The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-06-07

promised sound currency, and plenty ofit. How
has that promise been fulfilled? 1t is useless for
me to relate what every body knows; and that is
that this administration has done nothing either to
improve the currency, or to increase its quantity
So, under the general head Of fasehoods, place
that to No. 2.
The people were told that treasury notes were
an unconstitutional currency and were the offspring
ofthe independent treasury. They were denounc-
ed and ridiculed as "C1ncle Sans shaaplasters"
The constitution was to be preserved, and there
YVES to be no more of such shinplaster currency
The wings had not been in power three months, be-
fore they authorized the issue of millions of dollars
in treasury notes, and they have constituted vast
portion Of the national currency from that day to
this. That is general falsehood No 8.
The people were told, among the thousand 9TH
er falsehoods about the Independent treasury, that
it was dangerous executive engine, and that it
placed the purse in the hands Of the President and
gave him dangerous control ofthe national treas
ury; and if they obtained possession OF the govern
ment, that dangerous executive control should be
abolished So, one of the first acts of the federal
coon administration was to repeal the independent
treasury, without making any provision for the safe
keeping and secure disbursement Of the public rev.
enue. The consequence was, that the President
and his secretary, ipso facto, acquired the entire
and uncontrolled possession and management OF
every dollar ofthe public revenue, and have so en-
loved it from that dayto this. The violation of
that promise call faIsehood No. A.
1t was urged that the administration OF Gen jack
son and Mr.. Van Buren were proscriptive admin
istratons; that they were administrations ofa par
ty and not of the people; that no man was permit
ted 10 share in the discharge of official duties, ex-
cept those who were partizans to the principles and
supporters of their administrations; merit, worth,
honesty and talents, were no recommendation, &C.
All this was false; for throughout both the admin
| istrations of Gen. Jackson and Mr.. Van Buren,,
there were more federalists who held office under
the general Government than democrats But
have no time to detail single whig falSehoods; !
must limit myself to generals. II was said that
such system of unrelenting prescription, was de-
moralizing, and was corupting the morals and pros
rating the patriotism Of the nation; and If the dem
ocracy could be overthrown, "pros1iption should
be proscribed' "Proscriptioa prescribed" was
one of the federal coon banners. 451 .
Here Mr.. Duncan held up whig banner bear
| ing this inscription:] + W - ..iaa
PRESCRIPTION
] TO BE '-
PRESCRIBED. - '-- -
No man was to be turned out Of Office for opin.
ions sake. The only question was to be, sis he
honest, is he capable" All this, twas wellknown
was contemplate cant and miserable hypocrisy :
For one month before the Presidential inaugura
ton, this city was crowded with office seekers
loafers, and louugers lean, long and lank, to the
number lit was said) gilmore than thirty thousand
know that every public and private house (ans
some houses that shall not name) were full from
garret to cellar; and filled the houses were it wa
impossible to walk steps at time in the avenue
without being jostled by some staggering, hungry
federal loafer. They seemed to have flocked from
every part and every longitude, and every latitude
and every zone, torrid, temperate, and frigid, o
this wide spread Union, numerous as the locusts
the lice, and the frogs of Egypt iand more devour
ing and destructive Old federalists, who had beeI
drlyeninto caves with the Adamses, where the
had slept for forty years, walked up, came forth II
their mothriddled, antiquated garbs, staggering Oh
their worm-eaten slaves, dragging their withered
emacated care asses and shaking their gray locks
such gathering never before was seen; such
gathering never will again be seen, until the Sc
shall give up her dead at the summons of the las
trump. Well, the Inauguration came, and with II
as first step, the dismissal Of every chief demo
cratic officer at the head ofevery department Of th
, Government then commenced the guillotine. TIL
axe was not permitted to dry, nor the executione
+ to sleep; each head in each department We'd wit
each o!he. il; i, tiie work Of execution, But Grange
and Ewing went ahead, and even surpassed Robes
pierre, their worthy master and patron The tri'
was more summary than that OF the victims OF tn
: triumvrate. The inquiry to each victim was no
"L he capable, ishe honest?" 1t was, "Are 20
democrat' Do you belong to the democratic al
sociation, and are you subscriber to the EXIT
f Globe!" The answer being in the affirmative
offwent his head. Bring forward another; SO
went. Such was the inquisition-such the guile
tine--such the Robespierres, and such the fate {
f the victims. ,fo 7'i4
I Mr. Speaker, there were more men prescribe
for opinions sake the first six months Of this admin
isration, than there were from the first day of GeI
, Washington's administration to the lastday of Ma
{ tin Van Buren's So ] make '.prosc,lption pr,
ser.bed" general falsehood No. 6. gaa7 E5E
One ofthe charges of extravaganza against M
Van Buren, administration was the spruaeeiy man
ner" in which the Presidents house was Furnished
! That falsehood was negatyed by the appropriatio
Of six thousand dollars, made to furnish the Pres
, dents house at the commencement fthis admins
! tration. That appropriation. was properly made
, the Presidents House required it; but the appl
! cation ofthe money was not made as intended.
, do not know what was done with all the money;
, think known what was done with part of il.