The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-08-05

Guided by these motives, | compiled the soiau'e
in the first instance exclusively from that period
but afterwards yielded TO the persuasion OF friends
against my judgment to include the speech already
referred to- delivered in 1911 They urged il upon the
ground that as il was my first effort in Congress and
ON subject Of lasting interest, il was desirable
should be Inserted, although departure from The
principle on which the volume was complied
Blu, even within this period selection became ne
cessary to effect the object in view. To publish all
my productions political subjects during the pc
Rod would make the volume still too bulky and ex-
pensve be acceptable to the general mass oil read
ers Here, again, the leading reason which governed
me in selecting the period, governed also IN making
the selection for the compilation IL is accordingly
full on the sobject Of banks subTreasury, currency,
tariff distribution, State rights, and the principles
and policy which should control In the admnistra-
ton Of the Government. Those which discussed sub
jecls Of isolated character were for the most
pa omitted. But after the compilation was frs. made
within these restrictions, the work was thought to
be still too bulky, and many uek from il
which it would have been desirable TO retain.
Such are the facts in reference TO the compilation.
They show conclusvey that the charge of suppress
| sion against il, is entirely unfoundcd that Of
fraudulent imposition against the title. The very
charge is absurd. How could the speeches be de-
stroyed concealed They to be found not only
In the files of the lnteIgencer but in those OF many
other journals and publications Of the day, where
they are just as safe and open to inspection il
placed among the public records. TO attempt to keep
them from the public eye would only cause them TO
be more grecdiy sought after The very speeches
have nuhIi hey we w nd II
known to the public, are the very ones which have
been republished divers times, and have again and
again been repeatedly referred in Congress, in po-
liucal haransues, and by newspapers and that for
the very purpose for which you republish them
They the very last which any who base
enough to resort to a fraud would think of conceal
irg. But why speak Of them being suppressed
when they referred TO in the biographical sketch
10 which you allude, and which, it would seem from
its index, was intended to be included In the work
Again, why speak of them suppressed when all
the speeches which | made during the to rsuse
and animate the country TO the defence Of its rights
and honor, and TO sustain the burden and privatons
of the with fortitude, and which are now unan-
imousy appauded, are in the predcament ex-
cept one' Are they, too, suppressed designedy
concealed
Why indeed, should attempt to conceal them, or
any of my early speeches not contained in the vol
ume, even those which contain opinions different
from those i now entertain, What is there about
them that should repudiate them Do they not
breathe lofty sentiments and devoted attachment to
the country, and evincs foresight and frmnessi Were
they not appauded by the Republican party at the
tme' And they not eu'ogized by you and
9th Vhv I ba
ashamed of them, cast them away because they
contain opinions in several particulars which now,
after than quarter of century, do not ap.
provei Should | be ashamed to acknowledge that | |
have lived 10 improve and have had the sense to see
and the 6rmness to correct early errors' No; am
far from regulating these, my more youthful efforts
Their very errors lean to the aide of thecountry.
They belong to the times, and grew out Of ardent
feelings OF patriotism. The danger which ti,en
threatened the country from abroad The over
throw of Napoleon followed by a combination
of the great soveregns Of Europe, called the Holy
Alliance. Its object was hostile TO popular Govern
ments and il threatened TO turn its power against
this continent in order TO suppress the free States
which had sprung out of the old Spanish possessions
There then knowing at what moment we
might be involved in contest far terrific than
that which had just terminated II in this state
Of things that Congress called to settle the
peace establishment on the termination Of the late
with England. My attention intenty turn
ed TO what believed TO be the point Of danger and
was ,ous 10 put the country in condition to
meet whatever might come. The opinions express
ed in reference TO manufactures, internal improve
men,s and permanent system Of revenue, kept
constantly in view my leading object-preparaiion
for defence-as much what then said in refe-
renee to the army, The military academy, aud the
navy, as the speeches themselves show.
The danger from without fortunately passed away,
and that from within began to disclose itself was
not slow to see the strong tendency the Government
was taking towards consolidation, and that many of
the means which had regarded as necessary TO de.
fend against external danger, contributed not little
to increase the danger within. That led TO a rein
vestgation, and that to the modification or change Of
opinion which took place.
SO far from casting away or desiring to conceal or
keep out of view my early speeches, have long in
tended to collect and publish them | see you pro-
mise to publish freely from them. You cannot do me
greater favor, and hope you will halt till you
have republshed all. was so careless as to neglect
to preserve copies Of my speeches othe- publica
tons prior 10 my election Vice President Since |
then have been more careful. Your republication
will give me copies in much more convenient form
than that Of manuscripts, and much time and
trouble in collecting and little expense for co.
plying shall preserve carefully the two contained
in the lntelgencer sent by my friend, and shall
take care to get such others as you may publish
Let me, in conclusion, say, wish you to under
stand that make no complaint. SO far from IT, | |
feel rather obliged to you than Otherwise. BE your
motives what they may, you have afforded me an op-