The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-12-16


will be satisfactory 20 all. That hitherto adopt
ed has, by many of our fellow citizens, been
deprecated as an infraction of the Constitution,
while by others it has been viewed as lnexpe-
dent. All feel that it has been employed at the
expense of harmony in the legislative councils.
! To avoid these evils, it appears to me that
! the most safe, just, and federal disposition
which could be made of the surplus revenue,
would be its apportionment among the several
! States according to their ratio Misrepresentation;
and should this measure not be found warranted
| by the Constitution, that it would be expedlent
/ to propose to the States an amendment author
| sing it. / regard an appeal to the source oil
power, in cases of real doubt, and where its ex-
ercise is deemed indispensable to the general
] welfare, as among the most sacred OF all our
| obligations. Upon this country, more than any
other, has, in the providence of God, been cast
J the special guardianship of the great principle
of adherence to written constitutions If it fail
here, all hope in regard to it will be extngulsh-
id. That this was intended to be a Govern
ment of limited and specific, and not general
powers, must be admitted by all and 1t is our
| duty 10 preserve for it the character intended
! by its trainers If experience points out the
/ necessity for an enlargement of these powers,
let us apply for it TO those for whose benefit it
is to be exercised and not undermine the whole
| system by resort to overstrained constructions,
L
I the hopes of those who devised it, and become
an object of admiration to the world. We are
! responsible to our country, and to the glorious
cause of selfgovernment, for the preservation
Of so great good. The great mass of legisa-
ton relating to our internal affairs, was intend
ed to be left where the Federal Convention
found tin the State Governments. Nothing
is clearer, in my view, than that we are chiefly
indebted for the success of the Constitution
Z xx,ph tn ha afpb
full and auxiliary operation of the State authori-
\ ties This is not the reflection of day, but
belongs to the most deeply rooted convictions
of my mind. | cannot, therefore, too strongly
or too earnestly, for my own of its impor-
lance, warn you against all entertainments upon
the legitimate sphere of State Sovereignty.
Sustained by its healthful and invigoratng in
fiuence, the Federal system never fall.
In the collection of the revenue, the long
credits authorized on goods imported from be-
yond the Cape Of Good Hope the chief
cause of the losses at present sustained. If
these were shortened to six, nine, and twelve
months, and warehouses provided by Govern
ment, sufficient 10 receive the goods offered in
deposite for security and for debenture and il
the right of the United States to a priority of
payment out of the estates of lis insolvent debt
ors were more efectually secured, this evil
would, in great measure, be obviated. An
fore, with the proposed alteration of the credits,
recommended to your attention.
j 1t is worthy of notice, that the laws for the
} collection and security of the revenue arising
from imposts were chiefly framed when the
rates of duties imported goods presented
much less temptation for Illicit trade than at
present exists. There is reason TO believe, that
these laws are, in some respects, quite INSULT
cent for the proper security of the revenue, and
the protection of the interests Of those who are
disposed to observe them. The injurious and
demoralizing tendency of a successful system OF
smuggling, is so obvious not to require COM
ment, and cannot be too carefully guarded
against | therefore suggest to Congress the
proprety Of adopting efficient measures to pre-
vent this evil avoiding, however, as much as
possible, every unnecessary Infringement of in
dividual liberty, and embarrassment OF falr and
lawful business.
| On an examination of the records ofthe Treas
ury, | have been forcibly struck with the large
amount of public money which appears to be
outstanding. OF the sum thus due from indl-
viduals to the Government, a considerable por-
ton is undoubtedly desperate; and in many
instances has probably been rendered so by re-
{ missness in the agents charged with its collec-
ton. By proper exertions, great part, how
ever, may yet be recovered; and whatever may
be the portions respectively belonging to these
two classes, it behoves the Government to as
certain the real state Of the fact. This can be
done only by the prompt adoption of judicious
measures for the collection of such as may be
made available. 1t is believed that very large
! amount has been lost through the inadequacy
of the means provided for the collection Of the
debts due to the public, and that this inadegua-
cy lies chiefly in the want of legal skill, habitu-
ally and constantly employed in the direction
/ of the agents engaged in the service. 1t must
, 4 ha adj tod hat hp
J over suits brought by the public, which is now
, vested in an accounting officer of the Treasury
not selected with view to his legal knowledge
and encountered as he is with numerous Other
duties, operates unfavorably TO the public inter
est.
1t is important that this branch of the public
f service should be subjected to the supervision
of such professional skill as will give it efficien-
CIV. The expense attendant upon such nod:f-
cation of the Executive Department would be
, justified by the soundest principles of economy
! / would recommend, therefore, that the duties
now assigned to the Agent of the Treasury, so
far as they relate to the superintendent and
/, management of legal proceedings, on the part
Of the United States, be transferred to the At
torney- General, and that this officer be placed
, on the same footing, in all respects, as the
Heads of the other Notwithstanding
; like compensation, and having such subordi-
nate oncers PROVIDED Tor MS Department, as
may be requisite for the discharge of these ad-
ditioral duties. The professional skill of the
ttorney-General, employed in directing the
conduct of Marshals and District Attorneys,
would hasten the collection of debts now in suit,
and, hereafter, save much TO the Government
1t might be further extended to the superin.
tendence Of all criminal proceedings for offences
against the United States In making this
transfer, great care should be taken, however,
that the power necessary to the Treasury De-
partment be not impaired one of its greatest
securities consisting in control over all ac.
4 counts, until they are audited or reported for
suit.
! In connection with the foregoing views,
would suggest, also, an inquiry, whether the
provisions Of the act Of Congress, authorising
| HE dischnrna of the nersnna Of dehfnrs 10 The