Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-01-16

initiation and profound modification,
1t IS not among the least unfortu
nate symptoms Of the times, that g
large portion of the good and enIight.
ened men Of the Union, of all parties
are yielding TO sentiments of despond.
ency. There is, unbappily, feeling
OF dIstrust and insecurity pervading
the community. Many of our best Cit
izens entertain serious apprehensions
that our Union and our institutions are
destined to speedy overthrow. Sir.
| trust that the hopes and confidence OF
the country will revive. There is
much occasion for manly independence
and Patriotic vigor, but none for des.
pair. Thank God, we are yet free;
and, if we put on the chains which are
forging for us, it will be because we
deserve to wear them. We should
never despair of the Republic. flour
ancestors had been capable of surren.
dering themselves to such ignoble sen.
tlments, our independence and our Ii.
berries would never have been achiev.
ed. The winter of l776-7 was one
OF the gloomiest periods of our Revo.
luton; but on this day, ffty.seven
years ago, the Father of his Country
achieved glorious victory, which diff.
fused JOY and gladness and animation
throughout the States. Let US cher.
ish the hope that, since he has gone
from among us, Providence, in the dis
pensation of his mcrcies, has near at
hand in reserve for us. though yet un-
seen by us, some sure and happy de-
liverance from all impending dangers.
When we assembled here last year,
we were full Of dreadful forebodings.
On the one hand we were menaced
with civil war, which lighting up in
single State, might spread its flames
throughout one of the largest sections
of the Union. On the other, cherish
ed system of policy, essential to the
successful prosecution Of the industry
of our countrymen, was exposed to
danger Of immediate destruc-
ton. Means were happily applied by
Congress to avert both calamities. The
country reconciled, and our Union
once more become a band of friends
and brothers. And shall be or .atly
disappointed, it we do not find those
who were denounced as being un-
friendly to the continuance ofour Con-
.ederacy, among the foremost to fly to
its preservation, and TO resist all Ex-
ecutive encroachment.
Mr.. President: when Congress adj
journed, at the termination Of the last
session, there was one remnant of its
powers, that over the purse, left un-
touched. The two most important
powers of civil government are, those
OF the sword and the purse. The first,
with some restriction, is confded by
the constitution to the Executive, and
the last TO the Legislative department.
If they are separate, and exercised by
different responsible departments, civil
liberty is safe; but if they are united
in the hands Of the same individual, it
is gone. That clear.sighted and sa-
gacious revolutionary orator and putri-
OF Patrick Henry justly said, in the
Virginia Convention, in reply to one of
his opponents: 'Let him candidly tell
me where and when did freedom e, Isl,
when the sword and purse were given
sup from the Peoplel Unless miracle
Sin human affairs interposed, no nation
fever retained its liberty after the loss
of the sword and the purse. Can you
prove by any argumentative deduc-
'tion, that it is possible to be safe with
out one Of them. If you give them
up you are gone"
Up to the period of the termination
of the last Session Of Congress the ex-
elusive Constitutional power Of Con-
gress over the Treasury Of the United
States had never been contested. A
mong its earliest acts was one TO es-
tablish the Treasury Department, which
provided for the appointment of
Treasurer, who was required to give
bond and security in very large a.
mount s'to receive and keep the mo-
''neys ofthe United States, and to dis
"burse the same upon warrants drawn
'by the Secretary of the Treasury,
"countersigned by the comptroller, re-
"corded by the Register, and not 9th.
rise" Prior to the establishment of
the present Bank of the United States,
no Treasury or place had been provid-
ed and designated by law for the safe
keeping of the public moneys, but the
Treasurer was left to his own discre-
ton and responsibility. When the ex-
isting Bank was established, it was pro-
vided that the public moneys should be
deposited with it, and consequently
that Bank became the Treasury of the
| LII S.ntnr For Mhnfevnr Mace is