The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-20
THE ISSUE.

,,l, If the Federal Constitution is TO be rem
Js,ed powerless for good, and as consequence,
!. weakness TO furnish an element OF destruc-
non 10 our Institutions, or else in sustaining
,oaoepce TO be derived from the virtue and pa
,,o,ism of the People, the fame OF the lllustrious
nm who won our liberties, and who established
~, Goyernment-he dignity of the sacred in
.rument of voluntary compact, and the honor
and independence of the present generation are
10 be enforced and exalted.
We declared in our first article on this subject,
,bat at this crisis il was doubly important that
he country should be vigilant and firm in sus-
aiming the powers of the Constitution, because
he politicians of the Legislature had taken
his opportunity of the acces ion OF wee Ere.
sident, "withoul party" to the Presidency, 70
make an attack in various forms upon an essen
nal feature of the charter OF Government. Ahd
the first of these charges was,
THAT the second Bank Bill and the entire course
f action upon it, both precedent and subsequent was
resoed to by of the Procrustean caucus to en-
barrass the Executive, and consequence TO ioice
il into q helpless submission to the Congressional dc
,ation of majority, else to break Its power down
In proof of this position we appeal TO the his
tory of the times, aud in addition, to the terms
Of the instrument itself. Was not the !" Fiscal
CORPORATION bl' just as Objectionable on the
score of principle and in its powers, to one con
stitulioaaHy opposed to Bank of the United
States as the first Bank scheme Do not those
opnosed to the creation of a Federal Bank, deny
the right on the part Of this Government to es-
tabIish any moneyed corporation 10 act per Sc
that is of itself from powers granted TO the cor
poralors over the entire surface OF the Union
lis not simply the extent of function with which
The Bank NAV be clothed it is the denial Of the
rigM under the Federal Constitution, TO make
Federal corporation at ALL That the Fiscal
corporaonn though it did not possess all the
f1cnHies of the old Bank of the United States,
was nevertheless just a, Objectionable in point
Of principle, will scarcely be denied by any one
except perhaps by the new Senatorial light from
Virginia, Mr. Archer whose adverse opinions
are 10 us a perfect confirmation OF the truth OF
the proposition for which we contend. Then
in this view Of the case, Bank bill was pre-
sented by tn. politicians of Congress to the Pre-
sident, in the face of the first Veto which he
was either to sign, shamelessly admitting a
want Of principle in doing So or not TO sign,
and thus call down upon himself efiigy burning,
mob insults, and the submely indignant thun-
der of the Wing press throughout the whole
land iii was not for an insidious purpose why
was that Bank bill presented to the President
for his signature? What interests of the people
were subserved by its passage. 1t is true ii was
concocted in committee and passed IN three or
four DAYS though its charter was to be lrrevoca-
bic for tluenty years time, but II cost the Peope
twelve or fifteen thousand dollars to make the
bill, and it cost several prominent members 81
Congress sundry long winded speeches.
But the charge is yet scarcely rendered. we
declare that il is our solemn belief, nay that we
knon, that the politicians, every man OF them,
who concocled the $ Fiscal Corporation Bill, I
entertained the conviction from positive, lnior
nation, received from undoubted sources, before
the passage of the Bill that the President would
reto it if it were pressed on him. Then, excep
for an insidious purpose, why was 1t passet
against his entreates, prayers almost (tor the
President saw the end of such vioence) upon
the Chief Magistrate Why was it pressed on
him. except with desire TO obtain q refo io
political ends, or else to force the President into
a tame and helpless submission, not to the ris
dom but to the caprices Of Congress
Nh. Webster's letter to the Massachusetts:
Senators is proof incontestibe of the President
desire, that the cup might PASS from his Ups.
No, they would not permit this The agony Q
the patriot was mistaken for the fear and weak
ness Of the man, and they Ohe politicians OF th
Legislature) forced the Chief Magistrate to taxi
his position Of defence. And well did he taxi
it, Seated in the Presidential chair, clothed II
the robes of office which had once invested TIT
Godlike proportions Of Washington and Madl
son. he could not with his noble mind and up
right intentions, fail to derive an inspiration Q
sublime energy for the appalling crisis Did III
falter, or even for a momen. hesitate2 No, thu
blood of the Revolutionary patriot which flowed
through his veins, rushed with concentrated IN
dignation to his heart; and though beneath hin
the angry multitude yelled and hooted, and wa
tossed to and fro like the waves of an angry sea
ready to engulf him in the boiling surge Of thei
passions, equally as gentleman, patriot and
Virginia President, he discharged his lofty duty
Let his enemies weep with modification. lie
his friends exult in admiration.
But still this is by no means ALL Let Bolts
"cofee house" epstle pass-although it mus
be borne in mind, that this man was known a
the bose n companion the Kentucky Senato
We do not attack the paid soldiery, we strik
at the leaders, the Catilines OF conspiracy
will be remembered that after the secon
veto, the U. States Senate having resolved
adjourn on Monday, the retired Cablnet" re
signed on the Friday and Saturday precedln!
and this, too, when the country was in the mo:
irrtated and inhammable state and when tn