The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-26
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duty of the Senate, as the conservative branch
of the Government, to pass upon all matters
calling for legislative action the class of bills
to which we have just referred, must be COM
menced in the lower house, or, in other words,
by the immediate Representatives Of the Peo-
Pile. There is peculiar propriety in this fea-
ture of our institutions, lnasmuch as these Re-
representatives. are supposed to be acquainted with
the wants of their constituents, and can there
fore judge of the manner In which these wants
are to be supplied. Nor does the fitness OF this
reservation appear the less when we reflect that
to the House of Representatives alone is IN
trusted the power of originating measures the
execution of which must lead to taxation in one
form or another.
In the present condition of our country, it is
to the House Of Representatives, and to that
House alone, that the People must look for re-
lief, and it is of the tardiness of that body, in
directing its attention to the condition of the
finances and defences Of the country, that we
have complained. Why is it, we would ask,
that members will persevere in occupying the
time and attention Of the House with discus
sions on points of order, and other matters OF
minor importance, when measures involving not
only the credit of the Government, but its very
existence, demands their immediate attention?
Do these gentlemen imagine that the nation
will be satisfied with empty promises and pro-
LESSONS Of desire to restore sound currency,
and build up the defences of the land, when day
after day is suffered to elapse without any solid
demonstration of the sincerity Of these protes-
tations? Columns of proceedings of the House
of Representatives are daily published, and
what do they amount to? why, literally nothing
but acords, aoords words, which, however they
may please their authors, can only excite smiles
of derison on the art of the country. 1t will
be observed that the Senate adjourned over on
Thursday last until Monday, and why was it?
Because that body had nothing to do, as we are
informed, except to attend to a few private bills
which, if disposed Of, would only go to swell
the heap of business unattended to in the
House.
We have heard great deal of the checks and
counter checks in our Government, and really
here is counter check with vengeance. The
Senate is ready and anxious to attend to the
business of the nation, but is prevented by the
delays of the popular branch of the Legislature,
which, instead of attending to the great mea-
sures Of relief, is busted in doing all that it can
do to check and hinder the operations of the
Executive Department. In the meanwhile the
nation is suffering, and when we ask why this
or that measure is not disposed of we are told
- ~ 70, +,f al
forsooth, the Executive chooses to be national
instead OF partisan in its views. Now such
apologies may satisfy party leaders and party
expectants, but they will not satisfy the People.
a large majority of whom care very little whe-
Their Mr.. A, Mr.. B, or Mr.. G, is to be the candi-
date for the next Presidency, which after all
seems to be the only object which these party
leaders have at heart. Our Government is, II
is true, system of checks and counter checks in
theory, but it must be one of mutual compro-
mise, Cancellation and concession In practice
To talk Of sound Administration of public af-
| fairs when the different Departments of the
Government are doing all in their power to
| hinder each other is to talk downright non
| sense. The members of the 9Th Congress
| were sent here to attend to the wants OF the
country at the present time, and not to lay plans
and adopt measures with reference to elections
! that are to take place years hence. Gentlemen
| pretend to oppose the existing Administration
which desires to be purely national in its cha
| racter and to carry on the Government with 9
single eye to its present necessities, and at the
| same time they not only will not suffer the mea
sures proposed by that Administration to be
tried, but will not even offer anything better in
| their stead If the plans laid before Congress
| by the President and his Cabinet do not mee
with its appreciation, it is the duty of that body
to say so at once, and to reject them in the only
way in which its decision can be formally given
to w.t. by taking formal vote upon them. Il
on the other hand, these measures are to be
adopted, either entire or in modified shape, lei
it be done, and let the country have the benefit
| of them as soon as possible. La either event
| there would at least be defnitve action which
| appears to US to be the great desideratum at
this present moment. Checks and counter
checks may serve to stop the action OF Govern
ment, and if gentlemen please to do so, they
will find no difficulty in embarrassing each
others movements to such an extent, as to pro
duce universal ruin and political death, but il
they wish their country to recover from Its pre-
sent awful condition, they must come TO the res
cue, shoulder to shoulder, and adopt as their
rallying cry, Union for the salvation of the
People"
POLITICAL ASPERITY.
We have often witnessed with establishment
the extent to which party feeling is carried and