The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-11-29

ing taxstion necessary for its extinguish nent,
has increased the difficulties which are nsspara-
BILE from every exercise the taxing power; and
that il was, in this respect, remote agent IN
producing those neutrality-suspicious. which grew
out of the discussions in re lsion 10 the tariff IL
| such has been the tendency OF debt incurred 10
the acquisition and maintenance oI our nalonal
rights and liberties, The oblig atI0ns OF which all
| portions OF tho Union cheetfully acknowledged.
| il must be obvious. that whatever is calculated
| 10 increase the burdens OF Government without
necessity, must be fatal TO all our hopes OF pre-
| serving its true character. While we are felici-
tating ourselves, thorci fore, upon the extinguhb-
ment of the national debt, aud the prosperous
state OF our finances let us not be tempted 10 de-
| part from those sound maxims OF public policy,
which enjoiD just adaptation of the revenue 10
! the expenditures that are consistent with rigid
| economy and an en- ire abstinence from all topics
| oflegislaon that are not clearly within the con-
| stitutional powers Of the Government, and sug-
gested by the wants oil the county. properly
regarded, under such policy, every diunihui'on
| oi the public burdens arising from taxati0n,gives
to individual enterprise increased power, and iur-
nishes to all the members ofour happy conedera'
cy, new motives for patriotic affection support
| But above all, its most important effect III be
found IN its influence Upon the character OF me
Government, by confirming its action TO those OBJ
jects which will be sure to secure TO II the at
tachment and support OF or fellow citizens,
Circumstances make ii my duty TO call the at
fenton OF Congress to the Bank OF the United
States. Created for the cow enience OF the Gov
ernnent, that institution has become the scourge
Of the people, Its interference to postpone the
payment Of portion of the national debt, that II
| might retain the public money appropriated Tor
that purpose, to strengthen It in political con-
test-the extraordinary extension and contrac-
ton Of its accommodations to the communicates
, corrupt and partisan loans-its exclusion of the
public directors from knowledge Of its most i'm
pOrant proce eedings-the unlimited authority con-
ferred the President TO expend its funds in hr-
ing writers, and procuring the execution oi Prin-
ting, and the made Of that authority-the re-
tension OF the pension money aud books alter tie
selection OF new agents-the groundess claim 10
: heavy damages, in consequence OF the protest oil
e the bill drawn on the French Cover nmenI, have,
! through various channels, been lsid before Con
: gress. Immediately after the close oi the last
, session, the Bank. through its President, announ,
ced its ability and readiness TO abandon the sys
n TEN OF unparalleled curailment and the ln'er>
I ruptioh of domestic changes, which il had prac>
sed upon from the lst Of August S33. to the 3oth
:, June, 1884, and to extend its accommodations to
n the community. The grounds assumed in this
o anunciation, amounted 10 an acknowledgement
If thlt the curtamen nj in the extent to which il had
been carried. was not necessary to the safety oi
II the Bank and had been persisted in merely TO in>
duce Congress to grant the prayer OF the Bank in
il its memorial relative TO the removal OF the depos>
It ties, and TO give II a new charter.
I, They were substantially confession that
q :, all the real distresses which individuals and
e the country had endured for the preceding
p six or eight months, had been needlessly
" produced by it, with the view of eiiecling
! through the suferings Of the people the lie
or gislative action of Congress. 1t is subjec
Cd of congratula,on that Congress and ,h'
ie !, country had the virtue and frmness 10 bea
of the infection that the energies of our peo
rn pie soon found relief from this wanton tyr
,r rany, in vast importaions Of the preciou
eli metals from almost every part OF the world
pt and that al the close of this tremendous ei
u, a, tort to control our Government the Banl
c. found itself poweress, and no longer BILE Il
loan out its surplus means.
N The community had learned TO manage
"a IFS affairs without its assists nee, and trade
IS, had alieady found new auxaries ; so that
e, on the first of October last, the eXtraordi-
~ nary spectacle was presented ol a National
a Bank more than one half Of whose capita
was either lying uproductve in its vaults
~ or in the hands of foreign bankers.
of To the needless disresses brought on the coun.
ne try during the last session Of Congress, has been
n added the open seizure Of the dividends on the
-, public stock, 10 the amount OF one hundred and
o. seventy thousand and forty. y.one dollars, under
y, pretence Of paying damages, costs and interest
~ upon the protested French bill. This sum con.
NJ siitued portion OF the estimated revenues foi
u the year 1884, upon which me appropriation.
n; made by Cons:-s, We're based. 1t would as soor
~ have been expected that our collectors woult
~ seize on the customs, or the receivers OF ou
20 land offices on the moneys ising from the sale
n. Of public lands under pretences OF claims agans
G. the United States, as the Bank would have re
tained the div dehds. Indeed, il the principle
20 be established that any one who chooses TO Sc
~, a., up claim against the United States, may, with
r S out authority Of law, seize on the public proper
Sc ty or money wherever he can find II, 10 pay the
e- claim, there will remain assurance that the
ty revenue will reach the Treasury, or that 1t Will
pn be applied after the Appropriation to the purpos-
es desig mated in the law. The paymastcrs Of ouI
IN IN army, and the pursers OF our navy, may, under
he like preteaces, apply 10 their own use moneys
Ial appropriated to set in motion the public lorcc
IL and IN time of war leave the country without de-
ne fence. This measure resorted to by he Bank !
Ge disorg gaBizng and revolutionary and II general
" Iesorted to by private citizens in like cases
IT. would fill the land with anarchy and violence
ng II is constitutional provision that "no none!
TX shall be drawn from the Treasury but in conse
cd quence OF an appropriation male by law" The
re- Il, papable object OF this provision is TO prevent tn
nd expenditure Of the public money, for any pur
ne pose whatsoever, which shall no. have been frs
&C. approved by the People md the States in Con
RS gress assembled II vests the power OF declarn,
U.s. Tor what purpose the public money shall be ex
we we pended, in the legislative department Of ih
al Government, TO the exclusion Of the execaiv'
of and judicial, and it Is not within the constitutions
nd authority Of either Of those departments, TO pa
ice it away without law or TO sanction its paym. nj
m According to this plain constitutional provisio
'o' the claim OF the Bank cen never be paid withou
re an appropriation by act OF Congress. IL attempts
,it 10 defeat the provision Of the consiiutitutIor
nd and obtain payment without an act Of Congress
'lli instead Of awaiting an appropriation passed b
' eu both Houses, and approved by the President,
,n, makes an appropriation for itself, and invites a
na appeal 10 the judiciary to sanction II. That 10
he money bad moi technically been paid lnlO ln