The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-09

with ms views, OF the pOcy Ol MS cohsutu-
tonal advisers Sir, one Of the causes which led me
to assume the position which now occupy was, that
the majority in power in this Congress would not per-
NIT a man to think for himself self-constituted
csbal, of which the chairman Of the Committee OF
Ways ard Means was one, undertook to dictate to
and domineer over those who honestly dlnered WIN
them in opinion and because | and others chose to
resist their usurpations and assumptions we nave been
traduced by every vile paper belonging 10 the party
in power and grossly assailed and msrepresented IN
this House. Not content with abusing our pubhc
character we have been charged with seeking ONCE
and low sinister motives have been freely attributed
as influencing our conduct Why, sir, it was but
few weeks since that had paper thrust into my
face recommending member OF tins House Tor
otice-one, sir, who has been open IN his opposition
to President Tyler, and who only the other day UNI
dertook to lecture the gentleman from Virginia, MIR.
Wise know not whether 1t was done by the con-
sent of that member.
lSeveraI voices exclaimed Name him! name
himl"
Mr.. JOHN C. CLARK rose and asked Mr. PROFIT
if he alluded to him If so, he wished to have the
floor.
Mr.. PRoFPIr having yielded the floor
Mr.. CLARK said that some of his friends had, as he
understood signed paper recommending him to Oh
fce but that ii was without his knowledge or consent,
and that he applied for office, either personally
or by writing that he considered 1t highly improper
for member of Congress to seek Office; that other
members besides himself had been recommended for
office Mr.. Sergeant had been recommended for the
mission to England, and YET no one had found fault
with that gentleman on that account.
Mr.. WISE said that he, too bad paper thrust into
his face by officer of the House, recommending
Mr. Clark for office. He believed it was for Consulto
Liverpool. He Mr. Wise) undertook TO say that
Mr. Sergeant not only did not apply for office, but
that he never sanctioned the recommendation; and
the best proof of the correctness of his assertion was
that when the mission was rendered to Mr. Sergeant,
that gentleman declined it.
Mr.. PRoFFIT continued. did not say sir, that the
gentleman from New York sanctioned the application
in his favor. | said that paper thrust into my
face for my signature, which | refused. The recon-
mendaton of Mr.. Sergeant can well understand
Our relations with Great Britain in most deli
cate position several questions of Importance
Members of Congress naturally felt much soEcitude
that interests at that Court should be Entrusted to
competent hands MI. Sergeant was known to COM
bine all the qualities necessary for the office, and he
was, without consultation recommended to the Exc
cutive. The appointment offered to Mr. Ser
geant, and, my friend Mr.. Wise has said the best
proof that not sought was that it was declined
But must confess, sir that Icannot understand how
an officer of this House, any other person, would
presume to take the liberty of drawing up recon-
mendaton in favor of member of this House for
some inferior ofcc-a chargeship or colectorshP, or
the knowledge or consent OF the
person interested 1t was certainly taking most un-
warranlable liberty.
Mr. GENTRY here asked Mr.. PRorrT if he would
permit him to ask him question: which he would ad-
mi was ather of delicate nature.
Mr.. PROFIT said that he would answer any ques-
ton the gentleman might put if was in his power
Mr.. GENTRY then asked Mr.. PROFIT IT he Mr..
P had not been applicant to Gen. Harrison for
the mission to Texas. If Mr.. p had not, great in
justice had been done him.
Mr. PRoFFIr replied |, sir, shall certainly answer
the gentlemans question, as we have always been,
and hope always will be- on terms Of personal friend
..isaI
to General Harrison any of his Cabinet for that
Office for any other. Neither did any person apply
for And now say that if any paper can
be found upon the files of any Department of this
Government asking for Office for me, and signed by
my friends, will take the responsibility and consider
it personal application for do not believe that any
one especially officer of this House, would dare to
take the responsibility of applying for Office for me with
out my consent So far was l from asking for the
Office the gentleman has referred to- that did, at the
request of member from Tennessee, sign recon-
nendation for colleague of his, whuse father had
died in defence of Texas, and who was himself
of the most estimable and worthy men l ever met;
and, not content with that addressed letter to Gen.
Harrison urging his appointment. know, sir, that
the party presses and vile party letter writers have
given currency to this SANDER. never thought it
worth while to notice it, and should not now, had not
the gentleman from Tennessee asked me the ques-
ton.
do not attach blame to any gentleman for apply
but do not intend that party press shall impugn
my motives, and charge and my friends with seek
log Office when their partlsans from all quarter
deadly enemies of the Administration personal
vilers of the President and his riend-are daily be-
seging his DOORS begging for official patronage.
But have been led, sir from the course of remarks
intended to make by these interruptions and inter-
rogatores. | will proceed to show that to The legisa-
ton OF the extra session, which we have heard SO
loudly lauded, is 10 be attributed very many of our
Il Most Of shoc
that session effected by bargain and die
tation. The bank bills, out of which nearly all the
difficulties in the Wing ranks have arisen, never did
meet the appreciation OF 1.-THE OF Its members Nearly
the whole country now accords 10 the President Gre
dit for sagaclty and praise for his rmness. And yet
the gentleman from North Carolina Mr.. Stan "
ellis US that if the President will only dsprove the
statement of Mr.. Ewing, he will yet support him.
Surely, Mr.. Chairman the gentleman cannot rest his
support opposition to the Administration upon the
result of personal misunderstanding between the
President and the ex-Secreary. That issue can
have but small bearing upon the measures of the Adj
mlnIstration, which, presume, are the grounds on
which gentlemen ought TO support or oppose airy Adj
minstration no matter who is at its head The gem
lleman says the President was seduced from The
w hig ranks. Seduced, indeed! | should think that
gentleman had already sufficient proofs of hls finn
ness and devotion TO principle, or they would have
been able TO seduce hln to sign the bank bills for
they certainly cajoled, and prayed, and threatened
enough to move most men. Sir, did not gentlemen
themselves issue manitesto"-a species of papal
bul-excon'municating the President, and ordering
all good and liege subjects to sssware how they
,enanced him Did they not teszsin declare that they
would hereafter hold no communion with him Did
they not also order and oIdan that certain amend
ments of the Constitution and divers other doc
trines were thereby and thereafter to be considered
as engrafted on the true Wing creed That manifesto
protested to be the unanimous voice of the Wing
members of Congress, but was in reality only sane
toned by lean minority Still that is of no moment.
small minority-very smaIl-of the Wing party
ruled it during that memorable session. Yes,
sir, many of the Wing members dsapproved that
manifesto, and amented that it the light
Several gentlemen said "give US the names"l
Mr.. PROFIT said he would.
The CHAIR decided that it was not in order to men