Republican Herald

Republican Herald.

"The will of the People must be understood, respected and faithfully executed."

PROVIDENCE,

SATURDAY MORNING, October 14, 1837

CONGRESS.

The federalists in Congress have been up to their old game, thus far, during the Extra session. Their party were clamorous for the call of Congress, as they pretended, to devise measures for the relief of the country ; but, in reality, for the purpose of embarrassing the Government, and taking advantage of the pressure of the times, to gain an ascendency in the National Councils, and to force upon the country their favorite measure, the establishment of a Bank. On counting noses in Congress, to use a homely expression, their hearts misgave them on the success of this measure, and, when the question was forced upon them, they turned every way, to dodge it, and to hang it up in suspense, as a weapon for farther hostile purposes. But they were compelled to meet, and to suffer defeat.

On the bill for the issue of Treasury Notes, they have thrown in the way every possible obstacle in their power. While the members of their own party have been sporting with the public money, and have placed that money beyond the reach of the government, as respects present availability, they manifested a reckless determination to prevent the government from availing itself of the only present mode of relief from embarrassment. They even went so far as to insist on borrowing money to lend to the states; and finding themselves foiled in that project, have endeavored to prevent the government from pledging itself by the issue of its bonds, even to meet the pressing calls of its own immediate necessities.

Not a man in Congress, or in the Union, but knew this measure necessary; and yet, these reckless partizans were rather willing to sacrifice the public credit, and put a stop to the wheels of government, than to permit it to be relieved at all on any other condition than the establishment of an engine of corruption, a National Bank, to promote the object of their ambition. Again they have been defeated—defeated in a manner that should cause them to hide their heads for very shame. The party which boasted their strength, and threatened to coerce the administration into their measures, find themselves even in a diminished minority, after all their vain boasting, and unable to carry or dictate a solitary measure.

The die is cast—The fate of the party is sealed—principle has triumphed—and when the federal delegations shall return to their constituents with sorrowful faces, they can give them the information they have appeared to lack, that there are men who tread the halls of Congress democratic in name, and democratic in principle; and too true to the interests of their common country, to be bought and sold in the public market. They can inform their constituents that they have met such men—met the keen glances of their eyes—and cowered before them. They can inform them that there is yet too much virtue and patriotism in a great majority of the American people, to bow in homage to an idol of gold; and that there is too much of the love of liberty yet remaining in the breast of American freemen, to take upon themselves, voluntarily, the yoke of slavery.

If they are honest, they will advise them to be satisfied with the equal rights of freemen, and hereafter be content to enjoy their own, without attempting to rob others of theirs.