Rhode Island American, Statesman And Providence Gazette

[Communicated.]

Mr. Editor—I observed in the Patriot of Saturday, an essay headed "American System No. 4," and signed "Diomed," by which I infer that three numbers previous to the one in question, have been published; but not having had an opportunity to peruse them, I know not their import. The number now before me, appears to be a direct and open eulogy upon the present administration, and an anticipated attack upon Mr. Clay's administration, allowing that he will be elected for the next term; or although his words are, "had Mr. Clay been President the last year, he would have sanctioned appropriations for the object of internal improvement, to the amount of $2,323,437 more than the whole amount of revenue, it is indirectly saying, he will do so should he be elected for the next term and as there cannot be a doubt but that he will be elected, I make "Diomed" say, Henry Clay will ruin his country. Mark it sir! a man who has spent his whole life, and exerted his powerful talents in the service of his country, stands ready (when opportunity offers) to involve his country in ruin. Such an assertion will have no more effect upon an enlightened Rhode Islander, than will a zephyr upon an adamantine rock. According to "Diomed's" assertion, General Jackson could not have sanctioned the "Maysville Road Bill," unless he sanctioned all former bills for the object of internal improvement passed by Congress, and all that should hereafter be passed. That bill, he says, was an "entering wedge to an endless train of appropriations, which a revenue of fifty millions could not have satisfied." If such actually be the case all internal improvements are at an end. It appears to me, (notwithstanding Diomed's assertion to the contrary,) that the President has power to reject, or sanction, just such bills as he chooses, after they have passed both Houses of Congress. If such be the case, why all this cry about "dangerous precedent?" The sanctioning the Maysville Road bill would have been no more a precedent, than would the sending a foreign Minister. Because it is necessary, that one man should be sent as Minister to a foreign Court, it does not follow that all who make application should be sent.

Again: "Diomed" says, "the amount of bills in progress and reported, (he does not say whether favorable or not, but we suppose the former,) was $26,163,437." In addition to the foregoing sum he says, "numerous other bills for excavating canals, erecting bridges, repairing and constructing roads, and subscriptions to different sinking and bankrupt corporations, the amount of which is unknown, (but which would probably amount to four millions of dollars,) were still pending before the committee, and waiting the passage of the bill which received the veto. This amount added to $26,153,437 would make $30,163,437, or $6,323,437 more than the whole amount of revenue for the year 1830. Add to this $23,755,526 67, for civil, diplomatic, military, and naval services, and for extinguishing the public debt, and we have a deficiency of $30,078,963 67. instead of $26,078,963, 67, as asserted by Diomed. "Suppose," says he, "Mr. Clay had been President and pursued this course for four years—in that short period, we should have been in debt $104,315,854 68? but I say $120,315,854 68 Suppose Mr. Diomed, you persuade, by your powerful arguments, every man in this state to become a Jackson man, there would not be a Clay man in Rhode Island!

I would ask "Diomed" how he came by such important information? Is it the fruits of a close examination of public documents, or is it gleaned from some pupil of the Cooper school? But why ask that? The Editor of the Patriot says Diomed's assertions are true. Who then can deny them, who so bold as to call them incorrect? Such truths cannot be forced down the throats of the independent sons of Rhode Island No. notwithstanding "Diomed's" arguments, I verily believe, that the President's veto was not put upon the Maysville Road bill, in consequence of danger to be apprehended to the union, but that he was solely influenced by political motives. Knowing as he did that his popularity was on the decline in the West, in the same ratio as Mr. Clay's popularity increased, and knowing furthermore that if he signed the bill in question which was so obnoxious to the South, he would lose the confidence of that part of the Union, he summoned all his mathematical powers, and ascertained for a certainty that as a less from a greater number gave a remainder, he should by subtracting the loss of the West, from the South which he had already in his possession, be the gainer by an amount which cannot be justly ascertained at present.

HOMO.