The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-24

NJ We have, also in press the Speech OF the
Hon. E. JOY MoRR1s, of Philadelphia, !" in de-
fence Of he American Navy" price 81 per
hundred, e-,5a ~
THE MINORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REP
RESENTATIVES-TTS DUTY.
Itis evident, from the proceedings in the House
on Friday last, thar the same efforts will be
made to suppress freedom of debate on the part
Of the Wing minority, aswere resorted to during
the violent reign Of Jacksonism. When truth
becomes unpalatable when bold exposition OF
political iniqui,y is likely to arouse the people
when the archives Of the Government are brought
from their dusty shelves and held up in the
broad glare Of day as unanswerable proofs of
political guilt, menace, threats of personal vlo-
lence and ali the inventions of clustering dema-
gogues, will be employed to intmidate the friends
of the people from their search after truth we
had specimen Of this kind of tactics on Friday
last, when the irrefutable statistics Of Mr. Stew
art were replied to on the part OF MIR. Weller,
by defamation, and allegations of falsehood'
That such man as Mr.. Weller should have
been permitted to 60 on in the use Of such lam
guage, is matter of surprise to us. Twenty
years ago. the American Congress was digni-
fed body, commanding the confidence and re-
spect IL the nation. The people had too much
respsss ~ themsslves 70 elect Weller as their
representative, and Congress had too much re-
gard for its own character and public decency TO
permit its Hall to be desecrated by the dialect of
Billingsgate and Wrapping.
The origin Of the degradation of Congress
dates from the commencement of the olgarchy,
or, we should rather say, monarchy of Jackson
ism for the will of one man was then as supreme
in this Republic, as the fiat Of Cesar in Rome,
With Gen. Jackson, himself violent man, bred
in the license Of camp, and unused to civil SUBJ
ordination, there came into power at Washington,
a class of men Of like stamp, known more for
their feats of brol and battle than for any emf
nent civil talents. Devotion to Gen. Jackson
servile adulation Of his person and acts, were
prominent to all the claims Of patriotism and pub
lie duty. Gen. Jackson was the idol; all men
were called upon to worship--the Juggernaut,
beneath whose sacrifcial car She devotees were
expected to PROSTATE themselves with more than
Hindoo fanaticism-the King who could do no
wrong. Even now, the spell of that idolatry is
not broken it yet fingers, like poisonous vapor,
over the minds of many who have not the moral
courage to shake tsof. Such was the obsequi-
BUSINESS shown to Gen. Jackson, when in power
that powerful majority was ready to sustain
all his acts and carry them through at all hazards
The eloquence and argument of Clay, Webster,
Clayton, Mangum, and others fell upon ears closed
to all sensbilty to the sufferings of the country
The prayers Of the people-the cries of a bank
rupt nation--the oracular warnings of the const-
tutional sages, were disregarded as SO much idle
wind The smoke of the battle of New Orleans
blinded mems eyes to the perez tion of their own
duty and the condition Of the country. Argument
was answered by clamor-appeals by menace
and conscientious opposition by brutal outrage
The Administration rewarded with its best gifts
the DULLES who personally assaulted the Repre-
sentatives Of the people while in the discharge Of
their duty. An end was had to all deliberation,
and the reign Of denuncation, brutality, and out
rage began. The minority of that day at
tackled in the same manner as the proceedings of
last week indicate are to be repeated in the pres
emit Congress. We look to the Wings in the
House not to yield one inch to the braggadocios
who buster and threaten, when chafed by facts
and reasoning which they cannot answer The
minority must remember that it has the character
Of . popular majority to sustain--a gallant party
that looks 10 it to represent its own indomitable
shirt, BY unyielding courage and mistaken con-
sfancy in the performance of its constitutional
Autv. The members Of the minority must stand
Nd tersthsr, - one nan in defence of colleague
Who ! bsessting the demagoguical storm-sus-