued, ! know that, sir but gen
lemcn iaunIInglY cali for them | could Give name.