The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-30

HONOR.
There is great deal said about honor, principle,
conscience and such like great points TO be MAINTAIN
ed. The negro who was talking about his conscience
being asked what he meant by conscience, replied
III is something in me that says that won't. Much
of the Sort reckon, is the feeling OF the men
who just ready TO sacrifice propriety, and all
the best interests of the country what they call
principle" By principle they mean what other peo-
pie would call will, i'll nature. The manner IN
which these write and talk, shows that is some
thing hotter than principle which moves them
Among all the talks of this soTt none, opinion,
was ever more foolish than what is said about
principle in the controversy between the majority IN
Congress and the President. There ID no principle
which by any possibility be sustained by the re-
fusal of Congress to make a suitable and moderate
Tariff. Suppose Congress should refue to pass ano-
Their BILL what principle would it establish3 II would
establish the fact that the Houses would yield no
thing for the sake Of meeting the views OF the Presi-
dent But perhaps the very next Presidential cleo
ton will establish the fact that Congress are very
much under the control of the President then to be-
the head and leader of the party who will elect him.
If it should turn out then all the loss sustained to
the country by the refusal Of Congress TO nclliae,
would be in vain. What is said about The lone man
power" is most of it humbug. The Constitution es-
tabIshes the one man power, and they who quarrel
with it, quarrel with the Constitution. The one man
power may be exercised improperly but ss to the pow
or ITSELF the Constitution creates it; and there Is
no considerable party who wish to take it ay. 1t
sition to the one man power, for 1t is interviewer
with the principles of Constitution and there is
serious design of changing it. The Constitution
says that when bill Is presented to the President,
he ssdsapprove it, he shall return it to the House
where it originated with his objection" The const-
nationality of the veto turns entirely upon the emotion
of the Presidents own mind and if he, in his own
mind, does not approve BILL then the constitutional
contingency exists for a veto. Mr.. Tyler may have
used the power of the Constitution very inju
diciously, foosnly, wickedly; but it is not he
who has created it, and he may be consigned to the
lowest depths of infamy-he may be shot, or hanged,
or "cut up into inch pieces,"-th one man power
would not be put down. affected in the least. The
power is not in Mr. Tyler, any more than in any other
man, but in the Constitutions and for the time being,
Mr.. Tyler fills the Presidential chair,--that is all To
say, therefore, that there is dishonor abandonment
of principle in submitting to The man power, is to
bIunder in the dark. Principle compes to submit,
and we do all submit. Congress submits, and the
people submit and certainly there be no more abb
ject unprincpled submission the President, than
that which, from any influence of his either way
another abandons the proper course of legislation
and the Just interests and honor of the country
The principle which talk Of so much on this
occasion, has in it, we fear, too much Of the n.-
grOs conscience above mentioned for, as we said,
it is impossible in the very nature of the case that
any principle should be either yielded established
by the action of Congress Their action will deter
mine the extent of their wisdom and patriotism,
nothing more. MIR. Tyler's conduct will determine
how much of the same ingredients he possesses; and
either party which shall act from bad temper at such
time this, will prove that it possesses very little
of the qualities which most wanted such an
occasion.
If there is any party in Congress which expects to
be supported by the country in breaking up without
settling the great question of tariff and revenue that
party is preparing itself for appalling disappont
ment. They may talk Of honor or principle as they
like what the country wants, is tariff of adequate
revenue. There is no difference between Wings and
Locofocos on this point; the advocates Of protec-
on and of free trade, all demand that the question
should be settled deputalion of tariff men has
gone to Washington to press the demand that
Congress shall at all hazards settle the question We
hear such men constantly saying, !" we care not SO
much what the tariff is--what we want u.s. that this
endless uncertainty shall be ended, so that may
know what to calculate upon" The crisis in public
feeling is very much as it was before the Com
promise act was agreed upon. The people are de-
termned that the qnarre shall be ended and them
SO now, if the Wings do not comply with the inten-
sity of public feeling the power will be placed in
other hands No party could have stood against the
rush of public sentiment then, and none stand
against it now.