Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-08-18
EXECUTIVE UsURpATIoN

The following is an extract from the LAT,
message Of Gov. Duncan, of Illinois. 10 III,
Legislature of that State, and is we'll wor
thy Of the carful consideration of the citi
zens OF every other State.
Unpleasant as the subject is to myself
and may be to others, feel bound again n
call your attention, and through you, that oil
our constituents, to the affairs of our Ma
tional Government. especially of its Execu
tive Branch to the action Of which | con
hdently believe many Of the evils we are now
suffering, and with which we are threaten.
ed, are fairly to be attributed. There mus,
be change-there must be reform. The
Public Treasury must be again firmly pla.
ced in the custody Of law and all power
and control over 1t by the Executive of the
United States must be repudiated. The
Executive should be prohibited under Sc.
we're penalties from establishing rule in
violation Of law, TO collect the revenue in
one quarter OF the country in specie only
and in another to collect in bank paper; or
from using any other means for diveriing
the specie (Which is the only safe basis Of
exchanges) from the ordinary channels OF
business. Congress must regulate the cur.
rency BY law and place il out of Executive
or official power either to try experiments
or make specuiations upon it. The patron.
ege OF the Executive must be reduced. and
his power to remove public officers so mo.
dihed as to prevent his dispIacing faithful
and competent man either to CRAFTY party
malice, or TO intimidate him in the free and
independent exercise OF the elective fran
chise so also as will secure him against
Executive tyranny. and all control over his
official acts, except such as the law imposes ;
that his qualifications. fidelity and ability
may be his only hope OF retaining Office
That control over the public press and Con-
gress which has been so powerfully exer
cised by the appointment OF newspaper edit.
ors and members Of the Senate aud House
of Representatives TO high and lucrative Of
hces by the Executive should as far as pos
slb.e be obviaied. The constitutional and
legal right OF each or both Houses of Con.
gress to examine into the official conduct OF
every officer in the Government, should be
clearly established, as il is the only efficient
check the people have upon their public
servants whilst public expenditures must
be reduced, and more economy and simpli-
city in the administration OF Government be
observed, before we can ever be secure OF
those inestimable blessings hitherto enjoyed
under our constitution and excellent form OF
Government. pray. gentlemen. that the
State may experience the full measure Of
your patriotism. Never was wisdom from
above to direct your counscls, more to be i'm
plored than at this moment Party spirit in
its midcst form has ever been found an ene-
my to liberty and sound legislation; but
when it is the offspring Of ambition and
averice, directed by designing. bad men in
high places. it begeis blind devotion, an in
furated zeal. which shuts the door against
all reason, justice and patriotism. May
God in his infinite wisdom and mercy avert
such an evil from this country, and that JUS
tice and the laws may prevail, and that eve
rs man in this broad land may sit down a.
gain with confidence under the shadow OF
the constitution in the peac,able and quiet en-
joymenl OF his rights and privileges. No
power must be allowed to exist in this coun-
Try superior to that Of the people, or that
does not acknowledge the supreme and in
flexible authority Of law as the rule Of ac-
ton both Tor the President and every other
functionary Of the Government
JOSEPH DUNCAN.