The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-10-04

condemned and doomed party" Where is the
evidence OF that "doom and condemnation" Not
he:e, sir. The firm nerves, placid smiles, and
side, gone; in their place you see the exciabii
ty, the quivering lip, and the trembling nerve Of
doubt and fear. Sir, the shroud and the tomb pre-
pared for US by those kind gentlemen, will perform
for them the kind office, that Haman's gallows
did for him.
Now, sir, having answ cred and refuted the char
ges made against the late administration of extrava-
gance, and against Mr.. Polk, propose to look
into some of the acts, speeches, and principles of
Mr.. Clay. In dong SO, | Ay not initiate tn ex-
amples which have been set me, by garbIing, or
destroying, or preventing the true meaning of Mr..
Clay, as has been done in reference to Mr. Van
Buren; nor will Intentionally misrepresent him.
intend to present him, as he has presented him.
self in his public character to the country; setting
down such things only as are matters of record or
general public notoriety, Sir, I am for carrying
the war into Africa.
THE UNITED STATES BANK.
In the year 1871, Mr.. Clay was in the Senate.
The question rechartering the United States
bank came up in that body, and Mr.. Clay spoke in
opposition to it, and said
ale did not mean that it had been made party
question in the Senate. His ausion was else
where. do not think it altogether fair to refer to
the discussions in the House of Representatives as
gentlemen belonging to that body have no oppor-
tunity of defending themselves here II is true
that this law was not the effect but il is no less
true that it was one of the causes, of the political
divisions in this country. And if, during the agi-
tatlon of this question, the renewal has, on one
side, been opposed on party principles, let me ask
IT, on the other, it has not been advocated on simi-
lar principles' Where is the Macedonian phalanx:
the opposition in Congress' believe, sirI, shall
not incur the charge of presumptuous prophecy,
when predict that we shall not pick up from its
ranks single straggler. And if, on this occasion,
my worthy friend from Georgia [Mr. William II.
Crawiordl has gone ODer into the camp Ofthe enc
my is it kind in him to look back upon his former
friends, and rebuke them for the fidelity with
which they adhere to their old principles:"
He placed Mr.. Crawford in the ranks of the
enemy, because he supported the bank. He charg.
ed him with deserving his old principles. Sir,
where stands Mr.. Clay now? Not in the ranks of
the enemy. No, sir, but at their head he wears
the epaulete, the plume, the sword, and spreads
to the breeze the banner of the leader-the COM
A deserter from his sold prin-
ciples" He is at the head Of 'the Macedonian
phdlqnr" r"-absolute as Philip or Alexander.
1T WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Mr. Clay said:
"This vagrant power to erect bank, after
having wandered throughout the whole consti-
tuition II quest OF sope Congenia spot whei con TO
fasten, has been at length located by the gentleman
from Georgia, [Mr. Crawford,l on that provision !
which authorizes Congress to lay and collect
taxes, sc. In 1871, the power is referred TO one
of the instruments; in 1911 to another. Some !
times it is alleged to be deducable from the power
to regulate commerce Hard pressed here, it |
disappears, and shows itself under the grant to coin
money. The sagacious Secretary of the Treasury
in 1871, (meaning Alexander Hamilton pursued |
the wlsest course; he has taken shelter behind |
general, highsounding and imposing terms. He !
has declared in the preamble TO the act establishing
he bank, that it will be very c0hduciUe to the |
successful conducting the national finances: will
end to give facility to tue obtaining of loans;
md will be productive OF considerable advantage
o trade and industry in general"
Where does he find ''ths vagrant power to erect
| bank" Is it still wandering up and down the
constitutions Has he not adopted "the wisest
course" of the secretary, Mr.. Hamilton, and
taken shelter behind general, high sounding, and
IMPOSING terms" Occupying the same position,
t is natural that he should use the same ''high
ounding terms" to effect the same object
THE INCIDENTAL POWER TO CREATE
THE BANK.
On this point, Mr.. Clay used the following lam
,uage:
"The accessory is exalted above the principal
Us well might it be said that the great luminarv of
lay is an accessory-a satellite to the humbIest
tar that twinklcs forth its feeble light in the
ornament Of heaven"
And now he would convince the world that the
umblest star is the principal, and the great umi-
AIRY of day its satete-that the incident is
uperior to the principal. Consistency, thou art
ewell
'ALsE PROPHECIES IN 1900 AS WELL
AS IN 1874.
Mr.. Clay said /:
"Upon the change of parties in 1850, it must
G well recollected that the greatest calamfties
fere predicted as consequences of that event.
mentions were ascribed 10 the new occupants of
over, of violating the public faith and prostratng
ationa credit Under such circumstances, that
ley should actwith circumspecuon was quite natu-
al. They saw in operation bank, chartered by
congress who had as much right TO judge of their
powers as their successors"
The spirit of federalism, like its principles,
emains unchanged through period IF more than
,rty years. The same 'caamities are predicted"
nd always have been predicted, as consequences
f the success of the democratic party The man
tho was the first to expose and rebuke these S
nfounded assertions, is now the loudest in .
them against the same party, and his a
wn sold principles" i
HE CONSTITUTION SUPERIOR TO PRE- !
CEDENTS. +
On this subject he said: f
"Here no rule exists hut the constitution; and
legisate upon the ground merely that our
'edecessors thought themselves authorized, under
mar circumstances, to legislate is to sanctify =.
ror and perpetuate usurpaton." .
Now, how changed Every thing is justified
7 precedent; 1t has become superior to the