Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-01-05

he would acquire by re-eiection, wouiu
be employed to carry through Congress
the extraordinary substitute which he has
promised.
1t may be said indeed, that the Presi-
dents counsellors do not agree with him
on this subject, and may perhaps over
rule his opinion before the time of action
shall arrive. In his recent Report to
Congress, the Secretary of the Treasury
has, in fact, undertaken an apology for
the Bank, which coming from him, can
be viewed in no other light than as for
NAL defence Of that institution against
the attack made upon it by the President,
although he concludes with an intimation,
that his views may be modified in COM
pliance with those Of the Executive; as
if he were not himself the head ofthe f.
nancial branch Of that Department. 1t
is one of the slngularties Of our present
political situation, that while we are told
on the one hand, by the Presidents par
tizans, that his acknowledged incapacity
may and will be remedied, by the en-
ployment of an able Cabinet, we are
now told, on the other hand, by this ga
BILE Cabinet" that they cannot control
the Presidents conduct, and that their
sounder notions must be modified SO as
to meet the views Of the Executive. In
what we are apt enough to consider as
the corrupt and servie Courts of Europe,
a minister who cannot prevail upon the
I"Executive" from whom he holds his
commission to adopt his views, resigns
III
to modify his opinions, in order to suit
them to the views of the Executive-in
other words, to make himself responsible
for u scheme of policy which he does
not approve. But supposing that the
present Secretary Of the Treasury, if
continued in place, would be able, when
the time of action should arrive, 10 over
rule the Presidents opinion, substitute
his own views for those ofthe Executive,
and stay this great mischief-what secu-
rity can the country feel that he will be
so continued? Who can assure us that
some explosion, resulting from causes too
frivolous to be even made, with proprie-
ty, the subject Of distinct allusion in a
serious political document, will not scat
ter the present Cabinet, like the last, to
the four winds of Heaven, and introduce
into the councils of the nation a new set
of advisers, still more ready than those
who now occupy that place to accommo-
date their opinions to the views Of the
Executives? The only security which
the country can have for the proper dis
charge ofthe duties ofthe Executive, as
of every other branch ofthe Government,
is the capacity, and fidelity, and indus
try Of the individual who is by law re-
sponsible for that Department-that is,
the President; and experience has am
! ply shown, that an individual who is unfit
for the office himself, is equally unfit to
select those who are to assume his re-
sponsibility, and be virtually Presidents
under him.
The Judiciary Department, an insttu-
ton still more important than any one
can be that merely affects the economi-
cal interests Of the Union, seems also to
be seriously threatened by the pcrversc
policy Of the present administration
The great improvement made by the u
doption of the present constitution in the
political system ofthe Old Confederation,
was the extension Of the power of the
Union over the persons of the individual
citizens, through the action of the Fed
cral Courts, including, as necessary
ingredient, a right of appeal to these
| Courts from the decisions Of those Of the
States. The adoption of this single sal
utary provision raised us from the situa.
tion of cluster Of poor, imbecile, and,
for all substantial purposes, mutually de-
pendent States, oppressed with debts,
disturbed by instructions, and on the
verge of absolute anarchy, into our sub
sequent condition of one great, powerful,
prosperous, glorious, free, and independ-
ent Federal Republic. The rejection OF
this wholesome principle would bring us
back again to the same situation in which
we stood before. Notwithstanding this,
powerful party, represented by several
important States, and by large and re-
spectacle portion of the people seem to
consider the Union, and the principles
on which it is founded, positive evils
Much is said of the sovereignty and in
dependence Of the States, and of their
right, as separate 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 to be i'm
mediately exercised, and the Union ol
course virtually dissolved.
/ Under these circumstances, it was to
have been expected that the President,
as the head of the Executive Depart
ment, and natural guardian of the lights
and powers Of the Federal Government
would have exertcd his influence tc