for one Congressional term; whereas Messrs. I made an illicit profit, amounting to between thir Blair and Rives have received, during the six teen and fourteen hundred dollars. He examined years by colleague [Mr. BOND] has scanned their another document, and found a like fraud commitprinting, only one hundred and six thousand dol-ted; and an unlawful profit of between 3 and $400 lars for Congress printing and materials, and one obtained by it. This was but a beginning. The hundred and fourteen thousand from all the De- committee had not time to prosecute the inpartments, for the same time. quiry further at this session; and asked leave But the most scandalous part of this history of to continue it at the next, which was grant❤ the printing of the House is yet to be told. Al-ed. I have a statement of these facts, in though Gales and Seaton receive all this money writing, from the witness, as sworn to by for printing, they were not elected its printers. him before the committee. He is a firstAllen was elected to perform this confidential rate printer, well acquainted with Congressional trust, although he had only about 21 or 22 work, and of unimpeachable character. I have votes in a House of 242 members. Does it not little doubt from this commencement that it will be look as though after three days' balloting a corrupt found in the end, that Gales and Seaton have made bargain was made, under which it was arranged as much out of their frauds, as will pay Allen the that Allen was to become nominally the printer to per centage he required as compensation for the the House, but Gales and Seaton were to do the deception practised upon those Conservatives whom work and receive the pay? After the caucus was he betrayed; and to make good to those who acted held which consummated the infamous agree- with him his promise, to convert the consideration ment, (if such was the case,) by which it was he received into the means of supporting the press stipulated that Gales and Seaton's friends would established in this city for their common benefit. go over to Allen and unite with the Conservatives All the legitimate profits upon the public work will in his election, suspicions were excited by the thus, probably, be cleared to the Intelligencer, and announcement of this determination; and several the aliment of the Madisonian will be derived of the honest Conservatives, whose votes were ne- from the frauds committed by his Whig accomcessary to the success of Allen, interrogated him as plices on the Treasury. How characteristic this 30 the supposed intention of transferring the print- of the two printing concerns, and the two parties. ing to Gales and Seaton. He denied positively which entered into the vile coalition that gave that there existed such an engagement, and pledged birth to the bastard Madisonian? Is it not notohimself to execute the printing in his own office, riously fed on offal of the foul peculations of the declaring that he was making provision for that Intelligencer? And this is an earnest of what. purpose. That he made the pledge, and forfeited the Federal party will do for the little Spartan band it, is established by the statement of a member on of Conservatives, who shall have joined their this floor, [Mr. SNYDER, of Illinois.] Their votes standard, in the event of success. They will, no were, in effect, sold to Gales and Seaton, although doubt, give them a share of the plunder, but not they protested, in advance, against being made an atom of the power, of the Government. accessory to such a shameful and corrupt transaction.

Will not the American people ask, for whose interests the honor of the great representative body Mr Chairman, a high public trust, personal in its of this country has been compromised, and its character, has been farmed out in violation of all hall made a market place, in which the votes of principle and decency, to individuals to whom it is members, and a high public trust, have become a known a majority of this body, as well as their con- subject of mercenary barter between the leaders of stituents, were unwilling to confide it; and Allen, two parties assuming to be actuated by lofty poliin violation of another Republican principle, holds tical principles? When understood, their prina sinecure. Will any one hereafter say, that this ciples are like the man for whom they have sacriHouse is to be trusted to elect the Chief Magistrate ficed the noble character of the country. He is an of this country, when it is found, that in electing Englishman, a perfect prostitute in politics-notoria printer, pecuniary considerations, the bases of ously the stipendiary of the Bank of the United bargaining between parties, have controlled the re- States-and the ready instrument of every fac sult. tion, which, in alliance with that institution, would Another natural consequence of this bar- contribute to the overthrow of our Republican ingaining, has been discovered before the com-stitutions. He is an alien, too, in all his fellings. mittee appointed to investigate the subject. This He was found the willing organ of Gorostiza in committee being appointed at the heel of the vindicating the cruel and perfidious conduct of session, has not yet had time to make full investi- Mexico towards our citizens, and its insults to our gation, and report; but I feel at liberty to use the Government. He took the part of France, when information which I have derived from a witness, she shamefully withheld the indemnity she was sworn before it. A first rate practical printer, call-pledged by treaty to pay, and endeavored to throw ed on by that committee to measure the work and the blame on our Government, and raise a party calculate the price which it was lawful to charge for France, in case we were driven to war in de for it, and compare it with that which Gales and fence of our rights. He has encouraged the reSeaton, in the name of Allen, as printer to this sistance of the Indians to the policy of the GovernHouse, had received for it, found that the firstment, and stimulated the feeling which led to the document printed for this House at this session, by butchery of so many gallant men, the exhaustion Gales and Seaton, was fraudulently printed; and of the public Treasury, and the ruin of the Inhat by diminishing the page, and using types dif-dians, whose cause he pretended to espouse. It is ferent from those authorized by law, they had on this dishonest fraudulent Englishman, that more

political wiles with the unsuspecting people, alledging that justice was not done them, promis ing if he was put into office, that things should be made better. Thus speaking, and forming a party Mr. Chairman, I think I have said, perhaps against the Government, we are told that Absalom more than once, that there are existing abuses; and rose up early, and stood beside the way of the for reasons which I have given, abuses will exist. gate, and if any man had a controversy, and came But if "those who administer this Government to the king for judgment, then Absalom said "The were as pure as the angels that minister in Hea- matters are good and right, but there is no man de"there would be lean, lank, hungry, unprinci-puted of the king to hear thee. O! that I were pled hyenas to howl around this Capitol, with ap-made judge in the land, that every man which petites prepared not only to devour the reputation hath a suit or cause might come unto me, and I of those who live to administer the Gavernment, would do him justice." And it was so that when but the grave itself would be insufficient to secure any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he the dead from their blighting and withering howl. put forth his hand, and took him and kissed him. So My colleague has finished his speech with a case Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. He from the Old Testament Scriptures, illustrative, as sent spies throughout the land (political missionhe supposes, of the corrupting influence of power aries) to all the tribes of Israel, and ander preupon the Democratic party; the total want of ana tence of piety towards God, he left Jerusalem logy between which, in some of its strongest points, for Hebron, where he was to set up his authority. may be easily perceived; for while Hazael came to But ere his mad ambition obtained its consumma the throne by the murder of his master, that is, tion, the beast which he rode forsook its rider, through blood and crime, the present and past Ad- and Absalom fell by the hand of trusty Joab, who ministrations came into power, not by crime and made his grave in a pit. blood, but by the suffrages of a free and indepenpent people; and by the same operation which brought these Administrations into power, was a corrupt and usurped Administration politically throttled, and its corrupt workers of iniquity thrown into the mud. But, sir, to the Scriptural case. I shall close my remarks by a reference to a case from the same high authority. Sir, the course of the party at present out of power but earnestly desiring, and sparing no pains, labor, or expense, to get into power-reminds me, and may remind the country forcibly, of the case of the unfortunate Absalom. I refer not to his contriving the death of Amnon, nor his forming a conspiracy with Ahithophel against the administration of the government, but to his ambition, and the means he used with the people to carry his designs.

Absalom went out to war upon a mule-a monWhat kind of a grel beast, half horse, half ass. mongrel hobby is the present Opposition mounted on? Bank, Anti-bank-Tariff, Anti-tariff-Masonic, and Anti masonic, &c. &c. They have no opinion in common, except it is hostility to the people's best interests, and a contempt for their understanding, or, in other words, a decided hatred to the simple institutions of Democracy. But when the people shall rise in their strength, this modern mule shall forsake its riders, and leave them to

With all the ambition and chicanery of Absalom, backed by the cunning of his counsellor, Ahitophel, the Federal party never can again succeed. in getting into power. They have been driven into political banishment, from which they never will be permitted to return.

OF THE

REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

TO THE

PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

WASHINGTON, D. C. JULY 6, 1838.

WASHINGTON :
PRINTED AT THE GLOBE OFFICE.

1838.

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

At a meeting of Republican members of the Senate and House of Representatives held at the Capitol, July 6, 1838, the Hon. JOHN M. NILES, of Connecticut and the Hon. CHARLES E. HAYNES, of Georgia being Chairmen, and the Hon. GEORGE M. KEIM, of Pennsylvania, and the Hon. H. L. TURNEY, of Tennessee, acting as Secretaries, the Address to the People of the United States was received, and further considered; whereupon, on motion of the Hon. Hiram Gray, of New York, it was

policy acted on, and to be acted on, in the councils of the General Government.

We are deeply sensible that too much has been expected from the deliberations of Congress. A numerous and powerful party has induced a large portion of the people to look alone to the Congress of the United States for relief. They are taught to believe that from thence alone can emanate the measures required to restore the country to peace, quiet, and happiness, unmindful that we have a written Constitution to control those who adminis

Resolved, That the address be signed and pub-ter the various departments of the General Governlished by the committee who have prepared it in behalf of the Republican members of Congress.

}

Chairmen.

ment. Many appear to think that Congress can do any and every thing called for at this novel crisis in the affairs of the country. To guard against the further progress of this fatal delusion, and to exonerate ourselves from unreasonable responsibility, we propose, at the threshold of this address, to present a concise history, touching the character of the Federal Constitution, and the origin of the two great political parties which have divided, and will probably forever divide, the American people.

There were radical differences of opinion in the convention which formed the Constitution. They laid the foundation of those parties which have at intervals ever since agitated, and at this moment deeply agitate, the whole country.

JOHN M. NILES, and CHARLES E. HAYNES, GEO. M. KEIM, and Secretaries. HOPKINS L. TURNEY, S ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. In a country advancing with the rapidity of ours, great changes, having a powerful control over its political relations and future destiny, must notļunfrequently occur, which may make it the duty of those intrusted, for the time, with the management of public affairs, in order to avoid misapprehension, to publish an exposition of their principles and purposes. Such are the changes which have taken place within the last few years, and which A portion of the convention, from a strong parhave already had great effect on the political con- tiality for the British form of Government, desired dition of the country, and are destined still to have to approximate as near that system as public opimuch greater hereafter. Among these may be nion in America would allow. From them came enumerated the final payment of the public debt; propositions for a President and Senate for life, the expiration of the charter of the United States elections for long terms, and other fundamental arBank, without renewal; the fall of the misnamed rangements, which should remove the Government American system; the rise and progress of aboli- as far as possible from popular control. Another tion; and finally the stoppage of payment by the portion, having more confidence in the intelligence banks, with the consequent embarrassment to the and virtue of the people, advocated the principle of community, and in the fiscal action of the Govern-making the executive and legislative branches elecment. Never, in so short a period, since the com- tive for short terms. After the Constitution was mencement of the Government, have so many events, destined to effect so mighty a change in our political condition, occurred. That their first effect would be to unsettle public opinion was to be expected; and accordingly there never was a time, when the political elements of the country were in a state of greater confusion, and when it was more important that those who are intrusted with the management of public affairs, should recur to first principles, and give a full and explicit exposition of their views.

formed, those two parties differed widely in the views they took of the tendency of the Government; the one believing that it was towards consolidation, and the other to disunion; and the one accordingly believing that the danger was despotism in the head, and the other anarchy in the members. Hence the different light in which the two parties viewed the character of the system. The Republican party held it to be federative in its character, and formed by the States in their sovereign. capacity, and adopted for their mutual security and Actuated by these considerations, the Republican happiness; while many of their adversaries regarded members of Congress, about to return to their con-it as a great national Republic, formed by the Amestituents, propose to lay before them a brief expo- rican people in the aggregate, to promote the intesition of the principles by which they have been rest of the majority, instead of the several States guided, and intend hereafter to be governed, or composing it.

some of the most important measures of public

When the Government was put in operation un