Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-12-11

revenues for the year 1884, upon which
the appropriations made by congress
were based. 1t would as soon have |
been expected that our collectors would |
seize on the customs, or the receivers
of our land offices on the money arls-
ing from the sale Of public lands, un-
der pretence of claims against the U.
States. as that the bank would have
retained the dividends. Indeed If the
principle be established that any one
who chooses to set up a claim against
the United States, may, without autho-
rity of law, seize on the public proper
ty or money wherever he can find 1t,
to poy the claim, there will remain no
assurance that our revenue will reach
the treasury, or that it will be applied
after the appropriation to the purposes
designated in the law. The paymas-
tiers of our army, and the pursers of
our navy, may, under like pretences,
apply to their own use, moneys appro-
priated to set in motion the public force,
and in time Of war leave the country
| without defence. This measure re-
sorted to by the bank is disorganizing
and revolutionary, and if generally re-
sorted 10 by private citizens in like ca
SEES, would fiji the land with anarchy
| ard violence.
1t is a constitutional provision, that
emo money shall be drawn from the
treasury but in consequence of appro-
priations made by law" The palpa.
BILE object ofthis provision is to prevent
the expenditure of the public money,
for any purpose whatsoever, which
shall not have been first approved by
the representatives of the people and
the states in congress assembled. 1t
vests the power of declaring for what
purposes the public money shall be ex-
pended, in the legislative department
ofthe government, to the exclusion of
the executive and judicial, and it is not
within the constitutional authority of
either of those departments, to pay it
away without law, or to sanction its
payment. According to this plain,
constitutional provision the claims Of
the bank can never be paid without
an appropriation by an act of congress.
But the bank has never asked for an
appropriation. 1t attempts to defeat
the provisions of the constitution, and
obtain payment without an act of con-
gress.
Instead of awaiting an appropriation
passed by both houses and approved by
the president, it makes an appropria-
ton for itself, and invites an appeal to
the judiciary to sanction it. That the
money had not technically been paid
into the treasury, does not effect the
principle intended to be established by
the constitution. The executive and
judiciary have as little right to appro-
pirate and expend the public money
without authority Of law before it is
placed to the credit of the treasury, as
to take it from the treasury. In the
annual report of the secretary of the
treasury, and his correspondence with
the president Of the bank, and the opin-
ions of the attorney general accompa-
nying it, you will find further exam
nation Of the claims Of the bank, and
the course it has pursued.
1t seems due to the safety of the pub.
lie funds remaining in the bank, and to
the honor of the American people, that
measures be taken to separate the 60
vernment entirely from an institution
so mischlevous to the public prospe-
rity, and so regardless of the constitu-
ton and laws. By transferring the
public deposites, by appointing other
| pension agents, as far as it had the
power, by ordering the discontinuance
of the receipt of bank checks in pay
ment of the public dues after the first
day of January next, the executive has
exerted all its lawful authority to sever
the connexion between the govern
mert and this faithless corporation.
The high-handed career ofthis in
sttution imposes upon the constitution
al functionaries of this government,
duties of the gravest and most impera-
tive character-duties which they can
not avoid, and from which trust there
will be no inclination on the part of
any Of them to shrink. My own sense
ofthem is most clear, as is also my
readiness to discharge those which
may rightfuily fall on me. To con.
tInue any business relations with the
Bank of the United States that may be
avoided without violation of the ma.
tlonal faith, after that institution has
set at open defiance the conceded right
OF the government to examine its af-
fairs; after it has done all in its power
to derlde the public authority in other
respects, and to bring it into disrepute
at home and abroad after it has at.
tempted to defeat the clearly express.
ed will ofthe people by turning against
them the immense power intrusted to
It's hands, and by involving country
otherwise peaceful, fourishing and hap.
Ply, IN dlssension, embarrassment, and
distress-would make the nation itself
a party to the degradation so sedulous.