The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-28

which, so far as the description of it can be
understood, would be no better than a ma
chine in the hands of the Government for
fahricatlng and issuing paper money with
out check or responsibility. In his recent
. message to Congress, the President declares
for the third time, his opinion on these sub
! Jects, IN the same concise and authoritative
style as before, and intimates that he shall
consider his reelection as an expression of
, the opinion Of the people that they ought to
: be acted on. If therefore, the President be
r reelected, 1t may be considered certain that
the Bank will be abolished, and the ins,itu-
ton which he has recommended, or some
: thing like it. substituted in its place.
5 Are the People Of the United States pre-
pared for this? Are they ready to destroy
. one of their most valuable establishments, to
: CRAFTY the caprice Of Chief Magistrate,
= who reasons and advises upon n subject,
s with the details of which he is evidently un-
acquainted, in direct contradiction to the
e opinion OF his own official councillors Are
{ the en:srprising, liberal, high minded, and
g intelligent Merchants Of the Union willing
ITO countenance such measure? Are the
I cultlVaiofs u tsis','Vest, who End in the Bank
of the United States a neves- failing source
Of that Capital, which is so essential sso-JJs,.s
prosperity, and which they can get IL
s9h.ro else. prepared 10 lend their aid III
drying up the fountain of their prosperity
Is there any ciass Of the People or section
OF the Union SO lost to every sentiment of
common prudence, so regardless of all the
principles Of republican government, as to
, place in the hands of the Executive Depart
f ment the means Of an irresponsible and I'M
: limited issue ofpaper money in other words,
s the means of corruption without checks or
: bounds? If such be, in fact, the wishes of
: the People, they will act with consistency
r and propriety in voting for Gen. jackson, as
S President of the United States for, by his
!, reelection all these disastrous effects will
: certainly be produced He is fully and
It three times over pledged to the People to
n negative any bill that may I've passed for re-
c chartering the Bank, and there is little doubt
r. that the additional influence which he would
It acquire by reelection, would be employed
VI to carry through Congress the extraordina-
IT ry substitute which he has repeatedly pro-
e posed.
1t 1t may he said, indeed, that the Presi-
y dents counsellors do not agree with him on
IS this subject, and may, perhaps, over-rule his
Of opinion before the time of action shall ar
r rive. In his recent Report TO Congress, the
lie Secretary of the Treasury has, in fact I'M
y dertaken an apology for the Bank, which,
h coming from him can be viewed in no other
st light than as Il formal defence O. that nnstl-
ID tuition against the attack made upon it by
is the President, although he concludes with
d the intmation, that his views may he modi-
fed in compliance with those of the Execu-
:, tive; as if he were not himself the head of
n the financial branch of that Department. 1t
- IS one of the singularties of our present po-
IIfipaI situnfio, hot mill, told
e the one hand, by the Presidents partizans,
J. that his acknowledged incapacty may and
n will be remedied, by the employment of an
a able Cabinet, we are now told. on the other
1t hand, by this liable Cabinet" that they can
t, not control the Presidents conduct, and
II that their sounder notions must be modified
e so as to meet the views OF the Executive.
= In what we are apt enough TO consider as
8 the corrupt and servile Courts of Europe, a
y Cabinet Minister who cannot prevail upon
Il the " Executive" from whom he holds his
e commission to adopt his views, resigns his
!, commission. He deems it improper to mod
a liy his opinions, in order 10 suit them TO the
views OF the Executive-in other words, to
y make himself responsible for scheme of
s policy which he does not approve. But sup
}, posing that the present Secretary of the
= treasury, If continued in place, would be
: able, wnen the time of action should arrive,
n to override the Presidents opinion, substi-
e tute his own views for those of the execu-
= tive, and stay this great mschief-what Sc
e curlty can the country feel that he will be
= so continued? Who can assure US that some
n explosion, resulting from causes too frivo-
e lous to be even made, with propriety, the
3 subject of distinct allusion in serious po-
: lltical document, will not scatter the present
:, Cabinet. like the last, to the four winds of
g Heaven, and introduce into the councils of
n the nation new set of advisers, still more
), ready than those who now occupy that place
a to accommodate their opinions to the views
S of the Executive? The only security which
: the country can have for the proper dis
e charge of the duties of the Executive, as of
e every ether branch of the Government, is
= the capacity, fidelity, and industry of the in
: divdual who is by law responsible for that
8 Department-that is, the President; and
: experience has amply shown, that an indi-
t vdual who is unfit for the office himself, is
e equally unfit to select those who are to as
e sumo his responsibility, and be virtually
f Presidents under him.
, The Judiciary Department, an institution
: still more important than any one can be
e that merely affects the economical interests
G OF the Union, seems also to be seriously
e threatened by the pervcrse policy of the
n present administration. The great improve
: ment made by the adoption Of the present
n constitution in the political system of the
: Old Confederation, was the extension of the
: power of the Union over the persons of the
# individual citizens, through the action of the
, Federal Courts, including, as necessary in
: gredient, right of appeal to these Courts
e from the decisions of those of the States.
n The adoption of this single salutary provs-
ion raised us from the situation Of cluster,
y poor, mlecile, and, for all substantial pur
: poses, mutually dependent States, oppressed
: with debts, disturbed by instructions, and
e on the verge of absolute anarchy, into our
t subsequent condition OF one great, power
2 fn prosperous, glorious, free, and indepen-
g dent Federal Republic. The rejection of
d this wholesome principle would bring us
d back again to the same situation in which
Y we stood before. Notwithstanding this,
!, powerful party, represented by several i'm
!. portant States, and by large and respect
: able portion of the people, seem to consider
j the Union and the principles on which it is
: founded, positive evils. Much is said of the
8 sovereignty and independence OF the States,
: and of their right, as separate States, to
t annul the laws while threats are held out,
: which have not in all cases proved TO he
4 l.