Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1842-09-17

with their demand for the salary OF their
father, as Governor OF the territory OF
Michigan, during the very time, and Tor
no other time, that the territory was IN
possession of The British; surrendered to
them by Hull himself, together with the
gallant army from Ohio; crime Tor
which he was then under arrest, aud al
! forwards condemned by law, TO death asa
traitor. Yet this claim, the very Presen-
tation Of which was an outrage to every
American citizen, and especially so TO the
citizens of Ohio, whose heroic people had
thus been by this very man, so baseIy sur
rendered TO the enemy, as prisoners OF
war-lhis claim found favor in whIg
committee in the Senate, was advocated
upon the floor, and defeated only because
some OF that party, and all of the Demo-
Gratis, were ashamed to dlshonor the body
by its passage.
But economy-u stice- Federal econ
omy and justice, were with that very same
committee, found a sufficient bar 10 the
repayment of the fine imposed by a vim.
dictve Judge, on Andrew jackson, for
having expelled traitors from his camp,
during his glorious defence OF New Or
leans.
II these things were not on record, no
individual should state them, as the word
Of no man would alone be deerned, by the
country, conclusive of facts 80 derogatory
to the character of the American Congress
yet, facts they are, and that Of record
100, whatsoever may be injured by them.
Amidst the systematic policy ofpublic
ruin, which this Congress has pursued, it
has introduced, for the first time, prac.
lice in the highest degree, dangerous TO the
liberties of the people. | allude to the
practice of the house ir gagging the mi
nority, and that of the Senate, in yelling
from the public eye, the real condition Of
The Government. Ia both, the Democrat
ic minorities are powerless-the Federal
majorities direct all action-hurry or re.
rard all business, at pleasure. L. is in the
House that the great money bills chiefly
originate. These they have studiousIy
kept back for month after month. In the
mean time, as an excuse for delay, debate
has been encouraged on matters Of indif>
ercnce. Thee all things being ready,
hose great measures have been suddenly
brought up, and after the most trivial dis,
,ussioo, the gag applied, and the voice
iIenced under the ridiculous pretext of
want of time. On such occasions the
Democracy are hushed, not by the previ-
US question, but a stern resolution, which
eals the lips and forces through the meas,
re without consideration, however i'm
ortant its provisions, and without the ex.
'osu:e of its enormIties, tho destructive
may be to the best interest of the counr
ry. Thus have millions been appropria-
ed and taxes by the million voted 10 the
'ery last month OF our seven months
session without one single man of the mi.
lity in the House having had time enough
allowed him to expose the impolcy or
snormIty of such measures. But in mat.
ers OF no moment, no gag is applied, be-
cause in these the freedom of speech en-
hangers neither corruption nor despotism.
To silence the Representative is to spike
he ears of the people. II is both their
right and his, that he should speak. 1t is
heirs, because he IS responsible for what
he does. Their safety consists in making
him explain the reason of his votes-hls
in being able to do SO. Silence and Sc
orecy are to despotsm. as are speech and
publicity TO freedom-the two stronges,
elements of its power and only guardians
Of its safety. 1t is for these reasons that
| regret the closing of its doors, by the
Senate, in the matter Of nominations
practice indeienslble by argument and ex
cused only by antiquity. But to suppress
resolutions Of Enquiry, seeking from the
Treasury Department the facts OF its &C.
tual condition, and that, too, at time
when money measures Of the first momen,
tax, loan, and appropriation bills we're al!
and all relating directly to those
very facts--to suppress such resolutions,
as did the Federal majority in the Senate
is nothing less than to compel men to lie.
gisIate in the absence of all reasons for
votes they give, and to withhold from the
people things of the most serious import to
Them. Those who hide will excite suspi>
cion-and the practice Of suppressing
facts, had it been by any other Congress |
adopted, would have attracted the atlen-
lion and incurred the frown of the country
but 80 many are the objects of just a.
arm, with which this Congress has filed
The public mind, that the people naturally
es more solioitude to see its session bro't
% a close, and the evils it still threatens
han to recount those which it has already
rretriveably inflicted upon the nation
There are three great measures-two oCl