The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-03-29
REMARKS OF MR.. ARcHBoLD,

1874, tie question pending being on agreeing
to the report of Mr.. Duncan, from the majori-
fy of The committee Of Conference on the Re
frnchment Bill
Mr. ARcHBoLp said: That members who felt |
it their duty to vote against agreeing to the report
of the committee of Conference, could not, by any
legitimate mode ofreasoning. be charged with op- |
position to the whole bill, with any design to de-
feat its final passage, when placed in more accep-
table shape. He could not conceive how gentle
men arrived at the conclusion, that second CON-
mittee of Conference would endanger the bill. 1t
certainly could have no such effect, il members re-
mained firm in their determination in its favor In
! that case, the commitment to second committee
of Conference, wouldno more endanger the life of
the bill than the passage ofmembers from this Hall
to that of the American, at dinner time would en-
danger their personal safety. The committee of
Conference could report by Monday or Tuesday
Gentlemen need not suspect him Of any covert de-
sign to defeat the bill. lfsuch were his objecthe
would avow it. He preferred marching to his OBJ
iect in right line, rather than by any sinuous paths
The shortest and most direct route was not only
the BEST but the safest. Be frank with the world,
was maxim, not only of morality but of sound pol
icy Was there man within these walls who
could bear to trifle with generous and confding
constituency! Was there man who was about to
support this bill, with all its imperfectons its
head, from mere temporzing views Of expediency,
or from selfish calculation of its effects on his
own personal or political prospects? If such there
were, he could not but warn them that selfishness
was often mistaken, and that crooked policy often
defeated its own ends. He almost asked pardon of
the House for making these suggestions. Hecould
not, and would not suppose that gentlemen were
conscious to themselves of acting from such mo-
tives; but such motives might give bias to their
thoughts, and even direction to their official con-
duct, without perfect consciousness, on their part
of the influence under which they were acting
The illusions of self-love would account for this.
And it was necessary on trying occasions like the
present, to listen to the voice of that stern arbter
within the breast, who demanded Unlimited obedi-
ence to the hard dictates ofduty without reference
to oexpediency; and even to strengthen the impress
sion of that voice by recollection of that inexora-
BILE bar before which representatives and constitu
ents must alike appear.
Itcould not be denied that the bill had imperfec-
tons, as he had fully pointed out those imperfec-
tons in former stage OF the proceedings, decent
self-respect, and regard for consistency, without
which, selfrespect could not be maintained, de-
manded that he should not yield it his unlimited
assent, without an effort to purge off its imperec
tons.
Indeed, if he was inclined to sacrifice his sense of
duty, 10 his love of case, he was not in situation
to crafty his inclinations. He had been treated
with mmeasurable cruelty aud injustice by the
newspaper.press, and some of its bierest denunci-
ations had been heaped on his head, in reference to
his former action on this bill. He stood and acted
in the presence ofvigilant and impacable political
enemies, and if they could successfully fasten on
him charge of inconsistency, the vocabulary of
Billingsgate and the Fivepoints, would be ransack-
ed for terms and epithes of opprobium and re-
proach, with which to load him. He had, there
fore, no choice left, whether he listened to the
voice ofduty or Of expediency, he must maintain
his former position. Endeavor to amend, and then
support the bill. Gentlemen need not doubt this.
He made no boast ofpolitcal acumen, but he trust
ed he had enough ofthat quality to perceive, what
the situation of himself, and few of his more i'm
mediate political friends, demanded They had
been sneerngly called TREASURY GUARDS.
This epithet had been bestowed upon them, as
term ofcontumely and reproach. He ventured 10
predict, that it would yet become title, not ofre-
proach, but OF honor. That the time would, ere
long, arrive, when gentlemen would wish that they
had joined that little crops Of undaunted spirits, who
constituted the original TREASURY GUARDS
That the Journals would be ransacked, and some
times in vain, in order to show The smallest glimpse
oftitle to that appellaon. The passage of this BILL
would create allies to the GUARDS. in every Coun-
ty in the State. Sel-interest was sharp-sighted.-
Men, who were required to perform onerous du-
ties for inadequate compensation, would soon dis
cover the origin of the public burthens. They
would discover, that the Canal tax stood in relation
to the general revenue nearly in the proportion of
six to one, in other words, that the people of this
good State, were burthened with an annual charge
equal to the maintenance of seven such govern
ments as our own. He knew that, nominally, the
disproportion not so great but large transfers
had been made from the civil list, to the canal fund.
Men would soon perceive, that the voice Of the
man, who was endeavoriug to call the government
back to the performance Of its simple and appropri
ate duties, was not the voice of Jacobin, agra
rian, adisorganzer, and barn-burner as some gen.
temen in ther excited feelings, had mistakenly de-
clared, soon after the commencement of the ses-
sion. Men would begin to perceive, in that voice,
the tones of mild and beniiicent philosophy, call
ing for the action of the government to descend,
like the dews of Heaven, in blessings and benefits
upon all-n heavy burthens and rigorous exactions
upon none. He must be dull, indeed, if he did not
nerceYe these advantages 10 himself and his poliii-