The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-06

freedom of industry all its branches OF art trade and
commerce the constitutional freedom, in all its integrity,
Of the people who claim me continent as the centre point
pursuit OF their legitimate Interests and the development
of their destiny This freedom il rs reaching in the do
main of mind But al the time MIR. Boyd entered Con-
gress, this all chaos and contest The democratic
party had bitter reflections OF the past and memories OF
tyranny which grated harshy on the mind Among
under the alien and sedition law" and the belief
that in these infections the constitution Oh the land
had been invaded. and the rights OF the citizens vio-
lated Aud TO vndicae the citizen VINO SUFFERED ana me
high law which had been dsregarded solemn reversal
OF these monsrous judgments was demanded oy tue Tenn
per OF the times and OF justice ne case OF
Mathew Lyon, the intelligent and manly mechanic, pre-
scented an appropriate opportunity He had daredn de-
fence of his rights in defence OF the right oil all c
and for the freedom OF speech and acon gua,a
tied TO him and 10 all by the consttutonhe had Dared IN
firm, manly and patriotic MANNER 10 arragn those laws
and their authors at the bar OF public opinion and ne was
condemned to the loss of fine and Murious niamy OF
an Imprisonment In 1885, Mr.. Boyd brought forward
the bill to refund this fine and interest TO his heirs and
this tardy act of Justice yet significant in ITS meaning was
consummated in 1882 Thus was rebuked and reversed
the Judgment OF obsequious court, always consoida
ting and arsocrac in It's tendencies, and In that case adj
mnsering unconstitutional law, and imposing on an
humble citizen punishment for exercising the freedom
OF Speech in exposing the tyranny OF rulers and the In
justice of their laws This public Judgment OF re-
vesa and attant passed upon administration eminent
for its ability. yet Infamous for the i espoused.
and the laws which, for while, II imposed upon the
country Such was Mr. Boyd's introduction the thea
TIRE Of national politics.
How wonderfully extremes meet-as il by contrast
Providence presenting these extremes to teach the
examples Of patriotism and the limits OF law and power
Lyon fined because he exercised private individual
right; the victorious General al New Orleans was fined
because, from the necessity of position, he compelled
TO assume The highest sovereign power which the consl
tuition can warrant or the supremacy OF the laws permit
utona necessity OF the other became the grave and SOL
emn duty of public judgment; and the rights OF the me-
chanlc patriot representing the rights OF all clzens and
the fame OF the hero from his victorious battle field were
alike maintained by the great party rendering its
judgments on the page OF history and in the records OF
the present biography we find the same man steadily pur
suing his purposes and maintaining great principles
Mr. Boyd came into Congress on the top OF the wave.
The food-tide OF faacous and ransitory prosperity
was bearing everything on its swelling bosom the Bank
OF the United Saies time contracting the supply to
the channels OF commerce and trade until the region
through which they passed arid and barren
waste at another tme as them il OVERLOOKED the coun
try until the harvest and tlth of future years de-
stroyed by the excessive foods poured forth from faing
sources OF supply. General Jackson's administration
closed when all the of this false prosperity
pouring their floods upon the country The presidential
contest of 1886 came and in its result was saked,
boldly and manully, the success oil democratic principles
the hand and the union OF bank and Safe on the
other The democratic masses, impeed by the instincts
OF their common humanities and guided by sound con.
stuona principles mustered in the field OF contest and
the laurels OF noble victory But the bank party,
stronger in its adversely, most powerful in the crash OF
Ills stupendous ruins most dangerous In the collected will
and vndctye purpose OF dying struggle and last re-
venge, made one more effort. Confidence annihi-
lated moral cohesons destroyed in the infection OF
the times legal obligations dsavowed, and the
privileges of incorporated companies were converted into
powers Tor the resistance and overthrow OF the laws
The Bank OF the United States standing the remend
precpce of its ruin suspended specie payments.
The world was amazed the CONFUSION and the terror
spread over the country bank followed bank; and the
monetary power in the very ruin which It created was
omnpoent II is well to revive the recollection of this
catastrophe, and the pbrensy which accompanied it and
q
this moment when another expansion OF the paper clrcu-
ation is tending rapidly 10 the same dangerous-nay,
elements and personal and party nrgues, may njure the
industry and labor OF the people and destroy the public
moras-these the only solid foundations of republic
The swelling waves are gathering around us again.
In this hour oil seeming peril and real phrensy Mr. Van
Buren, convoked Congress. His proclamation conveyed
definite information, and proposed no system OF policy
In this state OF popular alarm and uncertain policy, the
election for members OF Congress came on, and Mr.
Boyd found himself opposed bya democratic candidate,
contending for Bank OF the United States and urging
upon the people It's necessy and the circumstances OF
the times and the experience OF the past had compelled
the administration to call extraordinary session of
Congress- in order 10 restore this giant power its
thronement above the laws and the constitution With
out any knowledge OF the purposes OF the admnstra-
onwithout counsel to consult, except his own republic
princlpes-wthout power TO aid, except his in
hexbity of purpose and the integrity of the people, and
pressed by the phrensled fanatcism OF party and the
surrounding terror OF the convulsion-he boldly in ad
vance OF the politicians OF the time, planted himself in
defence OF the mutllated and abandoned constitution of
his country. He urged tina, the system of Hamilton
should be oyehrown he maintained that the time had
for final and Tevocabe divorce of bank from the
State and that the country could only be safe from the
rocking commissions OF constantly contracting and ex-
panding currency by being firmly and duraby based on
the solid metal ~, the iron chest The malady of the times
infectious; the moral cohesion OF the democratic
party was TO some extent dissolved and the banner OF
sa friend and gallant leader railed in the dust OF
defeat!
The Bank of the United States, stimulating specua-
ton, fostering extravaganza systemazing venalty, and
spreading its fatal corruptions into domestic circles and
legislative councils had laid the foundation for bank
ruptcy, individual in It's effects but national in its char
acer. 1t helped TO ruin as il was ruined. Victims were
found in cities town, and hamles; and IFS desoatons
like the sack OF city, involved the guilty and the guilt
less Society could only be relieved by means more in
furious than the affected TO remove for the kgs
iaiiue decree of bankruptcy which passed by Con-
gress involved disregard for constitutional restraints
and the morale OF personal responsibility To vindicate
the former by timely declaration and avenge the lat
ter by historical stigma the doors and the deed
final struggle after many days OF contest and legislative
eyssons and delays, terminated by the imperative
motion oil Mr.. Boyd, the 18th January, s42 instruct
ing the Committee on the Judiciary 10 report bill
tanier Tor the repeal OF the bankrupt act The grand
drama which opened with the spendos OF the bank and
through many maintained the pageants OF stocks
exchanges, specuatons prohgacy, and vena vice. in
wangs of the bankrupt act man who was victim
in its progress for an hour appeared in the end vim
dicator OF an age
Although defeated by small majority as stated, vet
the sagacty and foresight OF Mr. Boyd in planting him
self on the Independent treasury and the constitutional
currency advance OF the statesmen of that day. was
remembered and faithfully vndicated, and rewarded by
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