The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-22


gous to the Exchequer system introduced into Eng
land by Sin Robert Wapole, institution, as he al
eges that will secretly undermine the value OF pro-
lerty, acting in connection with British influence,
stimulating the Government to direct and impertl-
nent interference with the currency of the country.
and giving birth to many of the most hateful ques-
tons that ever agitaed the councils of the country
When these and hundred other things of similar
import are publicly proclaimed through the medium
of the press ought not to be surprised if tie COM
munity should be stirred into actual commotion.
But what must be the feelings of that community,
when they shall hear that these high and mighty
changes have originated in the simple fact of the hos
tlty of the Senator to the Executive, and that there
is not the slightest foundation for them to rest on
There is no resource SO firm for The Government of
the United States the affection ofthe people, guided
by enlightened policy, and this affection, essen
tial to the rmness of the Government must be engen
dered and fosteled by conviction that fair and ho-
nest system of policy is practsed by the Government
and that the benefits and advantages resulting from
the administration of the Government are fairly and
literally distributed throughout the country. AS the
of the Government receive their Impressions
fore of essential interest to the nation that the enght
ened policy of the Government should not be arrested
by jeaousies, sprnging from belief that the action
of the Government displays itsefin corruption Mr..
Benton, Of the sensibllty of the public upon
such topics, and with what facility it may be called
into lequston, by artful appeals, has arrogated to
himself the duty of identifying the policy of the Adj
minisraton with that of the corrupt and profit
gate ministry that cursed the English Govern
ment. The name of Walpoe is but another name
for baseness for bribery, and abandonment of all ho-
norable principle, in the administration of public af
fans In this audacious attempt to spread popular de-
fusion, and excite popular phrenzy, there is no event
that has occurred during the present session of Con
gress, so indicative ofthe juggling spirit which marks
out the of conduct of the factious demagogue
and ambitious asprant to popular favor This attack
has been commenced by hypocritical appeals to the
feelings othe people, by the misrepresentation of facts
by the circulation of erroneous princiI les.
Is there, ask, any thing in such institution te
Justify the furious nvective that has been pronounced
against it? Or is there in reality, any thing in it
to alarm our fears to endanger our Union, or to
bring down upon those domestic Affections which
vivid and phienzied imagination has unbIushngIy
predicted
After the fervor of the political revolution of 1910
we had attered ourselves with the hope that Jacobn-
ism had been disrobed Of it's fascination and that its
mischievous tendency would longer harrass the
operations of the Federal Government But pervert-
ed MINDS without the requisite personal qualifications
with too much ambition and too little virtue have no
other to ascend the ladder of promotion. Mr..
Benton has furnished practical proof Of the sound
ness of this doctrine. Gibbon has somewhere OBJ
served, that the world has been willing to grant to
statesmen, under the name of policy, very liberal in
diligence of falsehood craft and insincerty in all pub
lie transactions The Missouri Senator has, we think,
ventured to draw upon the world for his full share Of
indulgence There is nothing easier to assign bad
motives, but their existence is to be proved by some
thing more convincing than mere assertion.
What determines the character of the ultra poIiti-
cal SCHOOL, certain narrowness of intellectual vision
and aridness of patriotic sympahy--a narrowness
that belongs exclusively to the Senator from
Missouri.
There are men, actuaed, in some instances, by
blind and mistaken enthusiasm, and in others by a
spirit of mschievous intent To men ofthis descrp
ton it is vain to point out the inevitable effects of such
course, as well the objects of their real pre-
tended socitude, the community. Acknow-
Lodging utility in any system except their own,
they ever contemplate, with undssen bed hostility,
every attempt amelorate the condition of the
try.
But we will ask the Senator what feature of the
Exchequer Board resembles the corrupt Walpoe poll
cy? Is it the policy of issuing Treasury notes, go
vernment paper" as regulation of the currency of
the country
Mr.. Calhoun early and ardent advocate of
the principle of issuing Government paper, and had
efficiently contributed when in Congress to the adop-
ton of the principle. Mr.. Madison no dangerous
tendency in it, when he recommended it. While the
Senator from Missouri considers necessarily fraught
with danger, we like it scheme to make pay
ments between the debtors and the Government more
safe and ynomical, and deem it fatal to the nso
vent institutions of the country. Mr.. Woodbury. and
Mr. Taney we are sure will not be designated by the
Senator, as the advocates of the Walpoe policy ?
They have done precisely what the administration
proposes to do by the creation of the EXchequer, yet
forsooth because the Executive has thought proper
to fall into their policy, to certain extent they
to be denounced, as the supporters of corrupt and
prohgate policy such characterized the dark and
gloomy days of the English government, when the
Prime Minister, like portenous meteor, in the
political hemisphere, and which bound by no attrac
tion-true to orbit, disturbed the social system,
affrighted monarchs and kept the world at ave."
vaunted of his power, to bride and seduce the
members of Parliament from their fidelity to their
constituents. Proud, hgh-spirited and Independent,
the love of freedom and Jealousy Of any invasion of
their rights either individually or politically, have
ever, think been the Distinguishing attributes of
the American character The Cabinet, with such
habits, feelings and interests, what corrupt admins
tration short of miuacle itself, could work such
a change, as to throw them back on the @ Walpole