The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-06
MIR. CRITTENDEN.

"The country will that we have not benched
in the maintenance of their rights who sent here
and our own. To that country when it shall become
necessary, will make any sacrifice but even then
slowly most reluctantly, if am thus to be whip
ped on to what is reqniret of me with Presidential
scouIge."-Speech of Senator Crittenden, deIiOersd
august l.
Congress was sent here to relieve the dis
tresses of the country--not to add to them. The
People expected Congress to adopt constitution
al measures to secure their prosperity. They
did not ask-did not expect a Bank, until the
advocates of monopolies threw aside the mask
and disclosed the coven foot of the golden mon
ster. 1t was left for President Tyler TO destroy
this HYDRA and he did it, Although, like the ia
bled beast, another head, more horrible than
the first, sprung instantly upon Its bleeding
neck, yet he met that, too, and despatched 1t
in much less time than the first. The People
1--WE mean the mass, not "A faction) applauded
the decision of the President, but the members
who rode these famous hobbies could not give
up their own opinions of their own wisdom to
please the People.
To boldly assert that the People demanded
these Banks, is to contradict the assertions OF
their own friends previous to the election; and
to make out the People as not knowing their
own will. But the rights of Senators, spoken
of by Senator Crittenden, means, in his mind,
their right to make the President an automaton,
to sign bills, whether he approves them or not
Will the Senator pretend to deny MIR. Tyler the
right to think for himself? and will he denounce
the Executive for the exercise OF constitution
al right? We contend that this very denying
and denouncing is breach of the Constitution,
because it assumes to censure the President Tor
using an express constitutional prerogative. 1t
is as much breach of the Constitution to con-
denim an officer for using constitutional right,
as it is to denounce him for violation OF that
sacred instrument. Mr.. Crttenden does not
pretend to assert that the President has acted
unconstitutionaly, but the whole matter of COM
plant rests simply upon the fact that the Presl-
dent differed with the majority respecting the
constitutionaity of National Bank, and so
thinking, had the courage to ''interpose his con-
sttutional prerogatve," to prevent Congress
sional violation of the Constitution.
At this session, Congress has attempted TO
undo two important things which they did at
the extra session; yet no one disputes their
right to reconsider their acts, though we may all
laugh at their folly and inconsistency; at their
not knowing their own minds for two consecu-
tive sessions. If President Tyler had signed
the first Bank bill, they would have been as
ready to repeal it at this session as they were to
annu the Bankrupt law; for not one dollar OF
the stock would have been taken Even at the
time that the bill was in the hands of the Exc
cutive, those very men were busy IN proposing
"a supplementary act," which was to alter the
feature of the main bill, so as to induce capital
lists to purchase the stock.
We now come to another point of the extract
which heads this article. Mr. Crltlenden says
he will make any sacrifice to his country, but
that he will be very slo,o in doing it, Here Is an
omen acknowledgment that the People require
of Mr.. Criltenden sacrifice of individual opln-
ion and yet, with full information of the great
distress in the country, he declares that he will
no very slow in the sacrifices he makes for his
county
He must not be hurried to do good. He is a
grave and noble Senator and will do the People
a service when he gets ready. Ii some thou
sands die for want, and corruption creeps from
necessity into the bosoms of thousands OF 9TH
ers in the meantime, when he knoaos all about
il. he will be ready to assist, but will be even
then very slow TO act
Is this the language that becomes Senator
Is This the manner that should dignity mem
her Of the most important legislative convention
in the world2 Is this a proper idea to bethrown
out to the People by their servant2 Is he to
set up his own dignity against the suiierinss OF
millions, and to say to them, "when the Presl-
dent agrees to think Just as think, then we
will relieve you; but we can do nothing before
that; or if you compel us, we shall be very
slow"
But Mr.. Crittenden gives reason for his
slo,v sacrifice, by saying, If am thus to be
10 be whipped on to what is required of me with
presidential scourge"
We would ask the length, breadth, and
WEIGHT of this scourge, as we have never seen
:, We have heard much said about the Presi-
dents debating to Congress, but have never dis
covered any appearance of it. AT the com
mencement of the session, the Executive, as in
duty bound, according to law and usual custom
called the attention of Congress to certain points
WORTHY their consideration. All Presidents have
done this, vet 1t was never before called "Pre
sdenlial scourge."