Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-02-06
stock oLers, the stability Of the institution. the pros
proposes TO place himself its head And thus consti

u s. wa. occasion altogether by the agreement on the
part the public in the act OF incorporation, TO receive
the m in all 20 the u Sand this
on part OF the Government, hch gave general curen
cy the notes payable az remote branches The
gsgemen in favor Of any other oied Institution would
give its noes equal creI and make them equally CONVENE
en Tor the purposes OF commerce. This lie pro-
poses 10 confer this creation OF his Tic says.
that "by agreemeut amongst themselves TO honor each
others notes anu drafts, they (ihe selected members oil
this new body pocl providing general currency al
least as sound as that OF the Bsnk OF the u 81 aud will
Afford facilities 10 and the business Of domestic
exchange, quite equal any which the community have
heretofore vnoyed la what respect does this creature
Of the Treasury older hom Bsnk Of the U. 81 Like
that institution shoots its branches into every part of
the Union 10 exeud its inu.ace every neghbor
hood" Its notes arc To have the 'geners curen-
cy.' BY the facilities which il is to aor, to commerce
viii u,onOpolizc the dome site exchange II il 10 receive
and d burse the nj lions Of the public treasure and will
have The same means OF circumscrbing the issues Of the
o her oAnS', and extending its "business and inu
ence, as the Bank OF the u. :. possessed What, we
again dena,d, is the difference between them? 1t |. this
he u $ Bank is chartered by Congres.i is indebted
Tor Its existence 10 the Representatives OF the peopel
accountable 10 them for its conduct. The body poll
tic owes Its being and every hour OF its existence the
Secretary OF the Treasury, or according the doe
time, his Lege Lord, the President; and, as he breahed
into II the breath OF heas he Impaired TO il form aud
proporion--so he may enlarge, prune and Top it,
nus ahcy an WELD ITS energies TOR his purposes
The u s. Bank is chartered Tor dehni,ive period, and
IS 50 lar independent OF political faction which may
chance TO get into power The creatio" OF the Treasury
is at all times the instrument OF the powers ia, lie. The
u = Bank is under the control OF the stockholders aud
managed 10y mel chants The " nionied iusfifuiiOn' of
the Treasury controlled by the President, and anaged
by politicians. Can IL be said Of such institution
that II will not 'posess that absolute and almost unlimited
dominion the property Of the citizens of the u So
imputed to the present Banki That it cannot cat its
pleasure bring distress upon any portion of commun
V whenever may deem useful to its interests make
its power el, Can he expected that il will never act
under Tie convection oil its immense power over the mo
ney concerns Of the whole country" and deal "wh the
Governor and TO whom "they personally srangers
Can il be expected that the politicians who WELD the
great central power at Washington, will "sympahize
with the wants aud feelags OF those (heir political adj
versaes, namely) who affected by its poicy" Aud
Is there no ground 10 fear that those who WELD this great
central power. WILL from feelings OF rivalry cold cal
cuaiions oil interest ambition, deliberately plan and
execute measures highly injurious and oppressive in
places land on persons tool where land with whom1 the
d'I ec'oTs have no sympa HES to restrain them" II
40 not ind IN the calculating policy of board of
chants sympathy tor their distant brethren hope
to find in the heart Of politician any sympathy for his
adversary! We agree with the Secretary that {" il is
fixed principle OF our political institutions guard against
the unnecessary accumulation OF power over persons md
property any hands," but we do not agree thai ,bere
are " no hands less worthy TO be trusted than those of
nonied corporation" There hands in which would
he more unsafe TO trust can unnecessary accumulation
oil power-ihe hands, namely OF the Executive Depart.
men' OF the Government. No nation ever yet en-.
shaved by monied experimentation many have
aien under an accumulation OF power in the Executive
head, let history answer.
Resoiced, therefore, That in the opinion OF this meet
Ing, The plan recommended and in part adopted by the
Secretary OF the Treasury, as substitute for the Bank of
the U. s., is dangerous TO the liberties of The nso
pe and the purity OF our political institutions than that
institution ~
Secretary OF the Treasury those by The
are infinitely more ala ming That officer is entrusted nv
the Constitution with undoubted powers compa
ble win Republican form OF government He is COM
nander in chief OF the Army and Navy of the United
States, and OF the Militia OF the States when called into
the service Of The United States He dsposes at
oil the immense patronage of this widely extended and
growing empire-an instrument which, in the monarchi.
cal oil Great Britain has been found TO be
more potent Than The old prerogaves OF the Crown He
influences Inc action oil Congress by recommending
sures Tor its adoption and conrouls il by his veto n.
regulates and conducts the diplomatic intercourse with
foreign nations aud virtually holds the power Of peace
aud var Ii in addition to such OF power he is
invested, by construction of few general words in the
Cons tuition, with authority interfere Drariiv with
The duties OF every officer Of Government (he Judges
excepfed) 10 guide and discretion and Nun
ish them dsobedience of lis mandates there e M
adequate cOunsIpose to his authority. Such counter
poise is not 10 be found in Congress The same pops
gale which WATTS him into his seat, surrounds him with
majority III the popular branch him i'm the
Senate and iLtnidates ad overawes his adveraries-
Congress can only speak through the statute book
voice cannot mud uuerance through that channel but by
his consen io is in vain 10 look for ma
jority opposed TO his wishes and when has t
mandates can only be executed agents appointed and
coLt oued by him.
IL not 10 be found in the Judiciary The court ram
not act un case is brought before them. Who will
be hardy enough 10 go TO law with the Treasury. How
much power may the President usurp' how many
parts may he erect around before he 81, Use a
in law or equity which will bring the Judicial pow er into
action! And when IL has acted its Judgments cannot be
carried into effect but by the fundamentally officers APP
pointed and controlled by him. The nation is already in
formed that the President considers himself the Judge in
the last resort OF The consuonaly Of laws the obJpa
lion OF treaties, and the validity of the decisions of the
Supreme Court That he consirues the duty o see that
The laws are faithfully executed, enjoined upon him by
The Constitution, as requiring him execute such as in
MS opinion, conform TO that instrument Where then
The counerpose 10 this accumulation Of power' If he
may lake upon HIMSELF and thereby relieve all the Off
GERS whom he appoints, from all responsibility why are
they subjected TO mpeac hnent? IL they are the blind in
struments of lis will, why the Senate consulted in their
appointment
The pouer Of removal does not necessarily carry with
II The r'ghf 10 controul Until a comparatively recent
period OF British history, The monarch possessed The power
oil removing Judges at pleasures; yet the ATTEMPT to con-
ou ihe'r decisions has, at all times been considered an
aouse oil power and ~ the opinion Of all mankind Justly
branded Tie perpetrators as Tyronis although according
10 The theory, and history, the British
me Jndcal power Is but emsnstion from the ROYAL
freiogaive By the Constitution Of Virginia. two. thirds
oil the Legislature may at their pleasure remove a
trainers Of that instrument that their mower of reno
val carried with II the right conroul The understand.
ing OF the Judges in the administration of the aws,
lie power oil removal possessed by the President il IL.
Sc" constructive power-its only basis is necessity
hat necessity extends only the removal of the unfSt
u aud The incompeent--its exercise must follow moi
prccede, ihe action OF the inferior officer Ii has nothing
10 90 WIN the discretion given 10 him by law IL cannot
ne'tre WIN the iu and lair exercise OF his understand
hR uhW MS errors are so furnish easona BILE
evidence OF incapacity bad faith Confidence must no
Piaced somewhere; and IL is safe TO Distribute H.
WIN ms limitation, amongst The various officers of Govern
mem, man TO concentrate il upon the President The
agents 10 whom Constitution and Laws have con6ded the
iniy OF working the complicated machine of Government
are oncefs Of The law not the of the Pre.e MT
hey are The servants OF the people, not the slaves of hi.
WIZ ~ we trainers OF tie Constitution had deemed no
other pubic servant worthy OF confdenc thew would
have SAID so in plain language They or yoo,J -.