The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-14
THE MAIDS OMAN
WASHINGTON CITY,
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER IA, 1873



When we bear in mind that the Sub-trea-
sury system as now recommended for the
future action of the government, in all its es-
in 1874, by Gen. Gordon, leading member
of the Wing party, and after spirited debate,
was rejected by a very large majoity, every
member of the Administration party except
one voting against it we must acknowledge
that we were not prepared to see it recon-
mended by the Executive, nor to hear it advo-
Gated by those who then denounced it.
The objections that were made to it in
1894, were based upon the recognized doc
trines of the Republican party and SO CO.
gently were they urged in Congress, and by
the Press, that no measure, so comprehensive
in its character as the scheme Of Gen. Cor
don, was ever more signally defeated. In
the very height of party excitemens SO I'M
sound and mischicvous were considered its
doctrines, that the political friends of its; au-
thor condemned and helped to defeat it. If
the arguments were sound in 1884, in refer
ence to its anti-repubican doctrines, its /" re-
uolutionary tendency" and its general impol-
cy, are they less so now! AS measure of
policy, it is infinitely more Objectionable now,
than it was at that time ; for then the country
was healthy and prosperous, and able to stand
the trial and the consequences of bold and
hazardous experiment; now, the country is
PROSTATE with disease, and general derange-
ment of the whole body polite; it has not
strength to bear the treatment of an '.untried
experiment" about which doctors differ.
With all Difference to our able Chief Magis-
trate, we think he has omitted the first and
most important step in the present crisis Of
our aiIairs-a remedy for the evils that are
now weighing down all the energies and re-
sources OF the country. With the exception
of the merchants bonds and the proposed re-
lief to the Treasury, the policy of the Message
the future action of the government in regard
to the best mode of collecting, keeping, and
discussing the revenue, and the incidental eff
feet Of that mode in restraining excuses in
trading and speculation. The patient must
first be raised from his bed of sickness, before
he can enter upon the regimen prescribed for
the future preservation of his health. So far
from its being remedied, by this policy, its
tendency is to enfeeble more and more, and
to bring the dependency of the mind to aid
in the destruction of the body. The conse-
qucnccs of the dioorce that is recommended is
still further to discredit the state monied in
stitutions and more eh'ectually to destroy that
usefulness for which they were incorporated,
and which the states believe they possess. 1t
50 far seems to infringe upon the interests Of
the states. If this measure of policy is to be
carried into effect, and there be power in the
general government by the operation of its
measures TO break down leading and long
cherished policy of the states, then is the first
step towards consolidation made, and the
po,Gcr and the precedent to make another and
another are established. If our reasoning be
correct, and the tendency of this policy is to-
Wdiuo IL 10 tllOUgH ~ COH-
denim IT,
We cannot sec the propriety of isolating the
general government so entirely and exclusive
ly from every thing else that enters into, and
is connected with, our wide spread system of
civil polity, The government, is nothing more
than the creature of the sovereign will Of the
people, and they have the right to expect
from it every constitutional function that goes
to benefit the, people, and they can never
recognize the right of this federal power so
TO manage and shape the course of the gene
raj government as TO give TO its functionaries
benefits and immunities greater than belong
to the people. They can never consent to
see the federal officers of government singled
out as the exclusive benefciaries of a mea-
sure which is made such at the expense of
the great mass The divorce of the govern
ment from the institutions of the states will
be productive of this state of things, inasmuch
as it will have one medium of payment for
the government, and that metallic, and most
valuable, when the people in all their business