89
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1827
represented as defamatory and abusive in the extreme. Thus, Sir, we see public agents, and public property are to be employed in the production of political effect, when it is to subserve the purposes of the present Administration, while those who dis- approve it must remain silent, or incur the charge of a "factious Opposition." But gent!emen affect to wonder how it happens that this is the only vigilant Opposition which has had for its object the reform of the Government. He asks, where stood the Sentinels on the ramparts in times past? Sir, there never existed before the pres- ent, a more momentous period to the American People. There never was a greater necessity for resisting the encroachments of Executive power, which attempts to prostrate, by the voices of its organs on this floor, every vestige of State Independence which cannot be sapped by more secret means. Sir, when sov- ereign States of this Union are openly threatened in their Legis- lative capacity- and the Representatives of States are openly admonished on this floor, that if th,ey act, "it will be at their peril": Thus, Sir, when all of liberty that cannot be undermined by, the vast and still swelling tide of Executive patronage is to be overcome by open violence, have we not abundant reason to look out from the watch tower? Sir, however corrupt and factious the Opposition may be, and however pure and immaculate may be the Administration, I will leave to the decision of the American People. If the Administra- tion alone is pure- if it alone is to be looked to as a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day, to us poor Israelites, I fear, Sir,- yes, greatly fear- that we shall reach the end of our journey long before our forty years have expired. The gentle- men who opposed the inquiry designed by this resolution have not been satisfied with the usual course of investigating subjects before this House, but have wandered far from the subject under discussion, for the purpose of dragging into this debate a dis- tinguished individual now retired to private life- an individual who was brought forward by his countrymen as a candidate for th,e highest office within their gift but who was defeated, I will not say by what means. This individual is wholly aside from the noise of the present contest. Cincinnatus like, he has gone back to the plough, and devotes his hours to those rural occupations which are ever most congenial with the Republic, and most truly Leneficial to the great body of the People. The gentleman from Kentucky says, that when this individual shall attain to power,
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