The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-07
From the Baltimore american.
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.

From the Baltimore .4merican
! MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS-
The following memorial will be circulated for III,
signatures of the citizens Of Baltimore;
TO the Senate and House Of Representatives Of The United
States Of .f,nerica:
The subscribers citizens of Baltimore are mpelled
by of their rights, and of the Obligations OF
your high trust to demonstrate against measures agi-
taed in your bodies and TO dwell upon the grievances
of our country, which prolonged and aggravated
by the delays oiyour councils.
This favored empire is now but strange specta-
Gle of distress amid the elements of wealth-and is
mockery to the pride of power boosted in our re-
sources and intelligence. The industry OF our people
the rich materials OF enterprise territories fertile
IN every product-and in every region inviting the
energies of Agriculture, Commerce, and Manufac-
tures-naure uniting with elaborate art to speed the
course Of trade and multiply its avenues-a popula
ton, patriotic in It's best import OF being sensitive of
the National honor, and ready for sacrifices to uphold
it-and patient even of mis-government for the love
they bear to the Republic, and from their conscious
ness of resslless soveregnty-all these seem unava
ing to quicken our prosperity and redeem us from the
gloom and torpof which follow extnguished cent?
dence in the active ranks of our Land.
The Constitution confers powers equal to any ex-
igency-and thrifty and spirited people demand
that they be used and they appeal to the wisdom and
sympathy which they designed to imbody in the Lee
gislature Of their Union Yet in seeming callousness
Congress moves with no solictude nor diligence -
no expedents are adopted or digested for Nations
relief,but the very heart Of the Nation is allowed
to snk-while idle debate and partisan harangues
too often waste the precious time of action
The interests of the Currency are deierred-or at
times only made theme for passionate structures in
which the pride OF opinion appears TO supersede all
Cancellation Of views and prudent mindfuness of
the public welfare.
rhor ,Iati tIa ..T -,
for providing means for our liabilities and firm sup
port for our credit is involved in delays and doubts
and is contamination left to the chances and strife
OF debate, remote result and uncertain as to its
details Movements for retrenchment of expenses
are made when the Treasury claims to be supplied to
meet even the smallest burdens and such projects are
pressed without any definite data Of complaint or any
certainty that they will not treach upon the ndspen-
sable means of Government Jas it, by this tremu-
lous policy, to declare our poverty would improve
our or, dit to stint the fund for the action Of Co
vernment wuold argue our prudence.
But the most startling innovation is the attempt to
reduce our Navy-to economist our high National de-
fenceto cut off that which is the vehicle of our a,-
thorlty and the engine of most effective power,
and at this day in the eyes of foreign Governments
the index Of our strength What must be the effect
of thus ordanng our own infrmity by diyesting our
rights and our rank of ain armament usrious for the
honors with which it has dignfed our name and
Frightened the ocean, and endeared to our safe
While other Nations are strengthening and enlarg-
ing this great sheld-the vgor of war; and the pledge
OF Peace-we incline to contract self protection
and allow Foreign Powers to be predominant, and
encourage them thus to naughty encroachment The
Maritime World has adopted the policy of Naval
force as the prompest conduit of its power and the
surest resource for redressthe best in its ready
ray to give proof of determined enforcement Of its
rights. No Nation may now neglect such a resource
without lmparlng its very stature Nation-and
without embedding itself either to command respect
Tor ITS claims or TO overawe any trespass on its
rights .4.
BY this self.inhicted paralysis shall we draw from
Foreign countries tributes to our Treasury in the
fdence which alone can give success to our financial
negotiations How can Nation which is too Ian
gud TO sustain its own means Of defence, and too
timid to meet debt which is particle compared
with the wealth which, in industry and substance,
fills its borders expect to be otherwise regarded than
as Bankrupt delinquent.
The American people approve economy, but they
do not confound It with parsimony which, without
forecast or liberality, degrades and dlsabes us -
and they do not regard as extravaganza whatever
may be needed,-in the largest and most generous
measure,--to cherish our National strength, and to
Keep in its lustrc our rank among the Nations and
TO their very pride Of country, and to their trust in
all peril and against all menace, belongs OUR NAVY,
We hope that no such wound will be given to the
public sentiment as is aimed by the proposal we are
condemning
We have thus frankly and earnestly addressed you,
acting upon our privileges American citizens and
feeling for the condition of country and solicit
tous to every member Of Congress rallied to the
pressure of our crisis and to the REQUIREMENTS OF
THE REPuBLr.
We need not say that there are times when the
voice of the People must be uttered to those Who
wear their authority and need not dilae upon
the respect it should command as we doubt not your
patriotic sense of duty.