The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-10-15

bank. ltprcsents the double danger of striking at
the political and social systems both together. Ii
trenches upon the highest obligations due from the
citizens To the state Ii aims direct, and IT may be
fatal blows at the public service; 10 uphold which in |
every department is necessary the stability of the
body polite, and is therefore the highest political
duty of every member of the community. We must
not look M the act under confined limits, but with
the enlargement imported and demanded by ITS true
nature. Ii is full of novelty as well as alarm; Of
fundamental error well MS contunaciousness and
insult Let see, by brief analysis if these terms
he strong; for desire to the net, not
dccaim, and at least of nl to apply unwarrantable
and mnsccmy epithets.
If its principle he defended AT all, there is no
extent TO which it may not be carried Individuals
or public officers of every description having claims
against the government, setting up claims against
the government, on setting up claims, no matter
what the ground or pretcxt, might in like manner
seize upon the public property in satisfaction of
them, where ever they could find il. And where
will this land us l-Thc machine of government is
in all It's operations, the of the nation, its
engagements and faith its interest at home, Its eNi-
gcnccs abroad, its safety and glory, might, and
ALL he affected by the principle The entire public
at present, is derivablc from the customs,
sales of public domain, and these very dividends
upon bank stock. There is none from other sour
ccs or if there be now and then driblct it is too
seized, may other parts of the revenue to any
amount. This consequent is apparent nor is merely
ideal. Ii is known that collectors of the customs
and receivers of the monies paid in at the land Of
fees, often have, at least make, claims upon the
4 Government various grounds, and allegations
The former class of officers class numerous and
important, have often, il must be owned, had heavy
and just claims, arising from losses incurred through
an active and mcritorious discharge duties in times
of embargo, war, or other prohbtory and penal reg
ulaons bearing upon commercial intercourse
These claims have IN frequent instances been pad
by Congress; yet who ever heard of n collector OF
Boston, Of New York, or of Philadelphia, scizing
upon duty bonds other funds in their custody,
for payment in advance, even to hold in pledge
until decision The principle is not to be toera-
ted for an instant. say nothing of the breach OF
trust would carry with it, to the trustee applying
4 to his what he maniicstly receives only io
n the of govcrnmcn but it would otherwise upse
c the whole fabric of public administration. This j
" so clear that hardly like to spend time upon
e Ii seems like gong TO work trusns, but the ban
20 has torn a multitude of first principles from the
$ sphere, that the task must sometimes be pcrformc
ID of putting them back again. The marvel is, thG
Il this should have been the with inslitutio
c that harps upon executive usurpation that charge
the President with breaking the law yes, and who's
n usurpaon means solely what he has done in rcgar
3 to the bank:
rs Congress it will be remembered make their annuf
10 appropriations for the public service at all point,
= under anticipated revenue from the three sources
T. have named. The bank dividends estimated Ie
IN it be said at four hundred and fifty thousand dollars
lc Laws then passed and appropriations made
absorbing this sum- not specifically, but part o
ne the general mass In the mean time the bank lay
10 its hands upon such portion of it, as, without udg
n Jury undertakes 10 say belongs to the bank
as damages by its o,cn aSSesSmcnt-Of course this
a. IL.
Ill by the precise amount seized. II if had
s. come into the treasury What then becomes of til
DC public service which this money would have covcre,
d. Is it obvious that it may suffer- Ifindvidua
O. public officers other corporations IN the couI
n try having or pretending have, claims against I'll
he governments are TO follow the highhandcd and da
it ing example of the bank they too should in tur
seize upon other branches of the revenue the ban
he upon the branch in question, all would have ii
right, is it not inevitable that all the public Sc
re vice wW suffer- How far, foresight can prcdc
he The payment of the army might be delayed stil
tie ted, the supplies of fleet remote and critic
D. station kept back, the civil service brought to
he stand at points the most Indispensable This is
We exageraton, but natural inference from the rule
cs violence praciiced upon by the bank. II would
,er its practice, lis unavoidable result ii calls then,
indignant and vehement reprOof. II should
w. frowned down and forever as big with mi
, chief; as the iorerunner ofpubc confusion and dl
ed may. One of our naval commanders was once j
of dcmnifed by Congress for capturing vessel at Sc
,b which turned out not TO be justliabe, although ca
on .ture was made bona fde, under instruction.
he well, just well, might that gallant and veter
III officer have sequestcrcd the cannon OF hls rigae
lb previous satisfaction security for his claim, as
not bank have seized upon public dividends.
NV The nation has never before received such an o'
- rage on its rights, such affront on It's digni
la from the hands ofany ofits own cizens.-Mr. Ia
in ey in his late excellent address to the friends
fl associates Of his early life at conpar
re- the conduct of the bank to that of foreign cncn
ted The comparison striking one, and much {
as he say in "A strain easier to rail at tian coniu'e
hv make il yood-pursuing its thread it is curious
in remark that the British press in 1912 used to spc
be- of the war with us ms chiefly waged on their :
ew against that lacobn and tool of Bonaparte Jan