Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-01

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tertainmen,s, were paid from the Treasury OF
the Union: aud il would have required an effort
of ingenuity 10 have devised single object to
which the money thus collected could have
been applied, except 10 crafty the luxury, and
swell the number Of his re,ainers. II is certain
that the necessity for the exercise OF the taxing
power was as grea before as alter the rescind-
ing act Of Congress; and when that act was
passed, prohibiting future taxation, emptylng
the pockets fthe mayor, the tax-gatherer, and
the council, and ordering every farthing collect-
ed to BIZ restored TO the bona hide owner, we
have yet 10 learn that pubic mourning was
proclaimed, or the Stale endangered
The primo pie, uf freedom, however cherish
ed bv the public, are exposed TO the continued
assaults of rivalry ADD lab ton, AID are liable
to BIZ endang red both b. weakness and dcprav"
ity, From the fir,; institution OF civil governs
meet 10 The present lime, history records but
one grea, struggle, sometimt siniermited, but
ALWAYS renewed, b tween u,i oi power on the
one hand, and iiber y and justice on tae other.
In d fance OF III e,trai"t, OF Jaw, and the de-
nuncations Of pun hmm trusts, d leSated oy
the People for tie public gopd, haze bren prs
ver.ed bv thei agrats privat. "nds; power
conferred from he 6verhowings OF gratitude, as
q mementu Of confidence, ~ seasrns oil dan-
ger as shield against oppr" ssicn, has been
used as .he means o. their xn subjugatlon.-
But Of all the powers crntiied by he People,
the powers of taxation has proved most liable
TO abuse, and, when abus"d, most dangerous 10
liberty. When conferred on irresponsible a.
gents, property is insecure, the People are spir-
tIess and DEGRADED. 1t not only Stimulates
the passion Of the ruler, but affords the means
of qualification. 1t takes from the People, and
gives TO their natural oppressor, money, The
great moral lever by which the world IS moved
No political truth is, therefore, more hfm'y
established, than that he who commands the
purses Of The People can command their liberty,
and has /, in his power to bend their lncllna-
lions 10 his will. Hence the necessity hat this
power should eilher be retained by the People,
or delegated with circumspeclion 10 accounia'
bic agents, limited in its range, and guarded
from abuse by all the restfDhts that human
wisdom an devise.
Now, it is this very power, So fable TO a.
buse, so dangerous to liberty, which the Peo-
PIC should guard with vestal vigilance, that
was assumed by General Jackson, by construc-
lion, without the knowledge Of his Govern
ment or the consent of the People. He has
done that, from his own mere will, which, for
attempting, brought Charles the First 10 the
y
land.
Ifihe idea can be tolerated, for moment,
that Gov. Jackson was authorized, by the con-
snucive latitude Of an Executive commission,
to assume the power of unlimited ,axatiop over
a Territory coded TO the Union, but not repre-
scented in her councils--a power which il is
questionable whether even Congress can exer-
else, what can excuse his attempt to grant this
power, in TIE same unlimited extent, TO subor
dinate agents appointed by himself? Bot, it
even The original assumption and the subs, queni
grant, were IN as strict accordance with the
principles Of our Government, as they are, In
reality, su5versye Of the inaxlms OF freedom,
by what standard shall his crImlnalily be judg-
ed, wien we consider the indifference with
which he viewed the open pillage that en-
suede ommi,t'd too, by subordinate officers
Of his own appointment, acting under the au-
,hority Of laws which he had framed. When
he beheld the deposlaries Of his constructive
power, extorting sums OF unprecedented mag
ni,ude, with unheard Of rigor, demanding, not
pittancr, not 1.-THE, but all that could be wrung
from affluence ITSELF when he saw the COM
mencemenl of system Of exaction, established
by law, exemp,ing no calling, psrvading all
ranks, l,,clns all conditions; gripping in its
folds b. tn infancy and age; filing the inhabit-
ants with conservation, and, il continued, with
despair; and YET, instead Of making movr-
ment in their behalf, heaping oppression upon
oppression; levying still greater contributions,
and, by an ordinance numbered S') making
Congress trembe with Indignation, il not with
f ar, at the direct invasion Of their exclusive
authority.
The man who indulges in extorion, and the
man who connives al the extortion Of his agents,
must be, alike, the object Of public deteslallon.
And though extortion may be yelled under the
forms of legislation, it strikes TOO deeply into
the human bosom to find friend among the
poor, or an advocate among the itch. 1t will,
therefore be vain for the followers OF Gen. Jack
son to a,temp, throwing the burden Of his re
sponsbili,v upon the pliant instruments of his
will, or 10 hold up The NAMES of his Mayor, and
his Council, for the purpose of attracting the
public condemnation. The conduct Of the
Mayor and his now unknown associates, though
filling Florida with dismay, and the Union
with sympathy, received from Gov. Jackson