Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-06-16

han I With mine, yet there are OCCASIONS !
md this is one of them-on which do not q
eel myself at liberty to follow the natural bent l
If my own inclination. 1t is known to you, [
ir, and 10 many others in this hall, that be-
onged to the southern army commanded by
Zen. Jackson, in the years 1914 and 1915 1t
will, therefore, be presumed, and correctly '
presumed, that / am somewhat familiar with
he prominent facts and circumstances which
ed to the declaration and enforcement of mar
ial law, and for which the fine proposed to be
RENTED by the bill now under consideration
was inflicted. 1t is also known to you, Sir
at least it is well known 10 my constituents
that have ever been the warm personal ana
political friend OF that distinguished gentle-
man. Nay, sir, that was once, but not then,
a member of his military family Cnder all
these circumstances, were TO remain sleht'
and listen to such debate as that to which
this subject has given rise, there could be but
one of two opinions formed as to the cause OF
that silence. 1t would either be said that |
deemed the conduct of Cen Jackson utterly
indefensible, or that shrunk from that de-
fence. Neither of them shall be said in ad
vance, whatever else may be SAID when | shall
have taken my seat.
What, sir, is the proposition before us =
of fine, inflicted, as he contends, for the per-
Torrance of an act of imperative duty, and
one essential 10 the service of the county
And yet, sir, see with equal pain and surprise
that this simple proposition, which ought to
depend upon truth and Justice alone, is fast as
Stunning, if it has not already assumed, a deci-
ded party character. am asked, on my right
and on my left, why the democratic party did
not pass such law when in power Do gen
tlemen who make this inquiry wish to leave
the inference that the democratic party have
shrunk from doing so This no one does or
can believe. Why should this be peculiarly
a democratic measure? Had the wings no
part in the defence of New Orleans? Were
none of them, or none of their friends there
If they cherish no proud recollections of that
glorious defence, and are willing to yield up
all TO the democratic party, then, indeed, there
might be some pretence for making this par
ty question But, sir, | know it is far other
wise know that every patriot in the land
feels his heart bound prouder within him, as
his eye falls on that immortal page in his coun-
try's history; and he feels that such achieve
ments are nations, not party's wealth.
Still hear the question repeated on all sides,
why is this measure forced upon whig
Congress % 1t may be, sir, for the express
purpose of afording that party the opportunl-
ty to prove to the world that justice and mag
nanimity are still to be found in its ranks; or
it may be for precisely the opposite reason. |
understand, however, it has been done in ODE
dience to the voice of public sentiment-act-
ing, no doubt, on the known wishes of Gen'l
Jackson TO be released from a fine which he
believes unjust, and therefore, and therefore
only, oppressive. If my wish were to make
political capital, and could consent to resort
to such measure for such purpose, nothing
could please me more than to witness the par
ty bias attempted to be given to it, Sir, will
your party, with all its knowledge and talents,
never have the wisdom to appreciate the Anne
) rican people? Lay this question before them
> in your next canvass, and you will at least
learn that ingratitude and In ustlce to those
who have freely periled their lives in defence
of their country form no part of their charac-
ter
Before proceed farther upon the merits of
the question under consideration, permit me
to say few words in reply to part of the
speech of the venerable gentleman [Mr. Adj
ans mot on its merits. ! will first read from
the Globes report of that speech the follow
ing paragraph:
"Rumors were afoat-he could not, Of
course, vouch for theiNtruth-that the great
presidential question between the various d.
visions of the democratic party was to be ul-
timately decided by General Jackson himself
1t seemed to be given out that be was to be
the president of the national democratic con-
vention and who knew what the result would
be? Such were the rumors which were a.
float From what the House had seen, it was
clear that all the divisions of the party were
: humble suitors for the goodwill or neutrality
Of 1o 1Ir
sign the paragraph in the message of the Pre-,
sident to that purpose. The President alone
knew what were his motives; and therefore
he (Mr. Az would not say that this was 6
bid in the great auction. If it was, however
bid, he would say that it was not very
good one. He thought the war worn veter
l an would say that such bid won't do. A
any rate, he wished to have the trial made, by
putting the bill in precisely the same terms re
commended by the President, in order to SEE
whether the 'war-worn veteran would take
: ito
Now, sir, will not pretend TO decide wha
) influence Gen. Jackson may have in future
; president making. 1t however, we'll known
|! and to none better than the venerable gen
! teman Mr. Adams1 himsef-that the old he
70, in his day, was esteemed a most capita
> president breaker. And even if it were true
that, in one character, he has drawn supper
; to this bill, no one can doubt that, in the 9th
: er, he has excited against it most deadly anC
unreleEting opposition. That the gentleman
Mr. Adams] cannot consistently oppose it OF
: the usual ground-the unwarrantable assump
: ton of power-is manifest from the fact, tina
: he has himself most triumphantly vindcateC
: the same general from similar exercise o
!, power, on the ground of necessity, and in
! much more questionable case. We are, there
I fore, to seek elsewhere for that gentleman
i oppositon nor is it difficult TO find. Hal
0 Gen Jackson retired to private life al the clos
: of his military career-had he but worn meek
y those honors which he won proudly, HI
e might have gone down the vale of years fol
q lowed by the prayers and blessings of all hi
Il laurels growing fresher and greener at every
;, step of his pilgrimage, until standing. as HI
Il now does, on the blink of the grave, they
Il would have caught bright reflection OF tht
: world beyond it. This bill would then bav,
II passed on its merits, and passed by acclama
: ton. But, sir, he dared do otherwise. HI
S dared throw his tall, straight shadow across
e the crooked path of mad ambition. He daret
= resist that combination, trick, and juggery
by which federal dynasty was foisted upor
S a free country. He dared appeal-and appea
: successfully-from the peoples servants It
: the people themselves And, above all, sir
/: he dared strike TO dust corrupt moneyed mo
nopoy, alike essential in every age and coun
: try to the existence of such dynasty. This
- sir, is the front of his offending-thls has az
| NVNI IL