Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-05-08

of remark.
The dangerous tendency of The doc.
trine which denies the president the
power of supervising, directing, and re-
moving the secretary Of the treasury,
lin like manner with the other executive
lof1icers, would soon be manifest in prac-
tee, were the doctrine TO be established.
The president is the direct representa-.
tive Of The American people, but the
secretaries are not. Ii the secretary Of
the treasury be independent of the pres
ident in the execution of the laws, then
is there no direct responsibility to the
people in that important branch of this
government, to which is committed the
care of the national finances. And tits
in the power Of the bank Of the Uni~
ted States, or any other corporation,
body of men or individuals, If secre-
tary shall be found TO accord with them
in opinion, or can be induced in practice
to promote their views, to control, thro, :,
him, the whole action of the govern.
ment, $50 far as it is exercised by his
Department. in defiance of the chief
magistrate elected by the people and
responsible TO them.
But the evil tendency of the partic.
ular doctrine adverted to, though suffi.
!, Iciently serious, would be as nothing IN
comparison with the pernicious conse-
| quences which would inevitably flow
IRON the appreciation and allowance by
? the people aud practice by the senate,
4 OF the unconstitutional power af arraign.
: ing and censuring the official conduct
i. OF the executive, in the manner recently
2 pursued. Such proceedings are eminent
= ly calculated to unsettle the foundations
e OF the government; to disturb the har-
+ monious action of its different depart
!. ments; and to break down the checks
e and balances by which the wisdom of
d its trainers sought to ensure its stability
}. and usefulness.
e The honest differences Of opinion
: which occasionally exist between the
n senate and The president, in regard to
d matters in which both are obliged to
e TO participate, are sufficiently embarras-
e sing. Buff the course recently adopt
y ed by the senate shall hereafter be fire.
J. quenlly pursued, il is not only obvious
e that the harmony Of the relations between
7, the president aud the senate will be de.
2, stroyed, but that other and graver ef-
y tects will ultimately ensue. If the cen.
1t sures OF the senate be submitted to by
n, the president, the confidence of the peo-
re pie in his ability and virtue, and the
e character and usefulness Of his admins
e tration, will soon be at an end, and the
D real power Of the government will fall
d intoo the hand, of a Body, holding their
e offices for long ASsas,hot elected by the
l. people, and not TO them directly respon-
st sible. If, on the other hand, the illegal
n censures of the senate should be resist.
u ed by the president, collisions and an
d cry controversies might ensue, discred.
re table in their progress, and in the end
l. compelling the people to adopt the con-
a clusion, either that their chef magis-
" trate was unworthy Of their respect, or
ID that the senate was chargeable with ca
lie lumny and injustice. Either of these
results would impair public confidence
n in the perfection of the system, and lead
N 10 serious alterations Of its frame work,
b or to the practical abandonment Of some
y of its provisions.
r The influence of such proceedings on
n the other departments of the govern
J. ment, and more especially on the states,
"a could not fail to be extensively perni-
a. cious. When the judges in the last re-
re sort Of official misconduct, themselves
m overleap the bounds Of their authority,
RS AS prescribed by the constitution, what
re general disregard of its provisions might
e, not their example be expected to pro-
q duce? And who does not perceive that
E. such contempt Of the federal constitu.
IS ton, by one Of its most important de.
partments, would hold out the strongest
u temptation to resistance on the part Of
" the state sovereignties, whenever they
shall suppose their just rights TO have
,e been invaded? Thus all the independ.
j. ent departments of The government, and
IS the states which compose our confeder-
n ate Union, instead ofaaitending 10 their
J. appropriate duties. and leaving those
, who may offend, to he reclaimed or pun
d !ished in the manner pointed out in the
i CONSTITUTION, would fall to mutual Grim