Newspapers / Western Carolinian (Salisbury, N.C.) / March 12, 1841, edition 1 / Page 2
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. .1 ' f . . .a . 1 " ,lVJJU.l.L ADDRESS op WILLI M 11. II A i: IUSON. Called from a retirement which i had supposed lacuiMuiiM fir' nimliiii'tf mjnifr, to fill th Chief Ex-cull ve office of this gram Mid free na tion, 1 appear beftre you. fellow-ciiizcus, to lake the oath winch the Confutation prescribes, aa a -necessary qi,itilWaiin fur I be performance of it dull1-. And in obedience tn n custom coeval with our' Government, and which I believe to be your AWpectatiKis, I itfred tu present to you a aura nwirv uf the principle which will govern me, in the discharge ut thu duties which 1 shall be called upon tu iertrt.i. (i the remark of a Romaa Consul, in an 'early period of (ml celebrated .Republic, that a avmi striking contrast was observable lu the con . duct nf e-tiididaies fur offices of power and trust before and after obtaining them they seldom car , tying out inthe latter cue the pledges snd promise iiai0 tu I he former. - However much Ilia world hiny h ive improved, in many respects, in the; lap of upwards ut two thousand year since the remark w is made by the virtuous slid indignant Roman, .1 fear that a strict exiininition of llie annala tl mm" of the modern elective Governments, would I -vel ( Miiiiilar instances of violated confidence, Alth.i'ih the fiat of the people has gone forth, ittoclainmig me the Chief Magistrate of this glo n .us Union, notiitog upon their part remaining to - in; li. it in iv b" thought that a main may evsl I. keen up Ur delusion idtr which they may be iipjhi4!d to' have acted . relation to my principle 'i,.;i:ki s ; mid peril i there may, be some in mli!) who lirtie cmne liere either prepured i ct.n i!jrii.'v 1 snail now deliver, or, approving p ' j ii ..! -i iii fiii ici my witti which they are j-fi-ff.'.' liui ine l-rpi of a few months will coir ,, ;r Ji-j.r; i"fii tears. Tiieoullilieof principle n ni, i,J measures to be adiilt'd, by an Ad : i.;inir.itin ii 't yet begun, will soon be exchanged ' iiiwiiut.i'i -e ij-l' r y i and I ahull stand, cither x ! . J liv ny countrymen, or 'classed with the ... - i ewh,' prntut-ed that they night de i' .' . d tl.t:iTi'.i wnli the intention to betray. II 'U'r mt. n; mas be my pre-nt purpose to ;i i.iz r.i i Xfi' ctatioi, of a mnnaminou and roiiiiiiiMi; t.ojie , 1 loo W'H understand the iiilirnu-n- of luiiiaii iMtu.t', mid the dangerous tetupta ii. dm t. iihicli I nal I tie exposed, trom the niagnu i (Hie of ttie power winch it has been the pleasured tin' pt-of.le to commit to my hand, not to place mv tiiitl cuiitiileuce un the aid of thai Almighty I'cwer which ha hiliieito protecied me, and ena ti.'u nit- to bni.L' to favorable imuci other impor t.int, lijt null greatly iiilenor tru-ts, heretolore konhoeii lo inc by my country. 'Mil- broud louiidation upon which, our Coimtitu lion ifu, bt'iiig ti. e people a breath of theirs lotting mull', as a breath can unmake, change, or in uity if it can be awigned Uj Done ol the great oimji i. "I tioveriiineiit but to that ol Democra cv. Ii uch is it theory, those who are called upon to udiniiiiKier it niuil rt-coguiHC, a it leading principle, the duty ot shaping their measures so e to iirisliiec t:ie g.e.cest sxi to the greatest num tsrr. iut, with i nest- broi) admissions, il we would compare the rnnly acku iwledged to exist in toe m i-- ut our s'",'le with (he power claimed by oilier s,ver ij;iitieB, even by those which have bee . consult i eel ui"St purely democratic, we shad find a most essential o o'k mice., All others lay claim . to power inioteo only ny their own will. The ma 'J ir'i'ty of ouf"ci,'n' Hie;c'ontrry,,"isjs-s'"a nivcrs-ijmy si1 It an amount of power precisely eqo.il to tint winch has been granted to them by ine parties i t .e i.allonal compact, and nothing tx-Miod Ueailniit ol no Governiiieut by Divine ngnta b-lievmg that, s far as power is concern en, the beoehi eni Creator has uuide no distinction tiui, i e onU .eji'inmte right to govern is an ex press grant of power from the governed. The I oh-utuiinn o Hit I niird btatea is the instrument i oiitnuiii.g tins grunt -I p.wer to I lie several de piriineiJs couiHsiiig' t.ie Goverinneiit. On an t x imiiinnoii ot l!i;ii instrument, it will be found to C -iituin de. I .ration- ol' jower granted, and ot pow r wittihelit. Tno Utier is also susceptible of divisi Mi, into power winch the ni.iority had the r..hl to srani. but whieh they did not think proper J 10 lflrul co lijei, aii -ins, auu iiiai "iiii;ii could not hae granted, not tiemg possessed by tneiiist-lve". In iher words, there are certain rct.l p..ssed l,y each ...d.v.du.l America., cm , 0,hrr auwn AJ h thef- wmc, ... h.s comrsict w.thhe others, ,1m l,hm mnn confidence in the propriety of the lever surundered. Some of them, indeed, he is ,,mum r-nmm.lA ... tk. .j.. ,h i Uoao., ,o Mirrc, er, c ,g, ... l.,e ,, o, our ,? te.n, uiM.i-.Mble. Tim bosMed privilege of a Roman citiz-n was to iiho a sUn-ln only ajtatusl a peliy provincial rn.er, whilst the prouJ iH-mocrat of Athens could c n.ni- hi.n:lt under s s ntence ol death, lor a -up,siaeil vioiitioti of the national faith, which bo lie uniJer.to.i-1, n ol which at tunes was tl.e subject of Hi oi's kery ol all, or ot banishmeu' flom hif i,o i.e. ins laiiuiy, and luscou'ilry, with or without ail alleged cause ; that it is was Me act, not of a siogk- tyrant, or hated aristocracy, but ot his as winlii. il rim 'rymen. Far different is the power i.t "ot x.vi n lyotx . Ii csn interfere with no one's l i.Hi, pi'-cme- torintnf worship tin no one's oh iv mre, infiii i no piiii shiirt'iii but after well ss c. rt. ,.,e i gi.i, thn result of investigation under rules prescrite-d by the Constitution itself.. The' i iece'iis pr.vileges, and those scarcely less iniior inoi, i. j;i.i:l' expression to his thoughts and Uilitil'jtn, eilinr hv wntni;; "f s'ssiiaing, mires. earn. ed but tiy the lialnliiy lor injury lo oiheii, and fist ol a lull aitxipatiou in all the ad vantages wlmii If from the Government, the acknowl- y h,b 1-g.slative by the Exectjtive atiiliority, and dk-ecl pr pi:ity of all, the American citizen derives that in the hands ot one individual, wiaj d s-rem to . trom no charter granted by Ins feiluw limit. He beau incongruity in our system. I.iko soineolhtrs ttam.s it,em Is ciuae he is liimsell'a man, Inshiom'd (,f a mmilajr character, however, it aicars lo be -l.y toe same Aoiiiglity Innd as ttie rest of his j highly expedient ; and if used only with ihe lor pecie, ai.rt eon led to a In. I i-hare of the blessings ' hearunce, and in t' e i-pint which was intended by wiin which lie luis tndnweo tliein. I its ant hors, il mey ho pnsluciivu ol great good, and Not withstanding the limited sovereignly pos-' In- lound one ol the best safeguards to the Union. m'Mwd by Hie people of the United r".it s, and Ihe j At the period of tho formaiion of Ihe Constitution, restricted grant of power to the Government which ! the principle doe not appear to have enjoyed much iliey have adopted, enoug i lm been given to mc lavor in the State Goveinments. It existed but in coii"i,.lisli ad the olij-cts ..r winc!i it was created, 'two; and in one of these Mere was a pluial Execu 1 li i en lou nl power hj m wn, and hiinerln, live. If wc oi'd a arch for the moiivea which I i -no: lias Ui n adimniHen-d,'!! i'iiima!..i oioon ojiera'.id ujsiti too purnly patriotic and eiilightched i If . 'e.i, 6 uie-.tic traiiii jility preserved, and per jasemb.y wloch turned the Const iluiioit, lor the k uial liuert) cored lo ihe citizen. As was In bn j adoption uf a proviniiMi so apparently repugnant to t xpil d, however, Hum Oitt delect ot language, i Hit: leading Dcui.siialic pimciple thai the in.ijority und th- necr-sanly nleti'ioim muuner in winch should govern, we must reject Ihe idea Ihal they loir I'oos-l'U'i.ei is written. iiipotes have arisen j anticipated Iroin ll any hen: fit In j he ordinary a in the amount of power which it ha actually I course of legislation. ' 'I hey knew Inn well tho high groed, or was inie'.ie.'d lo gisot. This is mote degree of intelligence which existed among the particularly thn case at relation 'to that part of the ( poople, and Hie ritlighiened charjcterof Ihe Slu'e i,irjmeiit winch tresis of the legislative branclh j Legislatures, not to liuve the lullest conlideiae that Ami not iMily .is regards the exercise of powers ' the two bodies, elected hy them would Ije woithy , ia.imed under a general clause, giving that bjtiy ne .minority to p ss all ias isvessrv to carry mio ellti l llie siecil'ied powt rsf but in relation to i ne alter lso. It is, howevei, consoUtory to re ilect tost of I lie iitKBiicf il alleged deo.ir- Hre froto Ue letter or spirit f iho Constitution, have ultithAtely received tho sanction of a m ijonty of I lie people. And the ct, thnt many of our statesuien, moat distinguiMlied for talent and pulriot- ism, have been at one lime or other' of their , liticul career, on both aides of each of the most warmly disputed questions, lorce upon u the in ferrncefhat the errors, if ernira there were, attributable to the intrinsic difficulty, in many in stances, of ascertaining the intentions of the framers of the Onatituiinn, rather than the iidlu nee ot any sinister or uilputriottc niotive. When the Constitution of the United Btatea first came from the hands of the Convention which formed it, many of th sternest Republicans of the day were alarmed at the extent of the power which had been granted to the Federal Government, and more particularly of that ortin which had been assigned to the Executive branch. There were in it features which appeared nut to be in harmony with their ideas of a simple renrenentativ- Demo rracy, or Republic. And knowiog lite tendency of power to increi.se itxelf,' particularly when exer cised by a Mingle individual, predictions were made that, at no very' remote period, thk Government would terminate in Virtual monarchy. - It would -not become me lo shv that the fears ofWse patri ots have been already realized. But,xis I Hill- cerelv believe, tht the tendency of measures, and of men' opinions, for aone years past, has Wo in that direction, it is, I conceive, strictly propefcthat I should take thisoecaaion to rep at the assur ncia I have heretof .e given of my determination to v- rc-t the progress of that tendency, if it really exists, and reniore the Government to its pristine health mid viii.,r m fur ihi en be eflrcted bv anv legitimate exercise of the power placed iiimy hands. I proceed to state, in as summary a manner as I can, my opinion of the sources of the evils which have been so extensively complained of, and the correctives which may be applied. Some ot the lorrner are unqoexMunably to be found in the de fects of the Constitution ; others, in my judgment, are attributable to .misconstruction of some of us. provisions. Of the former is the eligibility of the same individual to a "ronil term of the Presidency. The sagacious' niitr of Mr. Jefierson eaily saw and lamented thia error, and attempts have been made, hitherto without success, lo apply the amen datory power of the States to its coirectmn. As, however, one node of correction it in the p-.wer of every President, and consequently in mine, it would be useless, and perhaps invidious, n enumerate the evils of which, in the opinion of our felow citizens, thia error of the sages who framed the Constitution may have been the source, and the bitter fruits which we are still to gather from it, if it continues to disfigure our system. It may be observed, however, as a general remark, that Republics can commit no greater error than to adopt or continue any feature in thotr systems of Government which may be calculated to create or increase the love of power, in the bosoms of those to whom necessity oblige them to commit the management of then adaire. And, surely, nothing is more likely to produce such a state of mind than the long continuance of an office of high trust. Nothing can.be inure corrupting, nothing more destructive of ell those noble feelings which belong lo ,h character of a deserted republican patriot When this corrupting passion once takes posseuiou of the human nund. like the love of gold, it be- comes in-atiable. It ia the never-dying worm in' his Isstom, grows with his growth, and strengthens with the declining years of its victim. If this ii true, it ia the part of wisdom fur a republic to limit the service nf that officer, at leaat, lo whom she tjatruatedihuwi lioruv the execution if her lawsyantl the command ot' her arsme and uaviwe, to a period an short aa to prevent his forgetting that he ia Ihe accountable agent, not the principal the servant, not the mas ter. Until an amendment of the Constitution can las effected public opinion may aeenre the desired d.KCi. I iv my aid to it, bv- renewing 4 he Mgyt!!fe.gi,n, .that. under ncircum. stances, will I consent to serve a wttoriJIef mr"'''""""' Hut if there is danger to public liberty from the acknowledged defects of the Constitution, in the want nf limit to the continuance of the Executive swer in the ame hands, there is I apprehend, not much Jess from a misconstruction ' f that instru ment, as it regards the powers actually given. I cannot conceive that, by a fair construction, any er either of it j provisions would be found to const i , ,he p,,, , u( tK, l,,,,. p,,wer, It cannot he claimed from the power to recommend, since, although ei.joineJ as a duly upon htm, it ia a ortttilf! whieh he h.ilds in eiiftiiiuin with asars Q( jn ohUg,nUnM n( uh ,Ie aeci,01 ,her can n 0lfrPrI,c.. n ,ne Ungm& "f 'ha j Consiitutnai, " all the legislative powera" which it j grams " are vested in the Co igres of the United ' Stales. w It would be a solecism in laneuave lo nay I that anv portion ol louse is hot included in the whole. It may he said, indeed, that the Constitution has given lu the Executive the power to annul the acts of the legislative body, by refusing to them his as sent. Ni a similar power baa necessarily resulted from that instrument to the Judiciary ; and yet the Judiciary forms no part of Ihe Legislature. There is, it ia true, thia difference between these grants uf power. The Executive can put his ix gaiive upon . Ihe acts of the Legislature for oilier cause than that of want of contornnty to the Coostitutrin, whilst the Jjdiciary can only declare void those winch violate thai in-trun.cnl. liul l ho decision of the Judiciary is final in such a cnei, whereas, in every instance where the veto of the I'lSwewuve rr ' hi may be overcomby a voieol two thirds ot both ,Mjses ol Congress. The iiegiilive uiion the ac representative of such C Histltuelits,and, ot course, that they would require no aid in cm cctving and maturing the measures which the circumstance nf ine fount ry might eqnire ; and if is prejHternus to sunnon that a thought 'could for a moment have been 'onieriaiued t,fiat the I'n sident, planed at the capitol, in the centre of the country, could oeti"f understand the wants and wishes oi ine peopio iiw.i their own immediate representatives, who sjnd a part of every yeaAamong them, living with theni, often laboring witbhe:n, and bound to them bv the triple tie of interest;, duly, and alioction. To as sist or control CotwreN , then, iu its ordinury legta- lation, cnulTnceive, have U-fiftnhffWrtwf for conferring the vetuuwer on the rresident. Thia argument acquires 'fidditioual force from the f.i ..f Ua never liavimr been thus used bv the fiist six Presidents: and two of them were iiiemhera of the Ccmvei.tiod.one presiding ov f ita deliboraliooa, and the other having larger share in consumma ting the labors nf that august body than any other uoiirsiq mm milium y"j -..j But ifbilla were neveV returned to nerson. gresa by either of the, Preaideiitabove referred to, unon the around of their be inn inexpedient, or nut as well adanted as they miitht be to the want! of the people, the veto waa applied upon that of want of conformity lo the Constitution, or because errors hod been committed fiO o too hast) enactment. There ia another ground for the adoption of the veto principle, which had probably more influence in recommending it to the Convention than any other. I refer to the security which it gives to the just and equitable action of the Legislature, upon nil parts ol the Uuioti. It could not but have oc curred to the Convention that, in a country so ex tensive, embracing so great a variety of soil and climate, and, consequently, of products, and which, from the same causes, must ever exhibit great I difference in the amount of the population of its various section, called for e great diversity in the .MhLi im.Ii if i Km iwnnl. that thi legislation of iv..i... .... .... v. .... r -r"-, - aj the majority might not always justly regard the rignta ami interests oi ine mummy sou uibi -! of th e character might be passed, under an ex presrf grant, by the words of the Constitution, and, therefore, not within the competency of the judi ciary to declare void ; that, however enlightened and patriotic tiey might suppose, from past experience, the memlicrs of Conn res might be, and however largely purtaking in (lie geuerlof the liberal feel ings of thn people, it was impossible to expect that bodies so const i tuled should not sometimes be con trolled by local interests and sectional feelings. It waa proper, therefore, to provido some umpire, from whose situation and mode ot appointment more independence and freedom from such influ ences mitfht be expecteck uch a one was afforded by the Executiv Department, constituted by the Constitution. A person elected to that high office, having his eonstuuents i.i every section, Statu, and subdivision of the Union, niut consider himself bound, by the must solemn sanctums, to guard, pro tect, and defend the Tights of all, and of every portion, great or small, from the injustice and op pression of (be rest. I consider the veto power, therefore, g ven by the Constitution to (ho tiecu live of the United Stutea solely as a con-ervative power, to be used only, 1st, to protect lh Const i lUtioa Iroin, violation: 2ily, the people Iron, the effects of hasty legislation, where their wi has . been probably disregarded or not well understcW ; j garii s winch they have lelt us. We haveearned, and, 3dly, to prevent ihe efl.:cU of roinbinatioVi i,MI( rror'n our own a well as the experience of i violative of the right of minorities. In referenced other countries, that jjolden shackles, by woom i to Ihe second of these objects, 1 may observe, that ; soever or by whatever pretence imposed, are as 1 1 consider it Ihe right and privilege of the people lo I inial to it a lU iron OMfs tesiM.iisiii. The j decide disputed point of the Constitution, arising presses in the neces.,ry mploy ment ol the GA, I from the general grant of power to Congress to , vemruent sIiihiM never lie used "to clear the ' carry into effi-cl the powers expressly given. And i 1 1 believe, with Mr. tlaJitxxi, "thai repeated recog nit ions, under vsried circumstances, tit acts of Ihe Legislative, Executive, and Judici il branches of tne government, ccompwniwd by indications in "M t wiil oi . ine Aauuo, as auuraiug iu ine rresiaeni .. V i. .. - - .. i n i ; fkient authority for hi considering such disputed ' point aa aetl ed." j II pwards of half a century his elapsed since the : adoption of our present form of Government. It "Would he an object more highly desirable than the - rraffiratron of the curiosity of speculative aTi; , precise. .nil iwtion fiiwidv JWlained..iU , feiVthlVii'enViSf ftre f'wieTaviiwa'if eeelt CUitm-wui..interieini' in theNornjiiistiiKi ot such Depart clients, of the powers which they respectively ' bills, u d that it shoud Is- cimsKierrd prT.jw-r that claim and exercise, of the collision which have j an altogether iiilli rent id .iitiiM iit of the Govern occurred be!we'n them, or between the whole , ment sli.uld'he pernniled in do so. . Some of our Government and thsnof the States, or either ol ! best i .lilic il niaxmis and oiihions hav been drawn ' them. We could then comj are our actual condition, j trom our purcnt .le Tnerenre otuers, however, after fifty years' trial of our system, with what it ' which caiVHit lie Kit r . In. . . i: our svteiri without wras in the coinuiencemenl nf its operations, and j singular incongium , n il ine nr.sloc'ii.n H much ! ascertain whether the prediction of the patriots who opposed its ad ption. or the confident hopes ' of its advocates, have been best realized. The great dread of the former seems to have been, that ! the reserved powers of the Siutes would be absorbed by thoee ofthe Federal Government, and a CiMiwdi- dated power established, leaving to the Slates the i shadow, only, of that independent action lor which , they had so zlouely contended, and on the preser i vat ton of which they relied the last hope of lih jer.y. Without denying that the result to which they looked with so much apprehension is in Ihe i way of being realized, if is obvious that they did mil clearly see Ihe mode of its accomplishment. The General Government has aeiz-d upon mme of the . reserved rights of the States. As far as any open : wrrfarii mm V hnv v.itiA. Ilia Slalw aiilh.tro... K-i um t amply maintained their rights. To a casual ob thunt to the House of Representative, With his ob server, our system presents no appearance of dis-j ectiiMis. It is in hi power,. aln, to propose cord between the diffi-rent memlr which compose ameiidinents In the existing revenue luws, suggest It. fciveti tho addition ol many new ones ha pro , dnced no jarring. They move in their respec'ive i.rKifa in .ki-ht i..r.n..nU -..Ii. 1 1,. I v.w... , -. ...., , twtij ...o v.Jinini ii- .U and with eich other. But there is still an under current at. work, by which, if not seasonably checked, the worst apprehension of our atiti Kede ral patriot will he realized. And not only will the State authorities be overshadowed by the great increase of pstwee in the Executive Department of the General Government, but the character ol thnt Government, if not ita design lion, bo esseutiully ; and radicalU changed. This atute nf drugs has ' been in part effected by causes inherent in the I Constitution and in part by the never filling ten dency political power to increase itself. ' By making the President the sole distributor td' all the patronage of the Government, the fr uiters of the Constitution do not appear to have anticipate I at how abort period rt would brcmi a fnr.iitdabe in- i rr,!,,,""' a ",,c"- "'i nnj', ,m ut o.n.l.tiou by sirumant to control the Ihe operant .of ihe Sitel l"r". I.I,""""",U ,r,""" '."' Ie!!..w citt- Govertiitient. Of t tflm!? irtijH.rtunce at hrst, )( I ' tiM' "," " "d enier; r.s-, ,Mo rud had, early in Mr. Jefferson' ad,. strati be.!1" ,' "'" ""' -"'t- -I,-,: is n,.- If come so powerful ne to create great alarm in the 1 lU"" " ,mu ' '''' 'ban an. ih n.l.idof that palnol, trou, the pnent tnfluet.ee ,i Vrr. thnt autre nf tnojs-, much dept. n. luht exert in rnntroihn, Ihe r.e...l . il... ,'tt,,'' ''V all trim repuhlfi ails U; nine , tl.e rich Iivh franchise. If scch Could have tin n l,c e;i tue effects u its mlloence, how much greater niul Is; the danger at this tune, quadrupled ni summiiiI, as it cnrtuinly i, and more coiiiilete!y uadnr the coin trol of ihe Ex'-cniive will, than their const ruction or thir imwers. allnwej, or the forliearmg rharac ters of all ihe early I'n sidems rimii, ,1 ihein lo tnaket But.it is not uv Hie extent of its pa I run-' .i. .t -K. !...: i. : age alone that ihe Executive' Denirttne-it has lm come "lan-jerous, but by tlm use wh ch it nppc-ir may be made ol the appointing power, lo hnng un der its control the whole revenue id ilia .....I. .1... The Cimatft-iion has declared it In lie the duty of tlpj.Presidenf tci see that tho l iws aro executed, and it make- him the Couimaiider in Chief of the ar miesandflavyof the, Uuiteo State., ll the opinion of the moat approved writer upon that specie i-f mixed G'f"n'eni hich, in modern Europe, t termed monatehg, in cont rariistinc Hon to deipotitm, is correct, there was watiiini! no other addition to the powers ol our Chief Maifist rate to stamp e monarchical character oiijaif Goveruuiem, but llie . control of the uublic, finances. And to me it ap- pe - uewge Hrirr 1.1 ami that f "V ... i. ...i i that the entire control which me rresioc ni pos sesses over the officeta who have the custody of the publie money, by the power of removal with or without cause, does, for all mischievous purposes at least, rirtually subject the treasure also lo hia disnoaal. The first Roman Emperor, in ln ' ' . ..".. -i ... tempt to seize the sacred treasure, silenced the -. - , . . LW-fopposilion of the officur to whose charge it had hen enmrtiillml. hv a SnirniBetlllt allusion to his word. By a selection of political insirumenia for the care of the public money, reference l their commissions by- a Preaidenl, would i quite as erlectual an argument aa that of Ctesar to the Roman knight. I em not insensible ot the great difficulty that exists in devising a proper plan for the safe keeping and disbursement ofthe public revenues, and 1 know the importance which has been attached by nierj of great abilities and patrio. tisin to the divorce, as it is called, of , the Treasury" from tho bnnkingiiistitutions. It is not the divorce which ia complained of. but the unhallowed union ofthe Treasury with the Executive Department which has created euch extensive alarm. To this dancer to our Republican institutions, nod that created by the influence given to 1h Executive through the instrumentality ot ine reuerai oimers, I propose to apply all the remedies winch may be at my command.' It was certainly a great error in the framers of the Constitution, not to have made, the officer at the head of the Treasury Deparinient entirely independent of the Executive. He vhoojld at least have be it removable only upon the demand of the popular bianch'of the Legisla ture. ., I have determined never .-lu remove a-Secretary of the Treasury without communicating all the circumstances attending such .removal lo both Il.Hisei of Congress. The influence of the Executive in controlling the freedom of the elective franchise throiigh the medium of the public officers can.be effectuollyW-cked by renewing the prohi bition publisbed'bv tr. Jt flerson, forbidding iheir interference in election furtiier than giving Iheir own votes; simI their wn independence secured by an assurance of perfect, immunity, in exercising this sacred privi'ege ieenien under the dictates of iheir own unbiad jrwlgments. Never, with my consent, shall an olficer'of the pcr!e, cocnocii sated for hi services out of their Mickets, become the pliant instrument of Executive wiil. . There is no part of the means pi .iced in the hinds ofthe Executive which might leased wild gnater effect, for unhallowed ptirpss-s, than, the control of the public press. The maxim wljult mii nricentors derived from (he ni .(her csmtry , that the free. dom of the press is the great bulwark of civil and religious libeitv," is erne ol the most prrcion le guilty ,r to varnish crirre s." A decent and manly examination nf the a ..is of the Government should be not only tolerated txil encsiriged, Upon amfther nccisiou I has given my opin ion, at some ia..,-!,. ,,m.i ,.,e imoroprirtv of E,e lu, rt .r.h.vu. .i. ....... ..t.-. I hat ttie article m tii- Co Htilir-i Mi makiiiA itrlhe duty f ttie 1'rrtid.Hii lo cnnunuuicita bdormalioo, at:d auth'iiitnig 1 1 1 m i -l . recumrt'iHl measures, w.is not interfiled to nmWni.m th scairce ol' L-giala-tlon, wittl in ;iri.eu!-ir,jli.il lij! ' should IH-Vsr be lo)k-i to lor :iwines of hniince. ... Ix. would be ve fv sir:tuge ii;iT'M,-Tliat lh i Lonsiilulion should hW.S'rjcjh of the Leiriala- mischief. Ami tin I i ici lie i,, Is- one. No mallei in which d r, may ungulate, nor liv II Jut o I'-iiliiuiiei,! a bill wn .in iiiirisluced, a minis- 1 ter, or a meuitie ot t:ie nppoaiti n, bv the t(ctinu of law, or rsther of'constt'Mtioi.a! u:iwi.'. the sovereign is support to lute p. n .1 a arcea ' hi y lo his will, and tli-n suliniitie.i t t I' irostnent for their advice and con-s-t. N . very te verse is the case here, not .tly wit-i regard to the principle, but the forms pr' si riU .1 hy'tne C.aisii. Iillion. The principle certamly assigns to the only body constituted by ttie t'onstiitii.on (thn legisla tive body,) Ihe power In maku law-, and the torms even direct that tho enselnieius sh old lx' ascribed to them. The Senate, in refitinn to reven e bills, have; a right lo prop-ise ainc'idint t,' and so has lie Executive, by the .tower given him to return ed by his observations tiie n I'irir delecnve cr injurious operation. Hut the dehrate dutv of de vising a he (net of revenue should be Itfl where the Constitution has pl.iced il wilh the i.niioiie.li ate representativea ot the people. r similar reason, tlm mode of keeping th" iu!iir treasure should be prescribed by lliein ; and th- t.ir'litr removed it may be from tliecoo'rol ol tio; Kt-iu ttve, ttie nunc wh'ilrs more wnnirs 'ins t ie n; i .up i r t 1 the more in accordaiics wan Kepuliiicin .ru.i ijile. Cimnecled with this 'subject ts t'.r etoirarter of l'ie currency : The idea of m ilni i; it cxclustv-Iy tnntulilC, however well i,leii(ed, ,-i rs to me t: be fraught with mure I it il u i .rnoetices than anv j MhoT scheme, tniviog no relation to tin p.-rsoniil rights of the cmz -n, iloit li.m ev. r In en ihnd. j It anv single scneme could pnnl .ei t, ,-. ,-t i,f are tl.ulv ad 'ino t.. He ,r lio itd., ,imi toe ip.nu Sinking tleejier mio mmmi r. , it is tii exc lu-ive n, . tallin currency. Or ii l cm' is a to. ..-, '.v w. loc lite chji meter of the coun'rv I or, oeneio- iy .nil IHjbb'liess nf fot-ltiig III iv tn- tli-iii.ye.J .y llie yreot inoreiise and necei.miry tolemrioii of usurv, it is an excl.iMve mutalltc inrn'-u-v. Alnongst tho other dulies .,i a i.ieiienle cu'irnrler wliieh the I'restd -nt is called -jj.on to p'eiform. is the eopervin of tue gov. rumcni o the Tcrntii- ruts of the llmierf Hones. Ttome of the o which are desliuid lu I rfT.lMiit1 lliv(iilv'si ii! iutr irtisi.l tki.ti. i Heal l.tmily. sie e Mis-nsa ed bv their r tt.l pr . gr-sa fiom nii.iiM-y In m nh K..:ttor the parrial and )'euMirarv ilepiivatmn of th ir poimcal riiihts. ' l ta'in this Ih.ir.et, only, where American uiti. zons are In w fiaind, who, uuder a' act tied lyatam ol policy, are deprived of many important potiticul " privileges, without any inspiring hopes aa to the future. Their only consolation, under such cir cumstauces ( such deprivations, is that ofthe " devoted exterior guard of camp that their Buf fering secure tranquility and safety within. Are Ihsr-H say of their count ry men who would Tuhject" them to greater s.icrificcs, lo any other humiln. lions than those esseutiully necessary to the seen, rily if the object for which they were tliuisepar. ' ted from their fellow-ciiixeusT Are Iheir rights alone rxt to be guarantied y -the application of those great principle, upMi which all our Conati. tutions aiX founded f We are told by the greate of British oraturs and alalesmen, that, at the com menceiiM-nt uf tho war of the Revolution, the most stupid men in England spoke of " Iheir American suhji-cts," Are there, indeed, citizens of any of our Htates who have drea ed of their $ubjrctt ia the District of Columbia! . Such dreams can nev. er bo realized by any Agency of mine. , . The penpln of the District of Columbia are not : tho subjects of the people of the Stales, but fre American citizen, lieing lu the latter conditio wheu Hie Constitution waa- formed, iio words ued in t ai insirinneiit could have been intended to dc. prive them of that character. If there is anj. thing in Ihe great principles of unalienable rights so emphatically insiaed upon in ouk Declaration of Independence, they could neither make, nor the United btatea accept, a surrender of their liberties and become the ivbjrctt, in other words, the slave, of their former fellow citizen. If thia be true, and it will scarcely be denied by any one who bat a correct idea of his own rights as an American citizen, the grant to Congress of exclusive juris, diction in the District of Columbia, can be inter, preted, so far as iesct the aggregate people of the United States, as meaning nothing more than to allow to Congress Ihe controlling power nects sary to afford a free and safe cxerrine of the fuqr. ' tiiais assigned to (be General Goveru.'ienl by the Constitution. , In all other respects, the legislation of Congress should he adapted to their peculiar position and wants, and be conforuiab e wi.h their deliberate opinions of their own interests. I have spoken of the necessity of keeping the resjiec'ive Deiarlmciits of the (lovernnem, n well aa all the olU-r authorities our country, wiljiin their apriipriate oilut. This is a matter ol difficulty in some cuscs, as the powers which they respectively claim are o'en not defined by very distinct hues. Mischievous, however, in their teoilecios, collision ot this kind may lie, tho-e which arise bctwrn the r-sjs-ctive communitiea, which fr certain piir(W'errr.in(sr one nation, are " much mure so; lor no socli nation can long ex at without the earef 1 culturn of those feelings of confidence and nllection which are Ihe effective bond of union between free and confederated States. ( Strong ts i the tie d mtrr-'y, it has been often lound melli c tual. Mt n, blimled by their passion, have been kc.own to sdofit maasiires for their country in tim et opposition to all the suggettiot. of policy. The alternative, then is lo destroy er keep down a bad passion bv creating and foster it g a good one; and it seems lo be the corner stons upon winch our Aneritan poliiiral architects have reared the fabric of our Government. The cement hieh was lo bind ll, and perpetuate its existence, wn the aft. ctionale attachment between all lis members. Tu insure the cot ti.iuance of ijiis feeling, pr-slm ed at first hv a community f dangers of siilferiiigs and of intrrxst, the advanta I m Mrnnh " ' W K aafxtriuive confederacy. eaeepl. m domeaiit. gesof each were made accessible lo all. No par. exec pi. governn.enl. was withheld from the citizen ol any other men be r. By a pris-ess aMendrd wilh no difficulty , on ik-lay, no expense hit that of removtl the cilien of one miijht tsreome the citizen of any other, and wirceastvely ofthe li.e. The lines, loo. eparatit.g jmu er t. t exreeed hf the citiv4 zens ol one Sta from thii nf another, seem to be rtdttnrttjrdwwn-rtir in teave no mm" Tor Hi is. nmlerstandiog- Tie cifzen? nf each. S'ate unite.L. in their jw-rsaai all Hie f.nvlrges which that char ac'er rnnfi-r. and allV.iat they may claim as citi zens of the United SisVs ; hut in no rase can tba same person at the satiiXMiiie, act as the citizen of I two separate State, m d he iitkcrrfrre pntititflj i prtcluJtH from ony inlrrfrtrnct teiik tit rrtrmi ter rs vj nny Stair, b1 Ihxt of irkirk kr it f. Ike hmr bring, n riiiitm. Ilcn sv indeed offer to toe c n .ei s of other Slates hidvics as lo their management, am! the form in whh it was tender ed is lelt to his own discretn n and tense of propriety. It may be observed, however, that organized association nf cinx-iis, requiring comply nee with ihei- wishes, too much rescnihle the reci.u.mends lions of Athena lo heraM'ea supjiorted by an arm ed and powerful fleet. It a indeed, to the ambi. Iiimi of the leading Sia'es to con'rol the domestic concerns of the otljett, thnt the c'ei-f ruction of that celebrated coiif-derscv, and u!'qerily of all i't members, is insinly to 1m slinlnied. And il is owmj lo the ab'i-ce of ilmt spirit ih-it the Hi l- v vettc ciaife eracy bi for so inai.y ynri len pre. served. . Never hssherr hern rrn in the msti lution nflhe separate tnemhi-isi.f 'iy ronfecfency more elements of dtcnrd. In the prteeiple and (iirms of guverrm nl nd religion, ns wcllss inllie eirc'iin-lances of the .(-vera I ennlons, so marked a lisi repiece was otfervah'r. as lo proti.ise any tlnn hut hsrmonv in' Iheir i"le.-oitr or pern't- ( iititv m their hlli , .re. ei lias Is-eu iiilerriiiiled. And yet,;.r ages, neilh- Colilolil wllh lh niKililS isnehu which their union produced, with the ir- .leistfletice and aifety Iroin foreign aggression wh'eh tt seenred. thew sspsriotts neonle resneetrd , li e institutions of each other, however repugnant 10 f-eir own prinrtptes ana prejudices. Our C-ooleilerscy , fellow Citizen, can on!v h preserved hy the sain I'orbeaninee, Our cilmentv miMi Is' content with the exerci-o of the jiower with '. hieh the Consiiiulinn clot lies thrni. TI'9 mienipt of those of one Si ite to colli rol the dn niesiie institutions .if another, can only result in 11 . Iiiijs of di'iiniii and jealousy , ihe certain hsr lungers of d:-union, vmlenr.', civil war, and lb ultiin ite ilestrui.linn nf inir free tnsiifuttons. (fur ( 'oiilederacv is perfectly i!!u-.lra'ed hy the. terms sod pit ci.l s goven i .g a cieiiiuon co partrirrvlnr T .ere a lui.il of pmvrr is to he exercised under tl' dir Moii ot the joint councils of the allied uiein tan, hut Itiat which has been reserved hy tie in dividual member- is intaiiuilde by tho common ''overninent or the individuil members composinjt j-t. To attempt it fp.is no support inthe princi-' I pies of our Cno-liiininn. It hlmuld lie our const"' md earnest codeAvor niiiliinlly to cultivate a spirit d' concord an I ii'ii umny nnioiig tjie various put'1 ..f our Confiwler.iry. Experience has alxinchintlf inujlit ns that the agitation by citizens of mw P"r' .f the U'.t.in of a iilj' cl not ci nlided to 'h' Gereral ( ulvriuiii id, but exclusively uiiderjh' guardiatistiip of the ik':hI tinlhciitn a, is pnlu'trt of no other coiim nuences than bitterness, alicnti"t'i hisc-jiid, und lojnrv lo thn very cause which '1 mo nded lo lie advanceil. Of all tho great iiitrea s , which appertain, In our coniiry, that of unin . cordial, conf'uliiig, ftatrriial niiion, is by ttr t '
Western Carolinian (Salisbury, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 12, 1841, edition 1
2
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