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THOMAS COOPER. 801

ties of his high station, and unfit for the important office to
which the people have elected him. The motives and intent
of the traverser, not of the President, are the subject to be
inquired into by you.

Now we will consider this libel aa published by the defend-
ant, and observe what were his motives, You will find the
traverser speaking of the President in the following words:
“Byen those who doubted his capacity, thought well of his
intentions.’? This the traverser might suppose would be con-
sidered as a compliment as to the intentions of the President;
but I have no doubt thet it was meant to carry a sting with
it which should be felt; for it was in substance saying of the
President, ‘‘you may have good intentions, but I doubt your
vapacity.’*

He then goes on to say, ‘‘Nor were we yet saddled with the
expense of a permanent navy, nor threatened, under his (the
President’s)} auspices, with the existence of a atanding army.
Our credit was not yet reduced so low as to borrow money at
eight per cent in time of peace.”” Now, gentlemen, if these
things were true, can any one doubt what effect they would
have on the public mindf If the people believed those things,
what would be the consequencef What! the President of the
United States saddle us with a permanent navy, encourage
a standing army, and borrow money at a large preminm?t And
are we told, too, that this is in time of peace? If you believe
this to be true, what opinion can you, gentlemen, form of the
President? One observation must strike you, viz: That
these charges are made not only against the President, but
against yourselves who elect the House of Representatives,
for these acta cannot be done without first having been ap-
proved of by Congress. Can a navy be built, ean an army be
raised, or money borrowed, without the consent of Congress?

The President is further charged for that ‘the unneces-
sary violence of his official expressiona might justly have pro-
voked a war.’ This is a very serious charge indeed. What,
the President, by unnecessary violence, plunge this country
into a war! and that a just war? It cannot be—TI say, gen-

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