The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1817-01-31

20 ask--nothing 10 expect from govern
ment or people, except from goverr
ment that prote ction OF life, liberty ans
property, which, as an American citi
zen, ! have right TO demsnd. ~
But, Sit, there are other considera .
lions since the passage of this law.
which show the iBexpe diency of Us
longer continuance. Hon, Gentlemen
remember, thai as soGn as the law pass.
ed; nay, l believe, before 1t received
the signature of the President, your
table was crowded with petitions for
Increase OF pay and salaries, on the
ground that members, having increased
their own pay could not refuse to d.
the same tor Others, even where there
was not the same equi'y as inthe casl
OF members. How difficult was i, TO
say nay to these applications! l must
confess To you, lCF one, could not.
Restore 10 as, then, that Independence
OF deciding On all cases, which we had
before the passage of this law. Thai
nigh, independent, honorable ground
on which Congress ought always TO
stand.
Another consideration one reason
Tor passing the law was, that our com
psnsation had been, for some time, and
vas then, paid in deprecated currency
Now, happily for the nation, the Gre dit
OF the governments is restored, and the
currency Of the country in rapid
course of Improvement members will
no longer be defrauded by being PAID
IN depreeiatS medium.
There is another consider stiop,which
NY Fpiud almost eyolls from stating.
Sir, / cennot receive, e. ON any man or
body OF men, any thing by way Of COM
pensation, which those who pay, or
bear the burthen, Think unreasonable
Dig, thank God, we can, but 10 Deg,
eTceiis from thee, great .Author Of every
good, and every fe,Jsct GIT! VIC oMgh,
o DC ashamed.
Il has lately been remarked by az
honorable gentleman from S. Caroline
(Hr. CalhOun) TO whom I always at
tend vita great satisfaction, that this
House is not the iaVorite with the A,
msrioan people J do not know that il,
ought 10 be, nor the other branch Ell
lner, except so lar as they may aid the
Executive In distributing the good
things of The government (as some con
siGer them. Look at your powers un
der the constitution see how many
more opportunities you have TO cp
press, than 10 relieve the people, and
fear the fact, but too well answers the
theory oil the government. Your very
a. - &c 70 ~
IS, duties, imposts and excises," which.
you do with unsparisg ha2 d; s. TO Dor
row money on the credit OF the United
States, which power you At times
have ehausted =" to regulate com
merce," which you have sometimes
destroyed by REG nlatiOn; "to establish
uniform rule Of naturalization, snd
UNIFORM laws on the subject of bank
ruptcies." You have been much more
anxious TO give The freedom of you
country TO foreigners than TO grant free
aom TO the Cypress OF your own citi-
zens. Yes,sirYou have passed law after
'am, on the subject OF naturalization; blu.
Tor long time have maintained the ST.
ence OF the grave, as to system Is
Bankruptcy as 10 the relief ofyour own
people, creditors as we'll as debtors
Tor hold that correct system al
bankruptcy is equally beneG fetal 10 both
Look too al the bills reported at this
session, Tor what has been called inter
nal improvement, Tor unive sites roads.
canals and various other obiects started
now,mereiy because the President hap-
pened BY the miscalcula,ion of some
inferior officer, to state tia, there was
large surplus in The national treasury
you pounCe upon it like birds OF prey
upon their game. Sir, an OVERLOOKING
IN the treasury Is not aiways sign thai
the pockets oil the citizens are full
the reverse is too often The case. Re
peal your land tax, brush away your va
rious other Internal taxes--re duce the
duties on importation one half--pay off
your national debt--a n, If you haze
SURPLUS in your treasury, apply il any
way authorized by the constitution,
which shall render he people content
ed and happy. Remember, the great
est internal improvement you can make
is in the condition OF the people. Be.
cause some favored regions, IN return
tot shcir valuable products, their cotton
and tobacco, have gold showcred down
upon them, it is not the case generally
can polat you to other portions OF our
country, 10 others of our fellow cuizeOs,
IL 4 2