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c.ii’t li a■•<!
I'wo-thitfS bulwarks
anti iipiw cks ofthe R-'Ver, without the
*'i °rrpwsmlw z- Buntline eave one glance
totfieuark forhtafi.f thethema . that crowded
his forecastle; anti applying ,he t'"" i r e!
his month, thundered forth the word ‘ Liberty !
In an instant the Americans, who had gathered
■shaft the main-mast. 5 eapi di’rom the hammocks
and nettings, ai d sprung like so m; ny cats upo.
the deck and in the rigging of the Englishman.
Like a torrent they swept away the few who
had remained on board of her ; and now, rang
ing themselves along the bulwarks, they pre
pared to repel the enemy ss they attempted to
r, gain their own ship.
“Cast oft' the ainppols !” shouted Buntline.
and that loud ord- r awoke the Britons from the
stupor of amazement in which they wen
throWtl by the sudden and singular mov moot
inf their opponents. They mounted the bul
warks and endeavoured to regain their owe
vessel; but they were everywhere met by
(opposingcutlasses. In vain they press’d—i
Vain they thronged; th y were < very where
driven back upon the Rs ver’s deck, or pu md
into the sea. They rushed frantically forward,
but their hopes were baseless: they might as
well have attempted to force a wad oi is on, as
to beutback that rat.k of hi roes. Some of th ir
opponents seized a huge spar, and were push
ing the two vessels apart. They separated—
they were yards asstmder —and the unscathed
English brig, with her yankce er. w. f reed a
head, leaving the shattered, harmless onlk o.
'the Rovei in the hands of a hundred distracted
Britons!
Three of the wil lest huzzas that ever yet
rang upon a startling ocean, burst forth from
the lips of the victorious Americans, as the star
spangled banner unfolded itself from the peak
of the prize : then pileafter pile of canvas rose
upon her tapering spars; and when the sun
that night sought his ocean bed, a wide ash
of blue water rolled between the statily pviz
ofthe Americans, and the shattered wreck oi
their once trallai.t privateer.
Cewr®.
Speech ol* ,Wr. Robea'tsosa,
(of Virginia,)
On Mr. Wise's Resolution to inquire into the
'condition of the Executive Departments
Delivered in the House of Representatives,
on the 4t/i and sth of January, 1837.
Mr. ROBERTSON began with observing
that, although entitled to the floor, he had not
intended io interrupt the business in which the
House had been just engaged, by a Call for
the order of the day. I a truth, he should have
preferred that the subject now under consid
eration should have b < i permitted to lie over,
until hi- colleague, who had presented the ori
ginal resolution (Mr. Wise,) should be present
to defend it. But it had been the pleasure of
the House to order it otherwise ; and, co, cut -
Hn'g, as he did, in the propriety of that resolu
lion, he should relucta tly assume the task,
which his colleague would have so much moi"
ably performed, of vindicating it against th
objections urged m debate, a id the itisiduous
attempt, bv way of amendment, to defeat it.
The present discussion, said Mr. R., has
been pronounced by a gentlcma •, who took
part in it, (Mr. Mann, of New York,) one o
the most useless that ever occurred i > this Hall.
And, as far as respects the success of the pro
posed measure, the remark, judging fn>m the
fate of similar efforts to obtain the privilege ot
inquiring into the condition of th ■ Executiv
Departments, may be perfectly just. But th it
gentleman regards it as us less, because, he
tells us, no one now objects to the passage ot
'the resolution in some shape or other. A
shall see, sir, how this is when the vote shal
be taken. But granting it to be true, still it is
nil-important that the shape of the resolutio
be such as will attain the object in view. If
the form proposed by my colleague be adopt'd.
it will justify a thorough investigate i; if the
amendment prevail, all inquiry may be sup
pressed. Gentlemen, however disposed to in
vestigate, may be uuwilli ig to assume the ch.,
racter of accusers or witnesses. They may
not personally know the tr th of the facts in
to which they would inquire, nor ch >ose to
vouch for the suspicious which are abroad.
To demand a specific accusation before i-iqui
rv. is to reverse the order of proceeding
The verv purpose of an investigatio i is to as- :
Certain whether there is or is not grou. d for
accusation. If specific charges could be made
and sustained, without a previous inquiry, i -
quiry would be unnecessary ; we might pro
cecd. at once, to impeach the officer, or correct
the abuse. The shape of the resolution,
therefore, is i ot matter of form merely, as gen
tlemen would seem to imply. In one form it
will throw the door open to inquiry ; in anoth
er it slams it in your face. If the form be so
immaterial that ail discussion be us less, why.
sir, Was the resolution, originally pro >osed by
my colleague, not accepted at once? Why
has an amendment been offered so unaccepta
ble to him and to thus ■ who concur with him?
Unless this amendment was designed to pre
veut the full investiguti.» they ask, wh it pur
pose could it answ ”, xcept to pro' k>- that
useless debate, of which gentleme i complain,
and in which they have taken so large a share ?
Instead, imwever, of taking the vote upon a
resol'itio i which, it is said, ail are willing in
some shape to adopt, it has been vehemently
assailed, and a multitude of obj 'Ctio is, utterly
frivolous and inconsistent, have been arrayed
against it.
The gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr.
Pearce,) objec’s that it is not bold enough.
To use his own elegant metaphor, “it does
not take the bull b. the boras ” If gentle
men have a v thing to say against the Presi
dent, he desires it sh.ili b ■ done in due form,
and then, we are to u iderstand, till! latitud<
would be allowed. But he immediately refut s
his own objection ; for he adds that, i p issi ig
upon the acts of the President's ministers, we
necessarily pass upon him.
The gentleman from Louisiana, (Afr. Rip
ley,) on his part, objects to the resolution ex
pressly upon the ground that it is a direct as
sault upo i the President himself; that it im
putes to him falsehood and corruption ; and
declares, that to institute an i quiry would be
to sanction the charge. Thus, sir, one obj cts
because the resolution is not bold enough, the
other because it is too bold; one because it
does not take the bull bv the horns, the other
because it does. It is impossible tha’ both
can be right in the reasons assigned, yet both
will concur in voting against the resolution ;
and, shape our course as we may, we cannot
reconcile the one without disobliging the otn-
None will contend th it my colleague’s reso
lution is not sufficiently broad. That, sir. is
the fatal objection ; it was desig ed to be ef
fectual. Ge.‘tlerna i complain that it is too
broad; not spec/'/ic enough. It is v rv much,
says the ge iti in tii from New York, (M •'
M itin,) in the nature of a general search, icar
rant ; and the ge t| mm from I dia ia, (Mr.
Lane,) is opposed to a roving, unlimited, unre
stricted committee. Let. us suppos ■thitth sc
objections prevail, and tint, a commit t is ap
pointed under the restrictions imp s -1 by th
amendment. My colleague. as chair n an, pro
coeds at its head to the Treasury Department.
The sign of R •nb n M. Whitney, in I irg ■ ca
pitals, attracts his antic ■. My coll 'ague, y u
.know, str, has uivays manifested a stru-.g de-
sir? to i"V stig te the •■ature of the all ged
c > I’ cxi > h-tween IVhit ey a- . t-n'Ti asw.
lie is about to <• t. r. Stop, say the gentlemen,
specify your charges. I m::ko no; e, my col
league replies ; I come to institute an inquiry.
Then we cannot proceed, sir; ire. are not a ro
ving. unrestricted committee. B sidesi. sir, this
Mr. Whir '(-v is a private gentleman.; he occu
pies a barber’s shop. Barber’s shops doubt,
less may be found sometime.’ very convenient
appendages to banks, toeuab; them to shave
their customers; but my colleague might be
at.a’ossto understand what occasion there
could be fir one, if it boot' that description, «o
near the Treasury. Overruled, he proceeds
to the other Departments, lie requests to see
the official correspondence. What is your
specific charge I I wish to inquire into the
appointment or dismissal of such a d such offi
c ts ; the recent appointment of Barker, for
i .stance, who, it has been stated on this floor,
kept back the poll-books of an election for par
tv purpose, a :d has been rewarded with of
fice in the midst of an insulted and i dig larit
commit itv. Do you charge corruption, or a
base? No; my object is to inquire. We
can only inquire into specific charges. Permit
tn ■. then, to see the books cf the office. Hold,
sir; what particular entry do you allege to be
false, or fraudulent I 1 cannot'tt,?!, says my
< olleague, what the entries m iy disclose be
fore lam permitted to see them. That would
be in the nature of a. general search. He i.-
again ov-.ruled; the books remain s. ..l 1
books for him, and he returns from this fruitless
errand, as wise as he went. But h ■ makes a
r port ; and how does he respond to the broad
assertions of the message ? Is all right? Are
nur public functionaries all diligent, all honest?
Sir, he cannot answer the question. He ba.--
been permitted to open no book, to inspect no
record. And this mock examination is to b
claimed o > b half of men at the head of our
Ex cutive D partmeuts; of honorable men,
it is said, tv justly assailed I Were yon to en
ter the house of a suspected felon in search of
stolen goods, he might be expected to insist,
that general search-warrants were unconstitu
tional, and to forbid vou to open a closet, or
tur i a key, until you should specify, on oath,
the article alleged to have been purloined;
and, if brought to trial, he might call on som
quibbling attorney to seize on any flaw in the
indictment to get him off. But men filling high
and responsible stations cannot, without, disho
or, rely upon any defence which precludes a
thorough i vestigation into their official con
duct. Such a course would justly excite sus
picions, where no. e existed before ; and whee
they did, would confirm th.m. V. hut, sir,
would you thi de of the clerk of a ba k, or
other institution, over which yeti might preside,
who should refuse you permission to inspect
his books, unless vou should first make a spe
c tic charge, and designate the particular entry
to prove it? Would vou not infer guilt, a..
i st.i.itly dismiss him from vour service?
Sir, the investigation now proposed on th
part of the Public, in no respect differs front
that which every private institution or iadivi
dual is at liberty to tn ke. The people sure!}
have the same right to know in what way their
affairs are managed by th ir own agents.
They will ot be sat is fid that such aa iiv s
tiuation shall be denounced as inquisitorial
refused, unless their representatives shall st |
forward as witu sscs or accusers; or, it a ■
■owed, that commi’te-s shall be sect i .to th
public offices hoodwinked, tal tied down t
specific allegations. Still less will they agri
10 be told that the Executive officers are not
the servants of the People, but the President's
Ministers; more sacred even, than the Minis
tors of a King, that all inquiry i ito thwir co *
duct shall be suppressed, because the Pres,
I sit has borne testimony to th. ir fidelity, :i '
t > question that is to assail his v racitv
Yes, sir, such ar ■ the doctrines ow heard o
his Hour. To this complexion have we come
at last.
But, sir, while one gentleman (Mr. Riplev.
de ion.ices the proposed inquiry as i.nquisit
rial, and another (Mr. Laue) as wholly u ipre
cedonted, and the gentleman from Rhode 1.-
land is opposed to it, because it is already pro.
vided for by the rules of louse. Sever
ales the standing committees, he tells us,
ait'.o g others the Committee of Ways and
M a.iS, have authority iodo every thing con
templated by the resolution. If so, sir, sure
ly the proceeding is not without precedent ;
a id, if not inquisitorial in its character, why
does not the gentleman from Louisiana mot
to abolish the rules which require it? It is
impossible to reconcile these mconsistenter c>es.
There is othi g inquisitorial or illegal dema -
ded by he resolution. It proposes to i .sur
trie performance of an important duty which
we owe to the country, aid which has been
too long neglect 'd.
But if the gentleman from Indinnna (Mr.
La e,) will not regard the authority conferred
bv the rules of the House on its standing com
mittees as a precedent in point, what will he
say to the pr cedent in the case of the Post
Office examination? Aware of its force, In
sought to evade it by telling us, that that ex
amination was moved or by the Chairman of
’h Post Office Committee. What then, sir ?
T 1 ’ objection is not to the power, but to the
m.nnber who applies: not to the resolution,
but to the mover ? It would, indeed, appear
! so. But two days past, a resolution, offered
by o ieof my colleagues, (Mr. Garland,) to in-
■ q tire into ’li connexion between Whitney and
he Treasury, was .inauim.iusly adopted—una
nimously— hough, in substance, the same with
tlia which another colleague, on a different
si le of the House, (Mr. Wise,) had, during a
great part of th ■ last session, struggled in vatu
to carry through. Yes, sir, fortunately, th
Post Office i ivestigation was moved for by a
trie ,d of the Admi listration ; it was directed,
too, notwithstanding the President hid pro
claimed that all was well, by those who cer
tainly did not mean to impeach his veracity.
Vo specific charges were demanded. Toe
committee was vested with a sweeping autho
rity to examine, generally, into the condition
and proceedings of the Post Office Depart
m .it; and the result of its labors was the de
velopment of a mass of iniquity, seldom sur
passed in the history of the most corrupt Go
vernments. Suppose, sii, the doctrine of spe
cific itions had been then enforced. Who
could have specified the neglects, the frauds,
’he erasures, the corrupt and collusive practi
ces of every kind, which prevailed i i the 1)
partment, many of which were, for the first
time, discovered in the progress of the exami
nation, and astonished even those who suspec
ted most? What sized document wou'd it
have required to comprise the specifications?
And now, when an examination is ptoposed in
to all the /) parlments —every one of which,
it was once broadly intimated by an Adminis
tration go .tieman on this floor, (Mr. Smith.)
if the light, should h ■ I t in, would disclose si
ini'ar deli i piencies —it is gravely i isisted that
no inquiry shall be made, or, it atith n ize I,
that i' shall extend to o abuses except such as
shall be specifically alleged.
Sir, th re is no want, of authority in this
11 us’ ,or of piec dents, to jus ify a gene
ral ex.uni latio > into the condition and. proceed
ings '>f the Departments. AU th tis wanting
is ’he inclination to exert it. Gentl men
sho d I show pr cedent for refusing it. Duri ig
the last Admi istration, when Chiltons reso
lutions were u idi-r discussion, a ,d every spe
cies of eorruiitio imputed, the ge al man
I' o n Rh iI ■ I a id, wh > now calls for specific
charge., though dien a friend of that Adimms-
tr/mi, declared that tin; mo'o extensive t!
inquiry, the nr»re he should b - p cased. i
wish -d th.it a history of i's whole proceed!::;.:
cotti-l b- written in su..be;,m the heave,
that, all might see ; and th ■ Adm : u-Irmin:, p >
ty, to their honor, voted for the reso’.ut; ■■
without one di-y 7 ■ >iec. Wh it a <■<-
trust does not ,h. irco laet exhibit to that <.
the party now in power, who object to i i.pn
ry, while constantly proclaiming their wills.>;■
uess to meet it, because it may wound the l ! i\
sident? Or seek to shelter the public officer.'-
-i ler xc -pli-c.s io form '
A.re gc. 'tiiuii scrim n sir, in this demaw'
for specific iirgns? Why was it, thw., tb..-
a resolute -, .>[f ’.red last session, noma -,ding a
inquiry i to an alleged illicit cotitmxionbetween
’Vlbte , and th- Tri ■asurv. was rciieat.-di'.
a dfi ui’y rejected ? Ever- the amendme lof
f red ’ov mv colleague, from Ute Bru..swiek
hs rich (Mr. Dromgoob'.') proposing hmnblj
to solicit the information fn.m th.: S cr.-tary oi
the i reasurv, the officer implicated, ultimat. --
iy failed; the gentlemen now culling for speci
fications, (Messrs. Mat.n, Pi,'arc . Ripley, and
Laue,) with one voice volt g against the last
proposition to take it tin, made by my friend
fr.>m Accomack, (Mr. Vt. ■>,) and succeed 'd,
will; an administrate . tmj ritv of 51), i is:i
tling tdl iitqui 'y.
But. if it shall be the p’eas'tre of the House
to adopt the amendment; it'specific charges
must be made, it will, perhaps, not be so diffi
cult to present them as gentlemen may have
imagined. Charges have b' in made upon this
floor, upon authority which the gentleman from
Rhode Island, at least, will not question, well
meriting investigation. Sir. they were made
hy the gentleman himself. I was not.present;
but I am 'a t permitted to doidit, though it se. ins
almost incre- ible, that the g > th-in-tn who,
some four or five vears «pi, defiv> r- 'I a speech
in this II 11. on the resoiution relating to th ■
Wiscasset Collector, mid who her-’ the sei ' >
name, and represented the same State, is the
same, gentiem in who oft. red lh:i amwidm nt,
and whom I now bi-hold sitting near mo.
Heu ! quantum mutalus al> il'o ! i beg I- ave
to recapitulate some of th; most prominent
•harges.
Mr. Robertson then e -iirncrated a variety of
charges contained in the speech of the member
from Rhode Island, i i April. 1832. Congres
sional Debates, vol. 8, p, 23:)7. H a read pas
sages to show that the member had substan.
tially charged the Preside t a :d his parly—
IHzt’i neglecting the reform and retrench
ment they were pledged to effect;
irit/i viewing those who ha. i previously been
in ojfice 08 conquered, enem'es, and. the offices
themselves as the spoils of hie i iclors.
He said that the ge.itb ma ;, to use his own
•xpressive kingu m, hud • the bull by the
horns, and ha 1 ch rgecl the president hiqjself-
With improperly :ipy d.niing members of
Congress to office.;
With using his offici d patronage and. irf.u
ence to make Mr. Var -htren his successor ;
With content: ing '■ e authority of a. co-ordi
nate''ranch of the Go ernment. the Senate; and
With usurping or abusing the power if ap
‘ pointment.
Mr. R. commented upon these charges, and
he arguments and proofs adduced by the mem
!> r from Rhede Island in support of them.
He s till, th :t the abas s complained of hid
"■verb; en investigated,—that it was time to
■ quire iher the charges were well sou id
:!, md if so to provide a reined .-.
He observed, that to the list of members of
ongress named bv the member from Rhode
!sla :d, ou whom Executive favor h id been be
■■towed, numerous others might now be added ;
hat the President had indulged i i this prac
'ice, the co rupt tendency of which he had
Tins 'll’ poi ted out, to an u ex impled extent.
To the instances a i.lucei! to prove th? Pre.
• ide:.t’scontempt for the authority of the Sen
te—those of Stambaugh a id Rector—he
would add that of Gwinn, awl ih ■ more recent
c. se of the former Speak, r of this House;
i d argued that th President, i i keeping pcr
-■i sin offie” • . ' Senate had rejected,
•r keeping Kiiees vac.. ; which the public ser
vice required should b ■ fi'i <l, until the Senate
should conform to his will, had, i i effect, appro
priated the whole power of appointment to
i.ims' ls, and violated the Constitution, ia its
ri'. if ' ot in its letter.
In rega to the charge against him of u.-i g
his offi-. : atroiiage and mflue.ice in the ei i.
ion of liis successor, he would o ilv say that,
if the gentleman from Rhode Isl uid, nearly
ive ' ars past, saw grounds 'o believe that the
President had thrown “ his mantle” upon Mr.
Van Buren ;if he thought hims'lf justified in
.r se ting the vivid picture he then drew, of
he President with his pet candidate “on his
shoulders;” it was impossible he could have
seen any thing since io shake his belief; on
the contrary, the Gwiiai letter, the Baltimore
caucus, the late electioneering tour into Ten
nessee, were corroborati 'g proofs, with many
others, that the President had k< pt. his eve
steadily on his object, until it. had been finally
consummated.
While upon this subject, said Mr. R., as the
merits of the President elect have been brought
into discussion, 1 will take the occasion to sav
that, however reprehensible I may consider the
, manner of his elevation to the Presidencv, for
one I am unwilli g to preju lge his course;
still more, to proclaim in advance an uncom
promising hostility to his administration. He
is constitutionally elected. The People have,
at least, gone through the forms of an election :
and we owe it to them to give his measures a
candid consideration. Nor is there any tiling
in the course prescribed to him to justify, i:>
my opinion, predetermined opposition from anv
quarter. It is true, the humiliating co ditioii
has been imposed upon him offollowing in the
foots'eps, and carrying out the principles, as
they are called, of General Jackson : but this,
in reality, is no •■esti’ictio:; : it gives him full
latitude; a carte blanche to steer his course to
any point of the political compass, tor what
principle is there, or measure, which has ever
agitated or divid <1 the American People, in
respect to which General Jackson has not, at
different times, held opposite positions? Let
us test the operation of this pledge upon the
future policy of the Admiuistra'ion.
Will .Mr. Van Buren favor retrenchment and.
reform I )Vhv, sir, so did General Jackson :
it. was the very watchword ofthe party. Will
he set his face agai .st them ’ He may plea: 1
.he example of i s predecessor.
Will he reco tend a protecting Tariff —
He will find full ■.• 1 11?'> i’it. in th,', early messa
ges oi General Jack.- and his course during
the controversy with South Carolina. Will
he discountenance the principle of protection ?
The (atei messages, especially tlie last, if they
do not abandon it, f: liter it away until it ceas
es to be of any practical importance: besides,
General Jackson was always for a judicious
tariff; a,:d that we know is any tariff that is
popular with 'he majority.
A Nation Bank: wh it course will he take
in relation to that ? The prediction has been
ma le, bv far-sighted politicians, that fimryears
will nt e! use, certainly not five, before such
an iusl mon will bu organized. I trust, sir,
it is a false prophecy. But Mr. Van Buren
may recommend or approve it. in conformity
with the opi ions of Gen. Jackson in the mes
sages of 1829 and 1830; or he may denounce
uncompromising hostility, and refer to the bat
tle with the monster.
Internal Improvement: will ho oppose the
d 'Ctriie ? We sh ill l»‘ told it had been long I
since crushed beneath the Maysville veto.— '
Si nzaern©S ft t® ♦
ill h • sanction it ? The c ortri'.tis < xperdi
s lavi:-h -d Oi) this u JU -:t sy.d- tu •u. i: g tn
■-ent Admi istraiio , greatly
believed, those ofali the preceding
.ions together, will pr- ■ ■ that he,
.wing the footsteps oi ti. arai Jack.- ■
Will ho mnintai.i i n idafe the rights e
l.ltrs 1 Wliv he a 1 Ge. . .Jackson were ai
- ays J-flersotiiati R< imb'i aai.s —strict con
sructiomsts. Will he trample 'h im beneath
is feei ? lie may 1.- . th ; I’rocl,malto ,
d show ‘hat he is h’it carrying out. the prm
ctples ofGeni'i;:l Jac!;so
The Surplus Revenue : will he recommend
; distribution amoiig th ■ Slates? Ihe mes
ages of 182!) and .1833 will support the re
commendation, and refute every argument
■ ujai st. ns propriety. Will he deny the right
of Congress to ret: . l<> the P.'opi 'v. hat has
been unlawfully wrested from them ? So does
th.- m-'isage of 1536 ; which contains a full re
cantation al the doctri ties of 1830.
So. sir, he may reward members of Congress
with Executive appointments, or di-uoU'-ce such
aypnm ine,'its as mak'iig corruption the ord' rof
th:: day; ho mav deprecate the use cl official
patronage in inters "ring with the freedom, of
elections; or employ it in securing the electic'.
oi his o-.- : favorite t i the presidency, and not
d. part ■ :n the footsu-psof his predecessor.
i repeat that the pledge of Mr. Van Buren
to carry out the principles of Gen. Jackson
commits him to no settled scheme of policy.—
There mav, str, perhaps, be one exception on
a subject of great interest to the country; I
mean the disposition ofthe public domain.—
I'pon that I fear, from the tenor of the last
message, and more especially from what fell
this morning from the gentleman from .Missis
sippi. (Mr. Claibotine.) thpt his policy has
been already decided, apd pledges given of pe
! culiar favor to the new S ates. That gentle
‘ man, it' I correctly apprehended his remarks,
i intimated that such expccta ions had been cre
)■ ated, which bad i d iced himself, and the State
' he represeuts, to support Mr. Van Buren, a
stranger to them, in pref reace to Judge White,
a highly respected friend and neighbor; and
threats were held out. of a refusal to vote ap
propriations, or to act with the party in power,
unless those expecia ions were speedily ful
filled.
[Mr, Caliboone explained, li: saiTh t,
ir. tile warmth of argument, he might have ex
pressed himself in terms that did not proper.y
convev his meaning. He and his constitue ts
i regarded Mr. Van Buren as every way quali
j fied for the Presidency: believing this, they
I were induced to support him in preference to
Judge White, because thev had reasons to think
his election would be m >re favorable to the
views and interests ofthe new States. lie
meant to convey no threat.]
Mr. Robertson. I am incapable, sir. of
misreprt'senti g anv thing said on this floor.—
Th-' gentleman’s explanation leaves the mat
tei jutt. as 1 stated it. I should not b ’ve ad
verted to the remarks he made, had I not sup
posed thev fullv I'xpr- ssed his sentiments. If
< his judgment, upon reflection, does not approve
; 'hem. I waive at v further observation upon
I them. I must acknowledge, however, sir, that
; I should have been pleased to hear what rea
sons the gentleman had for the expectations it
seems he and his constituents entertain ; and
I warn him, and the party with whom he acts,
that the old States, who surrendered this im
mense. domain for the common benefit ot all,
will never yield th ir perfect right to partici
pate equally, at least, in that which was once
exclusively their own.
But. except in the particular instance, Mr-
Speak >r, which I h ive ju;.t m mtioued, il tha’ -
be ati exception, there isscarcely a single prin
ciple or measure which Mr. Van Buren may
not ad<?pt or repudiate, without violati .g his
pledge to follow in the footsteps of General
Jackson. He will bi! borne out in either cas
bv the preceptor practice of his pr:
In most cases he will fi ■ both; tn -c
one wav. and the practi he other.
Let him then, as he may in good fa.i ';, .>•!■...t
those which will bring about a reformatio : oi
the manifold abuses of the Government, and a
reduction of its present wasteful expenditures ;
let him sethis face arums' the schemes ofthe
abolitionists ; discern Lena- co an iniquitous ta
riff, a national bank, an unjust and uncousti
tutional system of internal improvement; let
him abstain from violating the rights of the
States; from the exercise of undelegated and
doubtful powers ; from the corrupting practice
of bestowing lucrative appointments on mem
bors of Congress; I’t him, sir, above all, fol
l iwing the advk. ‘ bis predecessor, exter
min te the monster, party spirit, and take care
that the public offices be tilled w:th capable and
honest men ; let him do this, conforming to the
good old republican doctrines, and tits meas
ures at least sh ill have my humble support,
here or elsewhere: a -o, I doubt not, that of
my friend from South Carolina, (Mr Pickens )
who has so indignantly and eloquently denounc
ed the principles that have brought him into
power.
[Mr Pickens reqtt sted his friend from
Virginia would allow him to explain. He said
! he had declared u.icompromisii g hostility to
j the principles upon which the new Adtninis
i tration was coming into power, and that no
j thi g could reconcile him to ratify those prin
i ciples by a re-election ofthe man, although he
might be found supporting any e.fhis measures
that might be sound.]
Mr. Robertson said the observations allu
ded to had probably been misunderstood, and
he was pleased that the. opportunity had been
afforded of correcting any misapprehension.
But. sir, I have too far already, I fear, vio
lated parliamentary order, though not peril ips
congressional usage, in following other gentle
men who have toiichid on the course ofthe
lext Administration. The two Administra
tions are so connected, or, rather, identified,
that, it is difficult to look at the one without see
i >.g the other. Like ihe colors ofthe rainbow,
th-v are so happily blended, that it u<>‘ easy
to sav where one ends, or the <T ' egms.—
We behold, indeed', not. so much a new jid.'. m
istratioi) as a continuation ot the old one. under
a new name; not so properly a succession as
a regency— that, sir„is the appropriate name
a regency bound to carry out the views, and
ob Y the wil! ofthe reigning monarch.
1 have enumerated, Mr. Speaker, specific
j charges made bv the gentleman from Rhode
[stand; sufficient, perhaps, to occupy the at
tention ofthe committee tor the residue oi this
session. If the gentb-mni, will not obey the
suggestion of some of his friends, and withdraw
the amendment. I shall ask permission to m-
I s rt. these charges in it, in order, as he will pro
bablv be a member of the committee, in it he
iua> have an opportunity afforded him of mak
ing them good.
There is one other charge, however, found
ed on occui rences of a later date, that ought
not to be omitted. 1 allude to the removal of
Melviil, Coggeshail,and others from subordin
ate appointments in the customs, by Littlefield,
the collector of Newport. An account of this
transaction will be found among the records
ofthe Senate, in a report made on the last day
of the last session.
Sir, the gentleman fr< m Rhode Island object,
ed to the resolution before us because the com
mittee might, require the Departments to fur
nish information relating to removals from of
fice. Li# seemed horror-struck at the bare
thought of such an investigation, W ell may it
!>.■ dreaded ; forth ■re is no part ofthe aclto>.
of the Government in w hich there would pro
bably bo found more corruption, injustice, and
| oppression. But this, sir, is a specific charge,
j mad,; by one of his own follow-citizens, of an
■ .so practised in his own State ; and the gen
will. [ trust, aid the committee in as-
■ truth.
1 ,in his petition, that he held
I his appointment under the former collector,
| Ellery, for ten years; that Ellery was satisfied
| with his conduct, and so infortiu d Litllefi'dd,
his successor; that he was continued in office
by Littlefield until March last, when he, with
; four others, was removed. He ascribes these
; removals to the influence of paity spirit, and
: mure immediately, to the proceedings of “ac
Administration meeting,” held at Newport, and
at winch, :t is said, the gentleman from Rhode
Island was present. I ask that his statement
on this subject may be read.
The Clerk read the following passage :
“Not long after Mr, Littlefield became co).
I lector, he was called on bv those who reeom
: mended him to office, to know why he had not
imule the removals from and appointments to
! office which he had ptomised, in case he ob
tained the appointment of collector. He was
accused of keeping in employment those who
had uniformly opposed the Admiuistraticm, to
the exclusion of its supporters; and he was
threatened with their displeasure if he did not
speedily comply wi'h his engagements, made
previous to his appoi: ;-:i ;:. A meeting of’
partisans was soon after add, styling them
selves‘a committee of the Admi istration par
■ ty,’ where a list was made out ofthe officers of
i tlie customs required to bo removed, and of
I thosa who were selected to bn appointed in
j their places; which was sent to the collector,
Littlefield, with a request that he would im
[ mediately make those removals and appomt-
I monts; which list of proscribed officers, and
' those who were to take their places, was sent
bv the collector, as his own list, to the Secre
[taryofthe Treasury for his approval, and it
: was approved of by the Secretary of the Trea-
I sury.
“Ofthe officers attached to the customs nt
Newport, who held office when Mr. Littlefield
came in as a collector, three were retained and
five removed ; ofthe three retained, one had
i not recently opposed the Administration, and
gave assurances that he would not in future ;
; the other two had uniformly voted with the
' 'ministii tion partv. Os the five removed,
one had sometimes voted with the Administia
tion parly, but declined voting when members
of the General Assembly were to he chosen,
‘ who were to electa S iia'or to Corgress, his
father-in-law being the Whig candidate; two
of them were not freeholders, of course hatli.o
vote; and two others, by their votes, had uni
formiv opposed the Administra ion party.”
Melviil further states in his petition, that Lit
tlefield told him that Coggeshali had been re
moved because he and Ins son uniformly voted
against, thv Administration ; that no complaints
had been mrde against 7i/m, (Melviil;) that he
. had performed his duties correctly and laith
fullv ; that, it was not the Collector’s wish that
he should be removed ; and that he should be
pleased to see him reinstated, which he thought
j might be effected by a proper representation
!to the secretary of the Treasury. He further
' states that an horn ruble member of Congress
from Rhode Island, for whom he had voted as
long as he had a vote, anil to whom he applied
for an explanation ot the cause of'his removal,
j informed Him “ that it was stated by one of the
i committee who made th? nomination,that, live
; cr six years ago, when Governor l ? '':iner was
J a. candidate tor Governor, although Melviil vo.
tftd for him, vet he voted for the whole opposi
. tipm ticket. But the strongest reason tor his
r 'Gmoval was, that he was not possessed of a.
(•ehold estate, and could be of no use to the
/. Irty, even if he was favorable to their mea
sures ;" “ that it was incumbent on the party
> to husband all their resources;” but further
said,“ if he would possess hi mself of a free
nr: ’ estate, and support the Admin'strution, he
’>•' pointed to a better office, when the
. :.-sto:n house act should pass.” As to
< n? ihai. this same member ot Con
, i>ress told him he (C.) had been reinstated up
on "the express condition that lie and h s son
should, in future vote on the, side of the Admin
istration.” Melviil solicited the Secretary of
the Treasury to inform him for what, cause he
had been removed, declaring that it would be a
source of consolation to him and his family,
to know that there were no charges against him
of incompetency or neglect. He addressed
i him again, representing all the facts ot his case,
; his support of the Admi..istration ever since
i the first election of General Jackson ; his
faithful services in office, his inability at his
i advanced age, if deprived of its, emoluments,
to support a numerous family. He appealed
,to him for justice. The Secretary replied
: that his communications had been referred to
: the collector, with instructions to report upon
: disease. He requested a copy of the report ;
; and received a brief answer, that the collector
had only exercised his legal rights, and that the
Department saw no occasion for its further
i interference, but would leave the responsibility
jon the collector. He repeated his request,
j and was answered th.: •• <!. representations ot
[ collectors to the Department were, generally,
jof a confidential nature.” He them sir, pre
i sented his memorial to the Senate. He asked
: nothing for himself, but prayed that such legis.
; lation might be had as would r. strain, in future,
: such an abuse of power as hud been practised
. towards him.
The gentleman from Louisiana indignantly
denounces all inquiry into the conduct of four
I Executive Departments, as inquisitorial.—
Wh.it will he say to the inquisition which
those Departments themselves have avowedly
i established ? The < haracter ot’ every public
officer, of every citiz'ii of the country, lies at
: the meiey oflhese secret tribunals, liable to be
stabbed in the dark by the hands of unseen as
sassins. Little, sir, does Levi Woodbury de
serve the high encomium that gc. th man pass
ed upon him. if the document i have referred
to contains the truth. If, sir. he knew and ap
provud the oppression exercised towards Mel
■ ili. ins ;..-nt is as hard as tl;e granite rock of'
his native State. I go further: it'the facts
are as they tire rcpreseiit-'d on the oath of';i
man whose i •. racily seems not to be question
, ed, and the Secretary oi the Treasury has
sanctioned these proceedings, he deserves Io be
disgracefully deprived ot’ the power he abuses.
s, sir, unless Mr. Madiso i, the purity ot'
whose life and principles wi I < xhiltil a striking
contrast with those of some who will i:>
t lie umials of the present dt:v, has
misconceived the nature of this
one for which the President
justly subjected to impeaeht'.K i.t
An old and faithful public servant
missed because he is too poor to buy a vote, oi
too honest to sell one. I’e is of no further
use to the party ; that party, sir, »vho profess
to oe the exclusive friends of the poor; and
in his old age reduced to beggary, his reputa
tion, all that is left him, b asted, perhaps for
ever, and the privilege denied him of knowing
the charges against him, or being confronted
wiih his accuser. Yes, the official document
m the possession of the Treasury Department,
which shows the real ground of his removal. |
and may prove his iimocense, wuhlield, not |
from him oidv, but even fr-om a committee of
he Semite.
There is one circumstance disclosed in these '
proceedings that should not pass unnoticed.
11. shows the slavish doctrines that the system
of proscription adopted bv the present Admin
istration is but too well calculated to inculcate.
Ono of the removed uflici rs —removed, as he
seems to suppose, solely upon political consid
erations—testifies that lie informed the collec
tor that, though officers of the United States
Government might vote as they pleased in
State or municipal elections, “ it was his fixed
opinion that a man holding an office under the
Government of the United States was not jus
tified. in. voting against any officer who was fa
vorable to those who administered the Govern
ment.'' Tins, sir, is the democratic republican
doctrine: that no man is worthy of an office
who is not ready to sacrifice his conscience
for the good of his party. And zee are not to
be permitted to inquire even into the action of
the Government which is thus destroying the
freedom of election. It would bring suspicion
upon the heads of the Departments: Their
reputations, we are told by the gentleman from
Indiana, (Mr. Lane,) are like those of inno
cent women: to suspect is to damn them.
Then, sir, are they damned already, beyond
redemption; blasted long since, by the gentle
man from Rhode Island. Sir, that gentleman,
A'hen denouncing official corruption in the case
of the Wiscasset collector, said, and said truly,
t/irtt iniijceiice his nothing to fear. No : I
a d. if we mav judge of the future by the past,
guilt has nothing to fear. What pu ishment
followed the uup-iralled negiig-nce, corruption,
mid abuse detected in the Bust Office ? It is
know;:, sir, throughout the country. The head
of the Department was forthwith removed, and
promoted to one of the highest and most hon
orable stations in the gift ofthe Executive.
Sir, every means is taken to elude investiga
tion, The gentleman from Louisiana (Mr.
Ripley,) has even condescended to appeal to
our sympathy, bv representing the President as
lying on his sick bed, and talks of the ingrati
tude of republics. Ingratitude is not so often
the sin of republics, as gratitude is the grave
of their liberty, it is the gratitude of the
People that too often overlooks the faults of
some brilliant conqueror, and arms him with
power—their own power—to crush them.
What- more would the gentleman ask for Gen
eral Jackson? He has received, as well as
the gentleman himself, a full share of the bo.
nors and emoluments of the country. I am
grateful to both ; and eqtia’ly so to the poor
soldier who fought under their command, and
whose bones whiten the battle-fields of our
country. I profoss none of that sickly sensi
bility tnat yields all the glory and honor to the
great and powerful, and expends itself in la
mentations for their calamities. I regret to
hear of the bodily suffering of the Preside t,
as much as I would of yours, sir, or of' th. t
of the gentleman from Louisiana; no more.
But. what connexion is there between tha Pre
sident’s indisposition and the measure under
consideration? If any gentleman will say
that tiie President’s personal attendance is ne
cessary, I will vote to defer the inquiry until
he shall be restored. But I cannot consent
that all legislation shall be suspended because
the President is sick: that our frontier shall
be ravaged, the poor Indian robbed and mas
sacreed, the peculator fatten on the public
spoils, and corruption and oppression go un
punished and unexammed, because the Presi
dent is sick. I will not believe that this inves
tigation will give him pain. Thi gentleman
from G. :rgi,t ( Mr. Glascock,) tells us that he
is arnnm ized to say that the President desires
a it-: investigation ; and gentlemen ought
not to distrust his sincerity. Sir, sick as he
is, it is better that, he should sometimes hear
the plain language of truth, than to be nau
seated with doses of flattery served up daily
from this Hall.
It is lime this struggle should end. Gentle
men tell us it ts too late ; it is the shmt session,
and one committee cannot perform the lafoi
Last year I had tha honor of
Inr investigation, aid, that it
si p i'-.: i*
i But
the long session. In the
seven committees are too many. In the short
session, one is not enough. True, sir, it is a
Herculean labor; but let us make a beginning.
If the Augean stables cannot be thoroughly
cleansed, at least the filthy heap may be remo
ved that blocks up the entrance.
I'rom the Correspondent of die Chronicle efi Sentinel.
’Washington. Jar. 2 i) th, 1837.
I informed you in my last, by Express, that
the Michigan Bill had passed. It received
the approbation of the President oi Wednesday
evening; and the next day the credentials of
the Senators elect, Messrs. Norvell and Lyon,
were presented, and those gentlemen were ad
mitted to tin ir seats. The motion for the ad
mission of Mr. Crarv to a seat in the House
was not made till Friday, and there was some
debate on the subject, the question being raised
by xlfr. Robertson, of Va., whetherthat gentle
man was legally elected, as the choice was
made previous to the constitution of Michigan
having received the sanction of Congress.
The objection however, was over-ruled by the
decision ofthe House, and Mr. Crary appear
ed, was qualified and took his seat.
Mr. Bell having succeeded in intreducing
his Bill to secure the freedom ofelections, that
S’ bj'ct was dscussed during a portion ofthe
morning hour for two days. The time allotted
to him has been far too limited for such an
exposition of the considerations that prompted
him to introduce this measure, as he wished
to in ike. But even under this disadvantage,
his remarks for the fifteen or twenty minutes
on each day he spoke will repay the most care
ful perusal, and deserve the most serious atten
i lion oi evi-rv man who values the puuly and
freed ini <d'elections, and has at heart the object
■ of seem ing the people in (he quiet and co isci
entious exercise of the elective franchise. I
: send you hereu ith a copy of the bill, and a re-
I portoi’.Mr. Bell’s remarks.
H hen the subject was brought up on Friday,
| a personal scene of a painful character took
place between Mr. B- 11 and Mr. Jarvis, ot
Maine, which however, terminated in explan-
J ations satisfactorv to their mutual friends and
to the whole ! louse. Both gentlemen behaved
wiih the utm-ist coolness and composure.
The satisfactorv arrangement ofthe misunder
standing was. 1 think, protracted by the well
meant but injudicious interposition ofthe House
and the speech's of individual members.
Difficulties ofa personal nature are, 1 atnco.i
--: vinced I’rom all 1 have observed here, much
■ more easily settled out of doors than in .he halls
| of Congress, and in the presence ofthe crowds
' that fiii the galleries. Every gentleman is the
■fejt " uardian of his own honour—as he is the
hts own feelings, and it is better
ion
than to put him
Uiider It a niaj nity
of who® "
the pri'S|k. " . A ;iiu, that, the friends
ofthegiSK w’ sessed any magna
nimity orfe ' - 1 Would have brought
ab"iu'a i?W.. • i fir More a perempiory
' Y'aSfehilr-ught of. They are both
:■: ii whosetirinuess and courage require no
i indication.
The Land Bill is making but. slow progress
in the Senate. Mr. Walker whom “the par
iy” have put in the jslace ot Mr. Senator Ew
ing, at the head of the Committee on Public
Lauds has “link even below m his own—noth
ing i.i the preparation of this measure and in
getting it through the Semite, d.lierent mem
Ih'is still continue to file upon it amendment
after umeiidnient. Mr. Senator Buchanan
• <avc it a kick the other day by introducing a
[ new amendment, and declaring if it should not
be adopted he could not vote for the measure.
I really believe Mr. Clay has exerted his per
sonal influence successfully to make the bill
unpopular with a majority, so as to kill it off
and obtain another chance tor the passage of
his Land Bill.
The Tariff! the Tariff! W e have had
another demonstration on protection in the Sen.
ate ! Van Buren’s first lieutenant Silas Wright,
one of the most clear-headed and dexterous
politicians living, has brought in a Bill of his
own to reduce the revenue. I see the wretch
ed old weather-hen ofthe Richmond Inquirer,
has made a terrible ado, because in noticing
the introduction of Cambreleng’s humbug bill,
I took occasion to warn your readers and the
South, that this was a mere manoeuvre—apart
ofthe infamous system of equivocation, by
which the appointed accessor dared to an
nounce he will be able to carry the South.
“The Washington scribbler of the Augusta
Sentinel,” as the false-hearted and servile
old man presumes to call me, repeals that tha
Van Buren party intend to do nothing towards
an effective reduction of the Tariff. They
have the majority in both branches—why then
do they not go to work ? Why so much talk?
I wish the Whigs from the North and South
would urge them to vote on either Cambre,
long’s or Wrigh 's B;1, and we would then see
how ihm who pretend to be so zealous for the
passage of these bills when there is a deter
mination not to have th in acted upon, would
turn against them. Van Buren’s friends irt
the North will not permit the tariff to be touche
ed.
The bill reported by the Committee onPub>
he Lands, in reference to the Treasury Circu
lar, to designate and limit the funds receivable
for the revenues of tile U. States, was taken
up yesterday in the Senate, and Mr. Benton
made a violent speech in opposition to it, in
the course of which he assailed Mr. Rives’s
proposition, and the committee on public lands.
His speech was so outrageously arrogant and
dictatorial, that the Rives section of the party
held a meeting the same evening, and determin
< d that he must be put down.—Accordingly
Mr. Walker of Mississippi commenced opera
tions yesterday, and made a speech, the whole
object of which seemed to be to hold up the
Missouri Senator, and his specie humbug,, to
the scorn and contempt ofthe country. “God
save the country,” he cried, “from the ex
treme and extravagant opinions of the Senator
from Missouri I”—He did not believe that any
one participated in these opinions— Benton
stood alone in his doctrines. He was very
severe on him for having opposed Jackson in
1823, and now pretending to be the exclusive
guardian of his conscience, and wound up a.
speech of great personal bitterness with the
declaration, that he was ready to go into a
contest on the subject, with Benton, here or
elsewhere. Rives followed, and compliment
ed Walker in the highest terms, on the vigor
ous and successful opposition he had made to
Benton’s doctnaos. He said he wished to
fortify some of his arguments but obtained the
indulgence of th ate to postpone the sub
j ct till Monday.—When it is expected he
will widen the breach that has been already
m ide. There is deci ledly a split in the camp.
There has been a tremendous dust in the
Committee ofinvestigation into the conduct
ofthe Executive Departments. The President
i i answer to resolutions calli ig on him for in
formation has addressed to Mr. Wise a most
insulting letter, denouncing the conduct of the
House in raising the Committee, and that of
t ie Committee in the course they have pursued
as inquisitorial/ He refuses to answer ; and
savs he will take care that the heads of depart
so much business to attend to,
on the calls of this
I —That they shall
offiee hours at ;nv
rate, lie also charges Mr. Wise and “his
coadjutors” with having made allegations
against his administration on tlie floor ofthe
House, and calls o i the Committee to call them
before it. The majority of the Committee
have obeyed his commands and subpoeued
Messrs. White and Calhoun of the Senate;
a id Messrs. Pickens, Bell, Peyton, and others
ofthe House. They will perhaps regret this
sep before long. Some of them will make
disclosures which the party will not like so
well should be made public. The President’s
letter has produced rieat excitement, (t is
disgraceful hat the vile creatures around h nr
shou d make such a tool o the poor mbecile
old n an.—The M hitney Committee are pur
suing their inquiries. The developeme is they
will m .ke will show .. mass oi auus? and cor
ruption that will aetoi ish the country. M.
From the Southern Recorder of February 7.
Congressional Investigation.
We are informed by the correspondent of the
Columbia (S. C.) Tinies, that the Committee
of Investigation on Whitney’s case, meets with
much difficulty in prosecuting the objects of
its appointment. Whitney, it se< ms, will only
I answer such questions as suits his own con
vein cnee and purposes; and by another cor
respondent it. will be seen that, by grossly in
suiting Mr. Peyton, he had well nigh brought
the investigation to a final and very summary
conclusion. Yet, with all, it is said that proof
is accumulating which will greatly amaze tile
people.
The Times’ correspondent further states, that
.Mr. 'Vise, on the Committee to investigate the
j abuses of the Government, meets with still
greater drawbacks, every possible difficulty
being thrown in the way of the. prosecution of
the enquiry. Interrogatories, it seems, were
sent to the President, whose reply, it is said,
was an insulting refusal to answer. He ad
dr s« s his letter, (says this writer,) mainly to
Mr. Wise, and saysthathe considers the w hole
matter as his affair, and .is he. i ii.s speeches,
had made charges against him of corruption,
he was bound to prove his charges himself.—
That he and his associates who upheld him,
and repeated these and similar charges, should
be brought before the committee and examin
ed, and if they did not prove them, stand con
victed as calumniators. That he and his of
ficers are not bound to furnish evidence against
themselves, on vague and indefinite and gen
era! charges, and he will order them not to
leave their duties to attend to any summons of
any committee like this, come from w hom it
may. He expresses surprise that the House
of Representatives should have adopted sneh a
resolution, and shows throughout, the most con.
temptuous disregard of the dignity and privi
leges of the House. When published, as it
will be, it will not fail to create a strong sen
sation.
We agree with the commentary of the cor
respondent ofthe Times, that the determination
to withhold from the people and their Repre
sentatives any information in relation to tho
conduct of the departments of the government,
when an investigation of such conduct is de
manded by the people through their represen
tatives, is wholly inconsistent with the nature
and great design of our institutions. It is one
of the very first and most important maxims of
a government such as ours, that the people
have the ir.questionable right to enquire i n(o
and to be made fully acquainted with the act
ings and doings of their public agents, and any
tfort to screen from the scrutiny of the public
the conduct of their mere agents, (servants or
hirelings as the Democratic republicans some
times call them)—is directly at war with the
essential spirit of a government of the people.