The Project Gutenberg eBook of Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2)
Title: Thirty Years' View (Vol. 2 of 2)
Author: Thomas Hart Benton
Release date: February 5, 2014 [eBook #44837]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Curtis Weyant, Julia Neufeld and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
J. Rodgers, sc.
View of the Senate of the United States in Session.
MR. BENTON ON THE FLOOR.
from a large Engraving Published by E. Anthony
New York, D Appleton & Co.
THIRTY YEARS' VIEW;
OR,
A HISTORY OF THE WORKING OF THE AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT FOR THIRTY YEARS,
FROM 1820 TO 1850.
CHIEFLY TAKEN
FROM THE CONGRESS DEBATES, THE PRIVATE PAPERS OF GENERAL JACKSON,
AND THE SPEECHES OF EX-SENATOR BENTON, WITH HIS
ACTUAL VIEW OF MEN AND AFFAIRS:
WITH
HISTORICAL NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, AND SOME NOTICES OF EMINENT
DECEASED COTEMPORARIES.
BY A SENATOR OF THIRTY YEARS.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,
1, 3, AND 5 BOND STREET.
LONDON: 16 LITTLE BRITAIN.
1883.
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1856, by
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of New York.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.
| CHAP. | PAGE | |
| I. | Inauguration of Mr. Van Buren | 7 |
| II. | Financial and Monetary Crisis—General Suspension of Specie Payments by the Banks | 9 |
| III. | Preparation for the Distress and Suspension | 11 |
| IV. | Progress of the Distress, and Preliminaries for the Suspension | 16 |
| V. | Actual Suspension of the Banks—Propagation of the Alarm | 20 |
| VI. | Transmigration of the Bank of the United States from a Federal to a State Institution | 23 |
| VII. | Effects of the Suspension—General Derangement of Business—Suppression and Ridicule of the Specie Currency—Submission of the People—Call of Congress | 26 |
| VIII. | Extra Session—Message, and Recommendations | 28 |
| IX. | Attacks on the Message—Treasury Notes | 32 |
| X. | Retention of the Fourth Deposit Instalment | 36 |
| XI. | Independent Treasury and Hard Money Payments | 39 |
| XII. | Attempted Resumption of Specie Payments | 42 |
| XIII. | Bankrupt Act against Banks | 43 |
| XIV. | Bankrupt Act for Banks—Mr. Benton's Speech | 45 |
| XV. | Divorce of Bank and State—Mr. Benton's Speech | 56 |
| XVI. | First Regular Session under Mr. Van Buren's Administration—His Message | 65 |
| XVII. | Pennsylvania Bank of the United States—Its Use of the Defunct Notes of the expired Institution | 67 |
| XVIII. | Florida Indian War—Its Origin and Conduct | 70 |
| XIX. | Florida Indian War—Historical Speech of Mr. Benton | 72 |
| XX. | Resumption of Specie Payments by the New York Banks | 83 |
| XXI. | Resumption of Specie Payments—Historical Notices—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 85 |
| XXII. | Mr. Clay's Resolution in Favor of Resuming Banks, and Mr. Benton's Remarks upon it | 91 |
| XXIII. | Resumption by the Pennsylvania United States Bank; and others which followed her lead | 94 |
| XXIV. | Proposed Annexation of Texas—Mr. Preston's Motion and Speech—Extracts | 94 |
| XXV. | Debate between Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun, Personal and Political, and leading to Expositions and Vindications of Public Conduct which belong to History | 97 |
| XXVI. | Debate between Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun—Mr. Clay's Speech—Extracts | 101 |
| XXVII. | Debate between Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun—Mr. Calhoun's Speech—Extracts | 103 |
| XXVIII. | Debate between Mr. Clay and Mr. Calhoun—Rejoinders by each | 112 |
| XXIX. | Independent Treasury, or, Divorce of Bank and State—Passed in the Senate—Lost in the House of Representatives | 124 |
| XXX. | Public Lands—Graduation of Price—Pre-emption System—Taxation when Sold | 125 |
| XXXI. | Specie Basis for Banks—One-third of the Amount of Liabilities the Lowest Safe Proportion—Speech of Mr. Benton on the Recharter of the District Banks | 128 |
| XXXII. | The North and the South—Comparative Prosperity—Southern Discontent—Its True Cause | 130 |
| XXXIII. | Progress of the Slavery Agitation—Mr. Calhoun's Approval of the Missouri Compromise | 134 |
| XXXIV. | Death of Commodore Rodgers, and Notice of his Life and Character | 144 |
| XXXV. | Anti-duelling Act | 148 |
| XXXVI. | Slavery Agitation in the House of Representatives, and Retiring of Southern Members from the Hall | 150 |
| XXXVII. | Abolitionists Classified by Mr. Clay—Ultras Denounced—Slavery Agitators North and South Equally denounced as Dangerous to the Union | 154 |
| XXXVIII. | Bank of the United States—Resignation of Mr. Biddle—Final Suspension | 157 |
| XXXIX. | First Session Twenty-sixth Congress—Members—Organization—Political Map of the House | 158 |
| XL. | First Session of the Twenty-sixth Congress—President's Message | 162 |
| XLI. | Divorce of Bank and State—Divorce decreed | 164 |
| XLII. | Florida Armed Occupation Bill—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 167 |
| XLIII. | Assumption of the State Debts | 171 |
| XLIV. | Assumption of the State Debts—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 172 |
| XLV. | Death of General Samuel Smith, of Maryland; and Notice of his Life and Character | 176 |
| XLVI. | Salt—the Universality of its Supply—Mystery and Indispensability of its Use—Tyranny and Impiety of its Taxation—Speech of Mr. Benton—Extracts | 176 |
| XLVII. | Pairing off | 178 |
| XLVIII. | Tax on Bank Notes—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 179 |
| XLIX. | Liberation of Slaves belonging to American Citizens in British Colonial Ports | 182 |
| L. | Resignation of Senator Hugh Lawson White of Tennessee—His Death—Some Notice of his Life and Character | 184 |
| LI. | Death of Ex-Senator Hayne of South Carolina—Notice of his Life and Character | 186 |
| LII. | Abolition of Specific Duties by the Compromise Act of 1833—Its Error, and Loss to the Revenue, shown by Experience | 189 |
| LIII. | Refined Sugar and Rum Drawbacks—their Abuse under the Compromise Act of 1833—Mr. Benton's Speech | 190 |
| LIV. | Fishing Bounties and Allowances, and their Abuse—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 194 |
| LV. | Expenditures of the Government | 198 |
| LVI. | Expenses of the Government, Comparative and Progressive, and Separated from Extraordinaries | 200 |
| LVII. | Death of Mr. Justice Barbour of the Supreme Court, and Appointment of Peter V. Daniel, Esq., in his place | 202 |
| LVIII. | Presidential Election | 203 |
| LIX. | Conclusion of Mr. Van Buren's Administration | 207 |
| LX. | Inauguration of President Harrison—His Cabinet—Call of Congress—and Death | 209 |
| LXI. | Accession of the Vice-President to the Presidency | 211 |
| LXII. | Twenty-seventh Congress—First Session—List of Members, and Organization of the House | 213 |
| LXIII. | First Message of Mr. Tyler to Congress, and Mr. Clay's Programme of Business | 215 |
| LXIV. | Repeal of the Independent Treasury Act | 219 |
| LXV. | Repeal of the Independent Treasury Act—Mr. Benton's Speech | 220 |
| LXVI. | The Bankrupt Act—What it was—and how it was Passed | 229 |
| LXVII. | Bankrupt Bill—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 234 |
| LXVIII. | Distribution of the Public Land Revenue, and Assumption of the State Debts | 240 |
| LXIX. | Institution of the Hour Rule in Debate in the House of Representatives—Its Attempt, and Repulse in the Senate | 247 |
| LXX. | Bill for the Relief of Mrs. Harrison, Widow of the late President of the United States | 257 |
| LXXI. | Mrs. Harrison's Bill—Speech of Mr. Benton—Extracts | 262 |
| LXII. | Abuse of the Naval Pension System—Vain attempt to Correct it | 265 |
| LXIII. | Home Squadron, and Aid to Private Steam Lines | 271 |
| LXXIV. | Recharter of the District Banks—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 273 |
| LXXV. | Revolt in Canada—Border Sympathy—Firmness of Mr. Van Buren—Public Peace Endangered—and Preserved—Case of McLeod | 276 |
| LXXVI. | Destruction of the Caroline—Arrest and Trial of McLeod—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 291 |
| LXXVII. | Refusal of the House to allow Recess Committees | 304 |
| LXXVIII. | Reduction of the Expense of Foreign Missions by reducing the Number | 305 |
| LXXIX. | Infringement of the Tariff Compromise Act of 1833—Correction of Abuses in Drawbacks | 307 |
| LXXX. | National Bank—First Bill | 317 |
| LXXXI. | Second Fiscal Agent—Bill Presented—Passed—Disapproved by the President | 331 |
| LXXXII. | Secret History of the Second Bill for a Fiscal Agent, called Fiscal Corporation—Its Origin with Mr. Tyler—Its Progress through Congress under his Lead—Its Rejection under his Veto | 342 |
| LXXXIII. | The Veto Message hissed in the Senate Galleries | 350 |
| LXXXIV. | Resignation of Mr. Tyler's Cabinet | 353 |
| LXXXV. | Repudiation of Mr. Tyler by the Whig Party—their Manifesto—Counter Manifesto by Mr. Caleb Cushing | 357 |
| LXXXVI. | The Danish Sound Dues | 362 |
| LXXXVII. | Last Notice of the Bank of the United States | 365 |
| LXXXVIII. | End and Results of the Extra Session | 372 |
| LXXXIX. | First Annual Message of President Tyler | 373 |
| XC. | Third Plan for a Fiscal Agent, called Exchequer Board—Mr. Benton's Speech against it—Extracts | 376 |
| XCI. | The Third Fiscal Agent, entitled a Board of Exchequer | 394 |
| XCII. | Attempted Repeal of the Bankrupt Act | 395 |
| XCIII. | Death of Lewis Williams, of North Carolina, and Notice of his Life and Character | 396 |
| XCIV. | The Civil List Expenses—the Contingent Expenses of Congress—and the Revenue Collection Expense | 397 |
| XCV. | Resignation and Valedictory of Mr. Clay | 398 |
| XCVI. | Military Department—Progress of its Expense | 404 |
| XCVII. | Paper Money Payments—Attempted by the Federal Government—Resisted—Mr. Benton's Speech | 406 |
| XCVIII. | Case of the American Brig Creole with Slaves for New Orleans, carried by Mutiny into Nassau, and the Slaves Liberated | 409 |
| XCIX. | Distress of the Treasury—Three Tariff Bills, and Two Vetoes—End of the Compromise Act | 413 |
| C. | Mr. Tyler and the Whig Party—Confirmed Separation | 417 |
| CI. | Lord Ashburton's Mission, and the British Treaty | 420 |
| CII. | British Treaty—The Pretermitted Subjects—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 426 |
| CIII. | British Treaty—Northeastern Boundary Article—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 438 |
| CIV. | British Treaty—Northwestern Boundary—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 441 |
| CV. | British Treaty—Extradition Article—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extract | 444 |
| CVI. | British Treaty—African Squadron for the Suppression of the Slave Trade—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extract | 449 |
| CVII. | Expense of the Navy—Waste of Money—Necessity of a Naval Peace Establishment, and of a Naval Policy | 452 |
| CVIII. | Expenses of the Navy—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 456 |
| CIX. | Message of the President at the Opening of the Regular Session of 1842-'3 | 460 |
| CX. | Repeal of the Bankrupt Act—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 463 |
| CXI. | Military Academy and Army Expenses | 466 |
| CXII. | Emigration to the Columbia River, and Foundation of its Settlement by American Citizens—Frémont's First Expedition | 468 |
| CXIII. | Lieutenant Frémont's First Expedition—Speech, and Motion of Senator Linn | 478 |
| CXIV. | Oregon Colonization Act—Mr. Benton's Speech | 479 |
| CXV. | Navy Pay and Expenses—Proposed Reduction—Speech of Mr. Meriwether, of Georgia—Extracts | 482 |
| CXVI. | Eulogy on Senator Linn—Speeches of Mr. Benton and Mr. Crittenden | 485 |
| CXVII. | The Coast Survey—Attempt to diminish its Expense, and to expedite its Completion by restoring the Work to Naval and Military Officers | 487 |
| CXVIII. | Death of Commodore Porter, and Notice of his Life and Character | 491 |
| CXIX. | Refunding of General Jackson's Fine | 499 |
| CXX. | Repeal of the Bankrupt Act—Attack of Mr. Cushing on Mr. Clay—Its Rebuke | 503 |
| CXXI. | Naval Expenditures and Administration—Attempts at Reform—Abortive | 507 |
| CXXII. | Chinese Mission—Mr. Cushing's Appointment and Negotiation | 510 |
| CXXIII. | The Alleged Mutiny, and the Executions (as they were called) on Board the United States man-of-war, Somers | 522 |
| CXXIV. | Retirement of Mr. Webster from Mr. Tyler's Cabinet | 562 |
| CXXV. | Death of William H. Crawford | 562 |
| CXXVI. | First Session of the Twenty-eighth Congress—List of Members—Organization of the House of Representatives | 563 |
| CXXVII. | Mr. Tyler's Second Annual Message | 565 |
| CXXVIII. | Explosion of the Great Gun on Board the Princeton man-of-war—the Killed and Wounded | 567 |
| CXXIX. | Reconstruction of Mr. Tyler's Cabinet | 569 |
| CXXX. | Death of Senator Porter, of Louisiana—Eulogium of Mr. Benton | 569 |
| CXXXI. | Naval Academy, and Naval Policy of the United States | 571 |
| CXXXII. | The Home Squadron—Its Inutility and Expense | 575 |
| CXXXIII. | Professor Morse—His Electro-Magnetic Telegraph | 578 |
| CXXXIV. | Frémont's Second Expedition | 579 |
| CXXXV. | Texas Annexation—Secret Origin—Bold Intrigue for the Presidency | 581 |
| CXXXVI. | Democratic Convention for the Nomination of Presidential Candidates | 591 |
| CXXXVII. | Presidential—Democratic National Convention—Mr. Calhoun's Refusal to Submit his Name to it—His Reasons | 596 |
| CXXXVIII. | Annexation of Texas—Secret Negotiation—Presidential Intrigue—Schemes of Speculation and Disunion | 599 |
| CXXXIX. | Texas Annexation Treaty—First Speech of Mr. Benton against it—Extracts | 600 |
| CXL. | Texas or Disunion—Southern Convention—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 613 |
| CXLI. | Texas or Disunion—Violent Demonstrations in the South—Southern Convention proposed | 616 |
| CXLII. | Rejection of the Annexation Treaty—Proposal of Mr. Benton's Plan | 619 |
| CXLIII. | Oregon Territory—Conventions of 1818 and 1828—Joint Occupation—Attempted Notice to Terminate it | 624 |
| CXLIV. | Presidential Election | 625 |
| CXLV. | Amendment of the Constitution—Election of President and Vice-President—Mr. Benton's Plan | 626 |
| CXLVI. | The President and the Senate—Want of Concord—Numerous Rejections of Nominations | 629 |
| CXLVII. | Mr. Tyler's Last Message to Congress | 631 |
| CXLVIII. | Legislative Admission of Texas into the Union as a State | 632 |
| CXLIX. | The War with Mexico—Its Cause—Charged on the Conduct of Mr. Calhoun—Mr. Benton's Speech | 639 |
| CL. | Mr. Polk's Inaugural Address—Cabinet | 649 |
| CLI. | Mr. Blair and the Globe superseded as the Administration Organ—Mr. T. Ritchie and the Daily Union substituted | 650 |
| CLII. | Twenty-ninth Congress—List of Members—First Session—Organization of the House | 655 |
| CLIII. | Mr. Polk's First Annual Message to Congress | 657 |
| CLIV. | Death of John Forsyth | 659 |
| CLV. | Admission of Florida and Iowa | 660 |
| CLVI. | Oregon Treaty—Negotiations commenced, and broken off | 660 |
| CLVII. | Oregon Question—Notice to abrogate the Article in the Treaty for a Joint Occupation—The President denounced in the Senate for a supposed Leaning to the Line of Forty-nine | 662 |
| CLVIII. | Oregon Territorial Government—Boundaries and History of the Country—Frazer's River—Treaty of Utrecht—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extracts | 667 |
| CLIX. | Oregon Joint Occupation—Notice authorized for terminating it—British Government offers the Line of 49—Quandary of the Administration—Device—Senate Consulted—Treaty made and Ratified | 673 |
| CLX. | Meeting of the Second Session of the 29th Congress—President's Message—Vigorous Prosecution of the War Recommended—Lieutenant-general proposed to be created | 677 |
| CLXI. | War with Mexico—The War Declared, and an Intrigue for Peace commenced the same Day | 679 |
| CLXII. | Bloodless Conquest of New Mexico—How it was Done—Subsequent Bloody Insurrection, and its Cause | 682 |
| CLXIII. | Mexican War—Doniphan's Expedition—Mr. Benton's Salutatory Address, St. Louis, Missouri | 684 |
| CLXIV. | Frémont's Third Expedition, and Acquisition of California | 688 |
| CLXV. | Pause in the War—Sedentary Tactics—"Masterly Inactivity" | 693 |
| CLXVI. | The Wilmot Proviso—Or, Prohibition of Slavery in the Territories—Its Inutility and Mischief | 694 |
| CLXVII. | Mr. Calhoun's Slavery Resolutions, and Denial of the Right of Congress to Prohibit Slavery in a Territory | 696 |
| CLXVIII. | The Slavery Agitation—Disunion—Key to Mr. Calhoun's Policy—Forcing the Issue—Mode of Forcing it | 698 |
| CLXIX. | Death of Silas Wright, Ex-Senator and Ex-Governor of New York | 700 |
| CLXX. | Thirtieth Congress—First Session—List of Members—President's Message | 702 |
| CLXXI. | Death of Senator Barrow—Mr. Benton's Eulogium | 706 |
| CLXXII. | Death of Mr. Adams | 707 |
| CLXXIII. | Downfall of Santa Anna—New Government in Mexico—Peace Negotiations—Treaty of Peace | 709 |
| CLXXIV. | Oregon Territorial Government—Anti-Slavery Ordinance of 1787 applied to Oregon Territory—Missouri Compromise Line of 1820, and the Texas Annexation Renewal of it in 1845, affirmed | 711 |
| CLXXV. | Mr. Calhoun's New Dogma on Territorial Slavery—Self-extension of the Slavery Part of the Constitution to Territories | 713 |
| CLXXVI. | Court-martial of Lieutenant-colonel Frémont | 715 |
| CLXXVII. | Frémont's Fourth Expedition, and Great Disaster in the Snows at the Head of the Rio Grande del Norte—Subsequent Discovery of the Pass he sought | 719 |
| CLXXVIII. | Presidential Election | 722 |
| CLXXIX. | Last Message of Mr. Polk | 724 |
| CLXXX. | Financial Working of the Government under the Hard Money System | 726 |
| CLXXXI. | Coast Survey—Belongs to the Navy—Converted into a Separate Department—Expense and Interminability—Should be done by the Navy, as in Great Britain—Mr. Benton's Speech—Extract | 726 |
| CLXXXII. | Proposed Extension of the Constitution of the United States to the Territories, with a View to make it carry Slavery into California, Utah and New Mexico | 729 |
| CLXXXIII. | Progress of the Slavery Agitation—Meeting of Members from the Slave States—Inflammatory Address to the Southern States | 733 |
| CLXXXIV. | Inauguration of President Taylor—His Cabinet | 737 |
| CLXXXV. | Death of Ex-President Polk | 737 |
| CLXXXVI. | Thirty-first Congress—First Session—List of Members—Organization of the House | 738 |
| CLXXXVII. | First and only Annual Message of President Taylor | 740 |
| CLXXXVIII. | Mr. Clay's Plan of Compromise | 742 |
| CLXXXIX. | Extension of the Missouri Compromise Line to the Pacific Ocean—Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, and Mr. Clay—The Wilmot Proviso | 743 |
| CXC. | Mr. Calhoun's Last Speech—Dissolution of the Union proclaimed unless the Constitution was amended, and a Dual Executive appointed—one President from the Slave States and one from the Free States | 744 |
| CXCI. | Death of Mr. Calhoun—His Eulogium by Senator Butler | 747 |
| CXCII. | Mr. Clay's Plan of Slavery Compromise—Mr. Benton's Speech Against it—Extracts | 749 |
| CXCIII. | Death of President Taylor | 765 |
| CXCIV. | Inauguration and Cabinet of Mr. Fillmore | 767 |
| CXCV. | Rejection of Mr. Clay's Plan of Compromise | 768 |
| CXCVI. | The Admission of the State of California—Protest of Southern Senators—Remarks upon it by Mr. Benton | 769 |
| CXCVII. | Fugitive Slaves; Ordinance of 1787—The Constitution—Act of 1793—Act of 1850 | 773 |
| CXCVIII. | Disunion Movements—Southern Press at Washington—Southern Convention at Nashville—Southern Congress called for by South Carolina and Mississippi | 780 |
| CXCIX. | The Supreme Court—Its Judges, Clerk, Attorney-Generals, Reporters and Marshals during the Period treated of in this Volume | 787 |
| CC. | Conclusion | 787 |
THIRTY YEARS' VIEW.
ADMINISTRATION OF MARTIN VAN BUREN.
CHAPTER I.
INAUGURATION OF MR. VAN BUREN.
March the 4th of this year, Mr. Van Buren was inaugurated President of the United States with the usual formalities, and conformed to the usage of his predecessors in delivering a public address on the occasion: a declaration of general principles, and an indication of the general course of the administration, were the tenor of his discourse: and the doctrines of the democratic school, as understood at the original formation of parties, were those professed. Close observance of the federal constitution as written—no latitudinarian constructions permitted, or doubtful powers assumed—faithful adherence to all its compromises—economy in the administration of the government—peace, friendship and fair dealing with all foreign nations—entangling alliances with none: such was his political chart: and with the expression of his belief that a perseverance in this line of foreign policy, with an increased strength, tried valor of the people, and exhaustless resources of the country, would entitle us to the good will of nations, protect our national respectability, and secure us from designed aggression from foreign powers. His expressions and views on this head deserve to be commemorated, and to be considered by all those into whose hands the management of the public affairs may go; and are, therefore, here given in his own words:
"Our course of foreign policy has been so uniform and intelligible, as to constitute a rule of executive conduct which leaves little to my discretion, unless, indeed, I were willing to run counter to the lights of experience, and the known opinions of my constituents. We sedulously cultivate the friendship of all nations, as the condition most compatible with our welfare, and the principles of our government. We decline alliances, as adverse to our peace. We desire commercial relations on equal terms, being ever willing to give a fair equivalent for advantages received. We endeavor to conduct our intercourse with openness and sincerity; promptly avowing our objects, and seeking to establish that mutual frankness which is as beneficial in the dealings of nations as of men. We have no disposition, and we disclaim all right, to meddle in disputes, whether internal or foreign, that may molest other countries; regarding them, in their actual state, as social communities, and preserving a strict neutrality in all their controversies. Well knowing the tried valor of our people, and our exhaustless resources, we neither anticipate nor fear any designed aggression; and, in the consciousness of our own just conduct, we feel a security that we shall never be called upon to exert our determination, never to permit an invasion of our rights, without punishment or redress."
These are sound and encouraging views, and in adherence to them, promise to the United States a career of peace and prosperity comparatively free from the succession of wars which have loaded so many nations with debt and taxes, filled them with so many pensioners and paupers, created so much necessity for permanent fleets and armies; and placed one half the population in the predicament of living upon the labor of the other. The stand which the United States had acquired among nations by the vindication of her rights against the greatest powers—and the manner in which all unredressed aggressions, and all previous outstanding injuries, even of the oldest date, had been settled up and compensated under the administration of President Jackson—authorized this language from Mr. Van Buren; and the subsequent conduct of nations has justified it. Designed aggression, within many years, has come from no great power: casual disagreements and accidental injuries admit of arrangement: weak neighbors can find no benefit to themselves in wanton aggression, or refusal of redress for accidental wrong: isolation (a continent, as it were, to ourselves) is security against attack; and our railways would accumulate rapid destruction upon any invader. These advantages, and strict adherence to the rule, to ask only what is right, and submit to nothing wrong, will leave us (we have reason to believe) free from hostile collision with foreign powers, free from the necessity of keeping up war establishments of army and navy in time of peace, with our great resources left in the pockets of the people (always the safest and cheapest national treasuries), to come forth when public exigencies require them, and ourselves at liberty to pursue an unexampled career of national and individual prosperity.
One single subject of recently revived occurrence in our domestic concerns, and of portentous apparition, admitted a departure from the generalities of an inaugural address, and exacted from the new President the notice of a special declaration: it was the subject of slavery—an alarming subject of agitation near twenty years before—quieted by the Missouri compromise—resuscitated in 1835, as shown in previous chapters of this View; and apparently taking its place as a permanent and most pestiferous element in our presidential elections and federal legislation. It had largely mixed with the presidential election of the preceding year: it was expected to mix with ensuing federal legislation: and its evil effect upon the harmony and stability of the Union justified the new President in making a special declaration in relation to it, and even in declaring beforehand the cases of slavery legislation in which he would apply the qualified negative with which the constitution invested him over the acts of Congress. Under this sense of duty and propriety the inaugural address presented this passage:
"The last, perhaps the greatest, of the prominent sources of discord and disaster supposed to lurk in our political condition, was the institution of domestic slavery. Our forefathers were deeply impressed with the delicacy of this subject, and they treated it with a forbearance so evidently wise, that, in spite of every sinister foreboding, it never, until the present period disturbed the tranquillity of our common country. Such a result is sufficient evidence of the justice and the patriotism of their course; it is evidence not to be mistaken, that an adherence to it can prevent all embarrassment from this, as well as from every other anticipated cause of difficulty or danger. Have not recent events made it obvious to the slightest reflection, that the least deviation from this spirit of forbearance is injurious to every interest, that of humanity included? Amidst the violence of excited passions, this generous and fraternal feeling has been sometimes disregarded; and, standing as I now do before my countrymen in this high place of honor and of trust, I cannot refrain from anxiously invoking my fellow-citizens never to be deaf to its dictates. Perceiving, before my election, the deep interest this subject was beginning to excite, I believed it a solemn duty fully to make known my sentiments in regard to it; and now, when every motive for misrepresentations have passed away, I trust that they will be candidly weighed and understood. At least, they will be my standard of conduct in the path before me. I then declared that, if the desire of those of my countrymen who were favorable to my election was gratified, 'I must go into the presidential chair the inflexible and uncompromising opponent of every attempt, on the part of Congress, to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, against the wishes of the slaveholding States; and also with a determination equally decided to resist the slightest interference with it in the States where it exists.' I submitted also to my fellow-citizens, with fulness and frankness, the reasons which led me to this determination. The result authorizes me to believe that they have been approved, and are confided in, by a majority of the people of the United States, including those whom they most immediately affect. It now only remains to add, that no bill conflicting with these views can ever receive my constitutional sanction. These opinions have been adopted in the firm belief that they are in accordance with the spirit that actuated the venerated fathers of the republic, and that succeeding experience has proved them to be humane, patriotic, expedient, honorable and just. If the agitation of this subject was intended to reach the stability of our institutions, enough has occurred to show that it has signally failed; and that in this, as in every other instance, the apprehensions of the timid and the hopes of the wicked for the destruction of our government, are again destined to be disappointed."
The determination here declared to yield the presidential sanction to no bill which proposed to interfere with slavery in the States; or to abolish it in the District of Columbia while it existed in the adjacent States, met the evil as it then presented itself—a fear on the part of some of the Southern States that their rights of property were to be endangered by federal legislation: and against which danger the veto power was now pledged to be opposed. There was no other form at that time in which slavery agitation could manifest itself, or place on which it could find a point to operate—the ordinance of 1787, and the compromise of 1820, having closed up the Territories against it. Danger to slave property in the States, either by direct action, or indirectly through the District of Columbia, were the only points of expressed apprehension; and at these there was not the slightest ground for fear. No one in Congress dreamed of interfering with slavery in the States, and the abortion of all the attempts made to abolish it in the District, showed the groundlessness of that fear. The pledged veto was not a necessity, but a propriety;—not necessary, but prudential;—not called for by anything in congress, but outside of it. In that point of view it was wise and prudent. It took from agitation its point of support—its means of acting on the fears and suspicions of the timid and credulous: and it gave to the country a season of repose and quiet from this disturbing question until a new point of agitation could be discovered and seized.
The cabinet remained nearly as under the previous administration: Mr. Forsyth, Secretary of State; Mr. Woodbury, Secretary of the Treasury; Mr. Poinsett, Secretary at War; Mr. Mahlon Dickerson, Secretary of the Navy; Mr. Amos Kendall, Postmaster General; and Benjamin F. Butler, Esq. Attorney General. Of all these Mr. Poinsett was the only new appointment. On the bench of the Supreme Court, John Catron, Esq. of Tennessee, and John McKinley, Esq. of Alabama, were appointed Justices; William Smith, formerly senator in Congress from South Carolina, having declined the appointment which was filled by Mr. McKinley. Mr. Butler soon resigning his place of Attorney General, Henry D. Gilpin, Esq. of Pennsylvania (after a temporary appointment of Felix Grundy, Esq. of Tennessee), became the Attorney General during the remainder of the administration.