Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-02-18

ments OF other Tree governments, that
our own system is making its progress
to its close.
| A personal popularity, honorably
earned at first by military achieve.
ments, and sustained now by party, BY
patronage, and by an enthusiasm that
looks for no i'll, because it means no i'll
| itself seems 10 render men willing TO
CRAFTY power, even before its demands
are made, and to surieit executive dis.
erection, even in anticipation of its own
appetite. Sir, if on the third of March
last, it had been the purpose Of both
houses to create military dictator;
what formula had been better suited to
their purpose than this vote Of the
House? II is true, we might have
given more money if we had had il to
give. We might have emptied the
treasury /; but as TO tho form of the
gift, we could not have bettered it,
Rome has no better models. When
we give our money for any military
purpose whatever, what remains to be
done 7 II we leave il with one man to
decide, not only whether tho military
means ofthe country shall be used at
all, but how they shall be used, and to
what extent they shall be employed,
what remains eitherfor Congress orthe
people but to sit still. and see how this
dictatorial power will be exercised p
On the third of March, sir, | had hot
iorgotten-it was impossible | should
have forgotten--the recommendation
the message at the opening Of that SEES.
sion, that power should be vested in
the President TO issue letters Of marque
and reprisal against France, at his dis
erection, in the recess of Congress-
Happily this power was not granted
But suppose it had been, what would
then have been the true condition Of
this government why, sir, this con.
dition is very shortly described. The
whole war power would have been in
the hands ofthe President, for no man
can doubt n moment that reprisals
would bring on immediate war; and
the treasury, to the amount Of this vote
in addition to all ordinary appropria.
tons, would have beer at his absolute
disposal also. And all this in time
ofpeace. beseech sober men, sir, o f
all parties--l beseech all true lovers
Of constitutional liberty, to contem.
plate this state of things, and tell mo
whether such be true republican ad-
ministration of this governments
Whether particular consequences had
cnsued or not, is such an accumulation
Of power in the hands of the Execu.
tive according to the spirit Of our sys.
TEN? Is it either wise or safe 7 Has
it any warrant in the practice Of for.
mer timesl Or are gentlemen ready
to establish the practice, n on exams
ample for tho benefit OF those who may
come after usl
But, sir, ifthe power to make repri.
sails, and this money from the treasury
had both been granted, is there not
great reason to believe that we should
now have been up to our ears in hot
war; think there is great TO believe
this. 1t will besaid, know, if We had
armed the President with this poweror
war, and supplied him with this grant
Of money, France would have taken
this for such a proof Of spirit on az
part, that she would have paid the in.
delnnity without farther delay. This
is the old story and the old plea. Ev.
cry one who desires more power than
tho constitution gives him, always says
that if he had more power he could do
more good.
Power is always claimed for the
good of the people, and dictators nre
always made,. when made at all, for
tie good of the people. For my part,
sir, WAS content, and am content, to
show to France that we are prepared
to maintain our just rights, against her
by the cxertIon Of our power, when
need be, accordngto the forms ofour
own constitution; that, il we make war
we will make It constitutionally; and
if we vote money we will do ii consii
tntionally; and that we will trust all
our interests, both in peace and IN war
to what the intelligence and strength
ofthe country may do for them, with.
out breaking down or endangering the
fabric OF our free institutions.
Mr.. President, il is the misfortune
ofthe Senate to have differed with the
President on many great questions du-
ring the past four or five years. |
have regretted this state ofthings deep
ly, both on personal and on public &c.
count; but it has been Unavoidable
II is no pleasant employment, il is no
holiday business to maintain OPPOSE