Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-07-17

THE .4cts Of Coz Jackson as 4 Legislator.
M M


rho mower ofTaxation assumed, delegated, and
abused
The POWER OF = AxATIoN. Assumed by Gov.
-,.ks,n delegated 10 officers OF MS own APP
o,ofnept, and exercised in the manner alrea-
4, ooticcd. was alike unauthorized, by the laws
,f spain the maxims of all free Governments.
and The fundamental principles OF our own
tI,yever extensive NAV have been the grant Of
-,wers conferred on Governor Jackson by the
~ Of Congress under which he was comnis-
aoaed. or constructiveiy derived from the laws
ofSpain, / was still grant OF powers TO him
self alone, which he had no right 10 delegate OF
portion out. They, IN fact, were powers wholly
,ncnmmunlcable, except by an act OF The SUI
irene authority OF the stale, sanctioned by the
People, in their form OF Government. Who
would pretend that the King OF England can
delegate toa council the Executive power OF
the .rown or that Congress can transfer the
legislative power with which they have been
invested oy the peoplel Nay, can trust OF
Any De legally assigned, except by the will OF
the party by whom it was conferred! The at
tempt, then, by Gen. 5ackson, to claim, tor
himself, the taxing power, was OF sufficient
IN .gn ude because, m effect, ii sabstitnied bis
will for the will OF the People, and Invested
them of their highest privilege, without their
consent, But the attempt To delegate TO sub
taxing power he had thus assumed, WAS an act
of A tgrapt usurpstion without paraliel-e x-
ceot. perhaps, III the strides of successful con-
ouerors VINO overturH and establish toyern-
ments as caprice may mpe, and treat all rights
emsnatng from the People With contempt.
THIS act Of Governor Jackson can lind no a.
Doorist II aims deadly blow al the root OF
all Government derived from the consent OF the
People. Eventhe tyrsn's plea, necessity, caa-
not DO urged is pallt&uon lie required at that
tine no Overlooking treasury 10 ensbe him to
support armies, whether ior the purpose OF pua-
iSh.ng Indian massacres or proVoking Indian
hostl,tes. Peace reignei in our land, undisr
turoed even by the dishonor indicted upon
Spain by the outrage upon Cal&Va, the repre-
sentatses OF our sovereignty. ITS own sat-
ary, his sumptuoua repasts, The expenses CT his
ADMINISTRATION and of his more than regal enter
tanments, were paid from the Treasury or the
Union: and il would have required an eiiofi OF
in.eaaiy to have devised single object 10
which the money thus collected could have
been applied. except to grauiy tue luxury, and
n swell The number OF bis retaiaers. Ii is certain
that the necessity for The exercise Of the taxing
power was as great before as sftsr the resembling
&C, of Congress; and when that act was passed,
prohibiting future taxaton, emptyins tbs pock
cts of the mayor, the tax'gathereT, aisd the
council, and ordering every farthIng collected
10 be restorted 10 the bona tde owner, We have
yet 10 learn that pubic mourning was proclaim
ed or the State endangered.
The principles OF freedom, however cherish
ed by the public, are exposed 10 Tie Continued
assaults Of rivalry aud ambition, and are liable
to be endangered both BY weakness and deprav
iy From the Grst institution OF civil govern
!Dent to the present time, history records but
one great struggle, sometimes intermIited, but
always renewed. between lust Of power on the
hand, aud liberty and justice on the other.
In defiance of the restraints OF law, and the de-.
nuncisuons of punishment, trusts, delegated by
the People for the public GOOD, have been per-
vevte.l by their agents TO private ends; and pew
eFconterred from the overfo wings OF gratitude.
n as memeato of confidence, or IN seasons OF
u danger as shield against oppression, has been
used as the means OF their own subJusatioD.--
But, of all powers confided by the People. the
81 powers oftaxation has proved most liable 10 a.
N buse, and, when abused most dangerous to H.
berty. When conferred on irresponsible agents,
Property is insecure. the People are splrltess
and degraded. 1t MOI only stimulates the pas
Sion OF the ruler, bat affords the means OF gra.
Shcaton. Ntakes from the People, and gives
Wlheii natural oppressor, money, the great
moral lever by which the world is moved NO
a Political truth IS, therefore, more firmly estao-
ishads than that be who commands the purses
" the People can command their hberty, ano
has It in their power to bend their lncsinations
81 tohs will. Hence the necessity that this pow
III CT should either be retained by the People, or
81 delegated with circumspection TO accountable
"a agents, limited in its range, and guarded from
81 aouse by all the restraints that human wisdom
can devise
NOW, IT Is this very power, SO liable to abuse,
20 dangerous to liberty, which the People should
M guard with vestal vigilance, that was assumed
# " General Jackson, by construction, without
81 we knowledge of his Government or the con
N cent OF the People He has done that, from ei'
n own =" mere will. which, for attempting. brough
Charles the First to the block and tore Anseri
IRON the crown of England.
the IDEA can be tolerated for moment, tha
;~'v Jackson was authorized, by the CONSTRUCT
I've latitude OF an Executive commission; 20 as
- 11'ne ne power OF unliNited taxation over
-er"'ory ceded to the Union but not repre-
'0'"ee IN her couvEls--a power which It 4
fashionable whether even Congress can exer
~ what can excuse his attempt to grant I'm
t"er' IN the Same unlimited extent, to subor
t,a a'e agents appointed by himselif But,
~" Tue original assumption aud the subsequent
S-"', were in as strict accordance with thu
uI'peS OF our Government, as they are, II
"l' subversive Of the maxims OF freedom
"Nst standard shall his crmnality be judg
When We consider the indifference Wiz;
'e" he viewed the open piilage that ensued-
'''nted, too, BY subordinate officers OF hI
4 a.