"Mr. Wright hoped the Senate would not adhere to their disagreement. He felt himself bound to state that he did not know that he had heard of the constitution being broken down-destroyed-and the liberties of the country overthrown, so frequently in that Senate, as to render him callous to the real state of things. For the last sixteen months these fears and forebodings had been so strongly and often expressed on that floor, that they had been forcibly impressed upon him; yet, he must say, that he was incapable of perceiving a particle of their effects. No evidence had he seen of them; nor could he now partake of the alarm which some gentlemen pretended to feel, when he saw that the asseverations made at this time came from the same source. What had the Senate now before it? A bill from the House of Representatives-from the immediate representatives of the people, proposing to provide for the defence of the country. What had honorable senators debated? The danger of executive power. Were, he would ask, those representatives, sitting at the other end of the capitol, the most likely to contribute to that danger? Was that the source from which senators were compelled to look for danger in that respect? Such an idea had never occurred to his mind. Under what circumstances did the members of the other body permit the appropriation? He believed, and he spoke on good authority, that our minister at the court of France had informed this government that it was problematical that the French might strike the first blow against us by detaining our fleet, now in the Mediterranean. Congress were on the point of adjourning; and being in possession of such advices from our minister, they had thought proper to act as they had

done in regard to this appropriation; and he would inquire, by what notion it was, that the Senate were to be impressed with the danger of putting this power into the hands of the executive-that our liberties were to be destroyed, and the constitution trampled upon ? Ay, in making an appropriation for the defence and safety of the country from a foreign enemy!

"The honorable senator," (Mr. Leigh) said Mr. Wright in continuation, "has exhibited to us the dangers-of what? Not a foreign enemy, for he would hardly dread the landing of a foreign foe at our doors— but a domestic enemy is to ruin us! I remember, though it was at a period when I was very young, that a certain portion of the country held the same opinion as the honorable senator, and, when a foreign enemy did land in it, no alarm was shown, but the people there were alarmed at the domestic enemy. How was the foreign enemy met? As the honorable senator has most eloquently said-breast to breast?' No; that enemy was seen holding a Bible in his hand, and the American citizen putting his hand upon it, and swearing allegiance to the British government. Such is not my feeling in regard to a foreign enemy. I would prepare to repulse him at the first step; I would prepare to prevent him from touching my native soil, if I had it in my power."

The earnest appeal of Mr. Wright was not without its effect. The Senate appointed a committee of conference, of which Messrs. Webster, Frelinghuysen, and Wright, were members, to meet a similar committee from the House. The result was, the reduction of the amount to be appropriated, to eight hundred thousand dollars. The Senate concurred in the amendment,

but when the subject was again presented to the House, there was not a quorum of members in attendance, and the whole bill failed. With the adjournment, the twenty-third Congress, one of the most important in the history of the country, terminated its existence.

CHAPTER VI.

1835.-Nomination of Mr. Van Buren for the Presidency-Standing of Mr. Wright in the Senate-The Land Bill-Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia-The Surplus Revenue-Speculations— Remedies for the Financial Evils of the Country-Distribution-Opposition of Mr. Wright and others-The Specie Circular-Election of Mr. Van Buren-Act to Repeal-Abolition Petitions-Acknowledgment of Texan Independence-Expunging Resolution-Re-election of Mr. Wright-Visit to Vermont-The Pressure-Differences of Opinion-Views of Mr. Wright-Extra Session-The Independent Treasury-United States Bank-Special Deposit System-The Conservatives-Slavery in the District-North Eastern Boundary Question-The Bankrupt Bill of 1840-Renomination of Mr. Van Buren -His Administration-Expenses-Extra Session called by President Harrison--Repeal of the Independent Treasury--Loan Bill-Bankrupt Law-Land Distribution Bill of Mr. Clay-Vetoes of the Bank Bills -Provisional Tariff Bill and Vetoes of the President-Mr. Clay's Resolutions-Apportionment Bill-Tariff Law of 1842-Bill to Refund the Fine Paid by General Jackson at New Orleans-Mr. Wright Re-elected for a Third Term.-1843.

IN May 1835, a national democratic convention was held at Baltimore, of which Mr. Wright was a member. Public opinion had for a long time been fixed upon Mr. Van Buren as the successor of General Jackson in the chair of state, and he received the unanimous nomination of the convention for the presidency. The conspicuous position occupied by Mr. Wright during the stormy session of the twenty-third Congress, as one of the ablest supporters of the administration; the reliance of the President on his counsel and advice; and the

high estimation in which his practical good sense and sound judgment were held by his party friends, had contributed to place him prominently before the nation. The selection of Mr. Van Buren, as the presidential candidate, and its undoubted confirmation by the electors of the country, attracted still greater attention to his movements. Possessing the unlimited confidence. of the President and Vice President, it was generally thought that in all he said or did, he was prompted more or less by a regard for their views and interests. This sudden elevation to a high place among the ablest statesmen of the day might well have dazzled one less fixed and unchanging in his principles. He was surrounded by men who were active participants in the political contests of a past generation. Many of them he had distanced, and all were willing to acknowledge him as an equal. But no one remarked a change in his bearing. He was the same upon the floor of the Senate, when he was looked upon as the confidential representative of the executive, that he had been while administering justice, and reconciling differences, between his fellow-citizens in a quiet country village. Substantial, enduring merit was his, and a clear, wellbalanced mind. He was not elated at his success, but calmly pursued the straightforward, undeviating track, along which his footsteps had been directed. The purity of his motives was never questioned, nor his integrity doubted, upon the floor of the Senate. Had any dared to whisper aught against him-all, even the most zealous and determined partisan in the ranks of the opposition, would have shrunk from the calumniator, as if there had been poison in the touch.

Congress convened in December 1835, and Mr. Wright was again placed on the committee on finance,