The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-17

the Whole Of the House Of Representatives.,
January, 1912
Mr. CHAIRMAN: My recollection of the hi-.sfy of
the American Revelation has been rsSeshed by the
member from Mason, (Mr. casmoers) For the
benefit of that gentis"-~n VIII point the attention
of the House another incident in the annals of
tho sam. .-onlful period. In the reign of George
III. the purens Of the British court were haunted
with sycophants and hatteIers who fawned upon
the ministers and leaders Of the dominant party,
and by their evil cOunsels and bad cOmplances dis
msmbered the British Empire and contributed to the
establishment of that Constitution of which have
been the humble but undauned defender. The race
Is not extinct. Even in this Hall is found man
who glories in sacrificing the interests and tearing
down the Constitution of his country to advance the
purpoes of his political leader, and thereby subserve
his own No member can touch my feelings by IN
shutting comparison between Henry Clay and my
self. Certainly the Senator from Kentucky stands
in the foremost rank of American statesmen for po-
liticai talent and public service ! advance no high
er claim ability and distinction than the humblest
member this floor. While, however, have no
TO thank nature for the intellect she has la
Wished, art for the cultivation she has bestowed
am not SO false to myself to forget that am
still the independent represe ntative of indepen
dent constituency. The gentleman admits that he
has no judgment opinion of his own this I'M
portant question: aud that all subjects he is proud
bindly to adopt and zeslousy to carry the sen j.
men,s of Henry Clay If had made such
avowal should think that had impaired the stand
graded the proud constituency to whose confidence
l am indebted for seat on this floor. He who
knowIedges he is the mouth piece of another,
breathes atmosphere and moves in region to
which Icannot descend. The committee excuse
me- it, in my response | conine myself TO the men,
Der from Louisville, Mr.. Bullock who has not given
up all claims to free agency, and who, therefore, in
some degree, at least responsible for the positions
he has assumed.
Mr.. Chairman The member from Louisville
charges we with Inconsistency in introducing upon
this floor, any question of national policy 1t is true,
that the first time addressed this House in favor
of economy and in opposition TO the unnecessary
sumption of time and extravagant expenditure of the
public money, which the discussion of Federal affairs
would produce. This position l assumed before my |
constit uents-this position l assumed before this |
House. When, sir, | batted at the threshold, un-
aided and alone Tor short session, and united de- |
spatch OF business where was the distinguished gen
tleman who has suddenly converted hun elf into
Legislative schoomaster, and has ecurcd the members
of this House upon parliamentary courtesy and poll
teal consistency? The first time his graceful elocu.
ton displayed to the eyes, and his meIodious |
voice sounded upon the Of this House, was in
the presentation of resolution audng the Land Bill
and its great advocate 10 the skies. Why the |
member rally 10 my rescue then, and thus him |
self from the dis greeable necessity Of delivering a
discourse on my sins lang the moral law W ny
could he not orego, for the time, the pleasure of
ing his in print and abae little OF that zeal
which has led him, in his fancy, almost to divide the
paternity Of the Land Bill with his political chief
Why did he not Content himself with the humber
and limited du.ies he elected by his consti-
discharge and deny himself the qualification
of LAUNCHING his lutte bark upon tile broad ocean oil
national politics When was ovrrrued by the gem
tleman and by this House. still hoped that the Lee
gsature, after dsposing of the resolutions the
Bankrupt Law and The Land Bill, would at last pur-
sue the course which had chalked for myself.
As it evident, however, that the genteu.ans ap
petite not satisfied with slight taste OF nation
al politics. II was apparent to his friends that anO
her lSui Ot To- |
sary for his health, and another opportunity
ndl- pensab for the political leaders prescribe the
sentiments which this House should entertain, and
the course 4 should pursue, the gentlemans friend
and neighbor, MI. Ihomasson,) in happy time and
with commen able humanity came to his relief, and
grati6ed his yearning for display, by pre- enting sun
DRY propositions to demosh the Federal Constitution.
They who had looked In vain for originality in the
resolution Of the member from Louisville with
equal disappointment that proposed by his less dis
ting uished not less pretending neghbor from JEFF
fsrson, (Mr. Thomasson) While it is source OF
great annoy and grief that these gentlemen should
entertain such slight regard for the opini ms, and
place low esta upon the abilities OF the mem
Der from Fayette it is matter OF consolation that all
the sentmen they have advanced on this floor and
all the political ideas they have entertained for The last
twelve years have been borrowed from of his con-
stituents.
Mr. Chairman: The member from Louisville con-
tends that the abrogaton of the Veto power has al
ways been cardinal principle of the Wing party,
and is amazed that any gentleman protesting to be
Wing should dissent from his political brethren on
such vital point. In all the speeches which the
member heard in the Presidential canvass; In all the
harangues that he delivered in the Middle Market ;
was this radical and dlsorganizing doctrine ever adj
vocated With the exception OF MIR. Clay, in his
speech at Hanover, will he designate any man of the
least distinction in the Union who planted himself
upon such hollow ground? Will he point out sin
gle expression in any speech, letter, conversation
either of Harrison Tyler, by which this principle
was regarded an article OF Wing faith 4? Even
when the Wings of America were smarting under the
ceaseless vetoes of General Jackson the Legislature
of Kentucky could not be induced adopt such re-
evolutionary dogmas. The very idea of tampering
with the Constitution produced such an excitement,
that the whole subject dropped amidst the great
est uproar and confusion. At the late extra session,
when the business of Congress prescribed and laid
out and the representatives of the people were told
that they should take into consid ration only those
great and leading measures which the Wings had
pledged themselves to the country to carry out when
the Land bill, the Loan bill, and the Bankrupt law
passed triumphantly through the National Lee
gislature why were these amendments to the Consti
tuition forgotten Why the Executive power so
harmless, long It subservient to the Legs
lative? Why was the abrogation OF the tribunton
power thought Of or at least proposed,
until John Tyler had vetoed the Bank BILL and thrown
off the controlling influence of Congressional leaders
May not political aspirant be anxious to destroy
the power of department of Government which he
despars of attaining, in order to increase those
Of the branch which he knows he control
Should the fundamental law of great nation bend
to the purposes of single individual so as to enable
him, by indirection to grasp that supreme power
which the people resolved he shall never pos
The member from Louisville is at once his
toran and a philosopher, and will doubtless remem-
Der these facts, and inquire into their and eff
fects. The pliancy and versatility Of talent which
distinguish the mind of the member from Louisville
also characterize his opinions No man has read
Ter faculty in catching the ideas and mbibng the
doctrines of his political superiors than the dstn
guished gentleman; and he should have some COM
passion for those whose dress may be out of vogue,
and who have not equal facility in adapting them