The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-01-22
Speech of Mr.. Stewart.

The following is an extract from ;
speech by Hon. Andrew Stewart of Pa.
in the House of Representatives, January
18th.
Mr.. STEWART, of Pennsylvania
said, that when he obtained the floor, il
had been with no design or desire to re.
ply to the remarks of the gentleman
over the way from Illinois, Mr.. Nc.
CLERNAND,l in laudation of the President
and the policy of his administration. He
had had very different object in view
But he felt so strongly tempted to say a
few words in reply that he could not
wholly refrain, but would occupy
only few minutes in making few pass
ing remarks on some of the positions the
gentleman had taken.
The eloquent gentleman from Illinois
had pronounced most splendid and high
wrought eulogium on the President OF
the United States. 1t was eulogy not
on any one of the departed, but on the
living, ruling, reigning President of the
day. The gentleman informed the men,
bers of the House that ours was ga MODEL
President" As for such Presidents as
Washington, and Madison, and JEFF
ferson, they sank into utter insig-
niicance before the finished perfection
of James K. Polk, the "model President"
now living. And the gentleman went
on to say that it had been reserved for
this, our model President, to build up
the great Democratic column that was to
stand as the bright and enduring monu-
ment Of his administration. Well, sir,
inquired Mr.. S., and what sort of a COL
umn is it, And how has it been erect
ed! In the first place, in order to clear
a place for it to stand on, this model
President began by tearing down and ut
terly demolished the great Democratic
column which Washington, and Jetler-
son, and Madison, and Monroe, had, by
their joint labors, built up. And when
he had got this down, then he set him
self to work to build up new one in its
place-a column of military glory. Built
Of WHAT Why, sir, of the bones of the
best portion ofthe American people, VIC
Tins of the climate and ofthe sword in
foreign land, and he has cemcnted 1t with
their blood. The old Washington and
Jefferson column-a column of wisdom
and ofpeace-had long stood amidst the
storms of our political atmosphere; and
when and how was that erected. At the
foundation lay the great system OF inter-
nal Improvements, recommended first by
Washington himself, and sustained as the
policy of every subsequent Administra-
tlon-rivers, harbors, and all. (The gen.
tlcman quite forgot to tell us that in
knocking down the old column, he had
utterly demolished the only system by
which his own constituents and his own
district and State ever had, or ever would
receive single dollar out of the United
States treasury this he entirely omitted
to mention.) The second stone in this
glorious old Washingtonian column was
the great protective system. This he has
laid flat with the ground, that he might
replace it by system which must soon
come to direct taxation, in order to sus-
tain the extravaganza and crafty the am
bition of this our model President. The
old Democratic column OF Jefferson and
Washington being thus demolished, how
is this new Polk column constructed
this magnificent column which has call
ed forth to so enthusiastic degree the
admiration of the honorable gentleman
from Illinois! The first, the foundation
stone of this stupendous structure, was
the sub-treasury; and so worthy was
this of its important position that in a
little while the Administration would
not have single dollar to place in its
vaults; no, not one bit Of coin to Jingle
against another; and Congress would soon
be refreshed by an appeal from this mod
ell man to repeal the great sub-treasury
law. The next stone in this modern
democratic column was the present glo-
rious wAR-a war OF which the gentle
man from Illinois boosted, and which
had been brought on by the President
himself. In that the gentleman was GER
tainly right. The war was brought on
by the President alone, by his own, in
dividual act, without submitting the ques
ton of its propriety to Congress, then
in session at the other end of the avenue.
For all that has followed that act he is
responsible, and he may have the glory
and responsibility together. Next came
a great and overshadowing navy. And
the stone that next was laid was tre-
mendous national debt. Yes, that was
his Jeffersonian Democracy; that was
his admiration for Jeffersonian doctrine.
Next was built into this column vast
standing army of ninety or one hundred
thousand men; and to crown the whole.
system of oppressive taxation to dis
, charge the debt, imposed not on foreign
ers, but upon the labor and domestic in
, dustry of the people of the United States
Here stood the magnificent Democratic