Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-09-07

for the numerous robberi1s of the mail
ID. for the thcfs committed Of divers
sums OF money forwarded iii letters by
the mails--3d. for the villanous practice
which exists, OF opening and suppressing
letters sent by the mall ,h. for the
wlliul neglect of certain post-masters 10
forward newspapers which do not suit
their hoiiticai haidfeS. These are crimes
and abuses OF most atrocious character,
and demand the strictcSt scrutiny and
punishment but ii belongs TO the Post
Master General and Congress, and not to
the President, to apply the remedy and
Suppress the evils.
The national revenue, and the collec-
tors of il, are regulated by law; and the
su perintendcnce, care, and control OF ii
exclusively belong to Congress and the
Secretary of the Treasury, and not TO the
President. But il the contrary were the
fact, he would be answerable for the
heavy losses sustained by the nation, in
consequence OF Mr.. Crawford employing
| broken, and other State Banks to collect
the public debt, without requiring and
| taking security from them lor the pay
ment Ut the money collected; and III
cases too, where the government had a
previous ample security for the ohen,
| 7piJnt, and faIhable violation otthe con-
| sutu,ion and laws of The United States OH
'he part Of Mr.. Crawford, in appointing
and giving senator l homas compensa-
ion to examine the western Land o fhces;
| and, as it is pretended, to negotiate the
brohea tanks out OF a mere nominal i'll
Identification for the heavy debts due by
| hem to The government.
1t is true, that the majority of a COM
mlttce oil Congress. (the Jriends, it is be-
'leved, OF Mr.. Crawlord,) have excused
him from ceaSure for employing senator
Thomas: but the report Of the commit
ee must cover those who agreed TO il
with Shame and disgrace in the eyes OF
'he PEOPLE Of The nation. Mr. Crawford
| acknowledged in his report to Congress,
that he bad 81 employ ed senator Tho
nas--@hich directly and expressly viola
| ed he lett;r aud spnlt OF the consltu-
ion and laws of the United States: and
it seems that a committee OF Congress
could i. had, majority of whom were
| he yuii}ing Instruments to ercu8e and
yyhite, .uash Mr.. Crawford for high and
most dangerous fubAc c0ence. The
commiaee have iabored, by long and
Iemhty report, to acquit Mr., Crawford on
The score OF phEcEDENT: and thus doc
trine is attempted to be established, THAT
one violation OF the fundamental insuu-
ment oil government will Justify as many
| as others as the interest or ambition Of
public men may require. II the n7tion
IS TO be governed by ArecedcntS, esia-
biished by the agents OF the people, We
soon shah have TO occasion for our wise
| constitutions, which should be held sa-
cred aud inviolate. Mr.. Crawford must
nave fol, bis situation to be very deSha-
rate, to rest his defeace and rely on such
d Jnatifrasion. itwould be equally cor
rec, ana j>isl 10 justify murder, theft, aud
every sin, on the ground OF long establish
I'd hrereaents. The constitution OF the
United States is the sovereign vii! OF the
,eonle OF tie nation, and contains the
BARRIERS necessary 10 protect then GO
"ernmeni, and 90 secure to them The iuli
and absolute enjoyment OF civil, political,
and religious ilocrty. In order that il
shah remain, sacred and myiolatc, every
pubic officer takes an oath, )" that he viii
well and truly support the constitution
afthe United States" and every honest
republican viii. acknowledge, that all Of
ticers are unworthy Of public trost and
confidence, vino shall qcifnlly contra
.vene any OF lis provisions. Mr.. Craw-
| lord is lawyer, and a candidate for the
Presidency, Which is the highest and
! most digrn6ed station under our govern
lnent; and it would be gross insult to
us understanding 10 say, that he did not
kno,v Tat his appointment OF senator
'Fnomfs lirecily violated the constitution
aud laws Of the United States.
The party formed against Mr.. Mon
roe and his administration, and the partl-
zans Of some Of the candidates for the
presidential chair, are Industrious in en-
deavoring to make an impression thai
CONGRESS-, and bot the PEOPLE OF the
United States will elect our mex. presi-
dent. This idea is founded on a belief
that the people are too ignorant to under
stand, and too lepraved and degenerate
to discern, their interests and rights, and
to exercise and maintain the sovereign
authority. 1t was in the election OF
Magistrates, ,ha, the people of the Ro-
man Commonwealth lost their liberties
and the downfall of that mighty Republic
Il IL =, IL, n a,