Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-23

times over pledged to the People to negative any
bill that NAV be passed for recharterng the Bank,
and there is little doubt that the additional IN
fluence which he would acquire by reelection,
would be employed to carry through Congress
the extraordinary substitute which he has repeat .
eddy proposed.
Ii may be said, indeed, that the Presidents
councillors do not agree with him on this subject,
and may perhaps over rule his opinion before the
time of action snail arrive. In his recent Report
Of Congress, the Secretary of the Treasury IN
fact, undertaken an apology for the Bank, which.
coming from him, can be viewed in NO other light
than as formal defence of that institution against
the attack made upon it BY the President, although
he concludes with the intimation, that his views
may be modified in compliance with those OF the
Executives; as if he were not himself the head OF
the financial branch of that Department. ltis
one of the sngular,lies of our present. political
situation. that while we are told on the one hauu'
by the Presidents partZans that his acknowiedS-
ed ncapacity may and will be received, by the
employment of an able Cabinet, we are now to'h,
on the other hand. by this cable Cabinet, 'hat
they can not control the Presidents conduct and
that their suunLer notions must be modified so as
10 meet the views of Executive. In what we are
apt enough to consider as the corrupt and ser'i'e
Courts OF Europe. Cabinet Minister who can
not prevail upon the Executive" from whom he
holds his commission to adopt his views resigns
his commission. He deems 1t Improper to notii-
fy his opinions, in order TO SUIT them to The views
of the Executive-in other words, To make him.
self responsible for scheme OF policy which he
does not approve. But surprising that the present
Secretary of the Treasury, it continued In place,
would be able, when the tune OF action should
arrive, to over-rule the Presidents opinion, sub
sttute his own views for those OF the Executive,
l.oE hats
the country feel that he will be so confined? Who
can assure us that some expulsion, resulting from
causes too frivolous to be made, with proprle
tv, the subject of distinct alluson in a serious
political document will not scatter the present
Cabinet like the last. to the four winds OF Heaven
and introduce into the councils OF the nation
new set of advisers, still more ready than those
who now occupy that place. To accommodate their
opinions to the views of the Executive? The on
" security which the country can have for the
proper discharge Of the duties of the Executive,
as of every other. branch of the Government, Is
the capacity. fidelity, and Industry, of tie midi
vidual who is bv law responsible for that Depart
that is, the President; and experience has
amply shown, that an individual who Is unfit tor
the office HIMSELF is equally unfit to select those
who are to assume his responsibility, and be vir-
tually Presidents under him.
The Judiciary Department, an institution still
more important than any one can De that merely
affects the economical interests OF the Unlor,
seems also to be seriously threatened BY the per-
verse policy of the present administration. The
great Improvement made by the adoption of the
present constitution in the political system OF the
Old Confederation. was the extension OF the pow
err 0. the Union over the persons OF the Indlvld-
ual citizens, through the action OF the Federal
Courts, including, as necessary ingredient,
right Of appeal to these Courts from the decisions
of those Of the States. The adoption of this stu
gle salutary provision raised US from The situation
of cluster, poor, lmbecile. and. for all substan
tial purposes, mutually dependent States, oprress-
ed with debts, disturbed by instructions. and on
the verge Of absolute anarchy, into subsequent
condition Of one great, powerful. prosperous,
glorious, Free and independent Federal Repub.
lic The rejection Of this wholesome principle
would bring us back again to the same situation
in which we stood before. Notwithstanding this,
a powerful party, represented by several impor-
tant States, and by large aud respectable por-
ton of the people seem to consider the Union,
and the principles on which it is founded, posi-.
tive evils. Much is said of the sovereignty aid
ipdeDeHdence of the States, and Ut their right,
az seperate States, to annul the laws; while threats
are held out which have not in all cases proved
to be mere empty words. that this right is II b.
Immediately exercised, and the Union Of course
virtually dissolved.
Under these circumstances, it was to have been
expected that the President, as the head OF the
Executive Department. aud natural guardian of
the rights aud powers Of the Fedora! Government.
would have exerted his Influence t. check tins
dangerous spirit. Instead "f this, we find hun
openly encouraging it, and acting under It's i"flu
ence. When proposition to repeal, wihon, IA
Substitute, the section of the judiciary act which
authorizes the appeal from the State to the Fede-
raj Courts, and forms the foundation of the ju-
.rsprudeuce of the Union in tins respect. was
made in Congress, it was favored by the imme
date friends of the President, and by the jour
nails under his control; and at the recent orga-
nization Of the House Of Representatives, The
member proposing the repeal was placed at the
head of The Judiciary Committee. These pro.
ceedinss seem to Indicate settled intention in
the administration to shake the independence and
destroy the efficiency of tins most important
branch of the Government.
The last polnt which we shall notice in the con-