The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-11
WHO is GUILTY /?

WHO is GUILTY?
When the country emerged from the last war
with Great Britain, the condition Of the manu-
featuring and mercantile interests were thought
to demand the aid of legislation. Memorials
were not wanting, which urged on Congress the
necessity of the immediate lnterpostion OF its
power to remove the difficulties to which these
two branches of enterprise were especially sub
ject. The wisdom of that body was early en-
gagged in devising the best mode of rendering
the assistance so DANGEROUSLY demanded. A
protective tariff was the means adopted for fos-
tering the infant manufac lures, which the war
had forced into existence, and Bank. favored
with the odor of nationality, the panacea In
vented to cure the diseases of the currency.
But these agents, though working with COM
bined action, did not effect the grand results
promised by their friends so far were they from
relieving the oppression which they were des-
tined to remove, that Mr. Clay himself was
compelled to acknowledge, that if he were to Sc
lect any term of seven years, since the adop-
ton of the present Constitution, which exhibit
ed scene of widespread dismay and desola-
ton, it would be exactly that term of seven years.
which followed close on the establishment Of
both these unfaiing agents of prosperity.
Again the cry of ruin and distress, of depres-
sion in the value of property, and disorganiza-
ton of the currency, echoes through the land.
That there now exist the same grounds for
complaint, which might have justified the MUIR
murs during the period of disaster of which Mr..
Clay speaks, there may, in the opinion of ma
ny, be much reason to doubt; for there are now
at least, abundant harvests, and the ''innumera-
BILE focks and herds browsing and gambolling on
ten thousand hills and plains covered with rich
and verdant grasses" of which the Kentucky
orator spoke so triumphantly in 1882, when
descanting on the Unparalleled prosperity of
the country" during the seven preceding years.
But if we have truly retrogaded, and are ira
yelling over once more the disastrous cycle in
which the seven years of desolation must be
numbered,-if the protecting power of a Ia
riff is once more required TO hold up the tot
tering interests of the manufacturer, and an eff
cient agent established by the General Govern
ulCut 10 uCluouuCu III tuc CUTItuCy
and equalsing domestic exchanges, where
does the fault lie, that with Congr ess in SEES
sion for more than six months, nothing has been
done towards relieving the general distress-that
scarcely nothing has even been attempted for
this object-that the Exchequer plan has been
left to sleep undisturbed, and nothing feasible
projected in its stead, and that till within the
two last days no movement has been made to-
wards revision of the TARIFF
The People are not to be "bamboozled" into
the belief that the Executive is to be held re-
sponsible because intrigues for the succession TO
the Presidency, tho indomitable love of orator.
cal display, and the unexcitable lethargy of in
duIence, all combined to paralyse the energies
of the Legislature and pervert the Government
from holding out its hand to give that assistance
which is expected from it,
If there must be legislation, and it is not OBJ
tanned, the fault lies with the Legislators alone,
and must be imputed to them Mr.. Morris has
given his constituents slight inkling of what
is done in Congress, and why the session is SO
protracted. He has put the saddle on the right
horse If distress pervades the country and no at
tempt is made to remedy it, the People can dis
cover who are to blame, and will visit upon the
guilty the merited retributon. The Executive
cannot be made responsible.