Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-01-23

believing that strict adherence to the
Federal Constitution can alone secure
its existence and perpetuate the bless
ings intended by its adoption; holding
it to be the solemn duty Of this body to
watch over and oppose every encroach.
ment upon those principles, no matter
under what prelext or by what depart.
ment Of that Government they may be
attempted; and viewing certain late
proceedings of the Federal executive
as threatening concentration of powers
in that department never intended TO
be confded to it by the people of the
United States:
RESOLVED, as the sense Of this General
Assembly, That the recent removal
olthe public monies ofthe United States,
from the places where by law they were
deposited, upon the responsibility and
by the order of the President of the L.
nlted States, as evidenced be docu-
ment read by him to his Cabinet on the
18th OF September, 1888, by his subse-
quent dismission Of the late Secretary
of the Trc asury-the reasons assigned
for said act, and the appointment of his
successor, was an exercise of power
over the Treasury Of the United States
not given to him by the Constitution
and laws, and dangerous to the liber-
ties of the people.
Resolred, That while the General
/ assembly will avar maintain apd Jo
fend the President of the United States
in the exercise Of such powers as the
Constitution has clearly confded to
him, it nevertheless contemplates with
anxiety and dismay, the disposition e.
WINGED of late to extend those powers
beyond the proper limitations of that
instrumental disposition clearly man.
liested In the recent subsection to exc.
cutlve control, Of the Treasury Derart.
ment of the Federal Government on
the exercise of an important disc retion,
Tor which 1t was made solely response
bic to Congress-deploring as this
General Assembly does that interfer-
ence as illegal and unconstitutional,
and concurring in the sentiment of one
OF the most sagacious and patriotic sons
OF Virginia, "ihat no nation ever long
maintained its freedom, which surren.
ders or suffers to be grasped by the
same hand power over the purse and
the sword. > Patrick Henry1
RESOLVED, That our Senators in Con.
gress be instructed, and the Represent.
atives in Congress from this Common
wealth, be requested to use their best
exertlons, to oppose every exercise of
power, by any department of the Fed
eral Government not entrusted to it by
the Constitution and Laws: and that
they adopt prompt and efficient meas.
ures to redress the wrongs occasioned
by the late Unauthorized assumption of
power, by the President, over the pub.
lie monies of the United States, which,
in the opinion of this General Assem-.
bly,, can only be done, by causing the
future deposites of the Government to
be made in such places, as under the
existing laws of Congress, they were
deposited before the late violent and
Illegal interference Of the President Of
the u. S.
Resofped, That the Governor of this
Commonwealth be requested to trans
nit copy of these resolutions, to each
of the Senators and Representative Of
Virginia in Congress.
Mr.. WILSON of Botetourt, moved
the indefinite postponement of the sub
ject.
The question was then put on the
motion to postpone, and decided in the
negative, by the following vote:-ayes
46, noes 81.
The motion to recommit was then
agreed to.
| The resolutions submitted by Mr..
Bolts, Mr.. Nash, and Mr.. Hooe, are
omitted for want of room.1