Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-05-16


laton, not word about over issues Of paper
10 pay for the lands All was prosperous, all
was evidence OF a wise administration Of gov
ernment, all was JOY and triumph.
But the idea OF a deposlte or a distribution
of the surplus money with the people suddenly
damped this efiervescing happiness. The color
OF the rose was gone, and every thing now
looked gloomy and black. Now no more fe-
licitation or congratnation, on account Of the
rapid sale Of the public londs-no more OF this
most decisive proof of national prosperity aud
happiness The Executive muse takes up
melancholy strain. She sings OF monopoles,
Of speculation, of worthless paper, OF loss both
of land aad money, of the multiplication of
banks and the danger of paper issues; and
the end Of the canio, the catastrophe is that
lands shall no longer be sold but for gold and
silver alone The object of all this is clear
enough. 1t was 10 diminish the income from
the public ands. But no desire for such
diminution had been manifested so long as
the money was likely to be supposed to re-
main in the treasury. But growing convic
ton that some other disposition must be made
Of the surplus, awakened attention 10 the
means of preventing that surplus.
Towards the end Of the last session, gem
tlemen, proposition was brought forward in
Congress Tor such an alteration Of the la@ as
made in nothing but gold aud silver. The
mover voted for his own proposition; but do
not recoect that any other member concurrod
in tho vote. The proposition was rejected
at once; but as in other cases, that which
Congress refused 10 do, the Executive power
did. Ten days after Congress adjourned, hav-
| ing had this matter before it, and having re-
fused to act upon it, by making any alte ration
in the exis iig laws treasury order was is
sued, commanding that very thing to be done,
which Congress had been requested TO do, and
had refused 10 DO. just as in the case Of the
removal of the Depo.ltes, the Executive pow
or acted, in this case also, against The known
we'll understood, and recently expressed will
OF the Representatives Of the people. There
new r has been moment when The Legislative
will would have sanctioned the object of that
order. Probably never Il moment in which
any twenty individual members Of Congress
would have concurred in il. The act was
done without the assent of Congress, and a.
! galnst the well known opinion of Congress-
That act, altered the law of the land, or pur.
ported 10 alter it,agninst tn ewcl known will
ofthe law making power.
For one, confess, see no authority what
ever in the cons ihiion, or in any law, for thi.
Treasury order. Those who have undertaken
TO maintain it, have placed it on grounds no
/
tory. The reason which one gives, another
relects--one confues what another argues
With one ii is the joint resolution Of 1916
which gives the authority; with another it is
| the law of 1920; with third il is the gener.
al experimenting power OF the President; and
! this last argument, since it resolves itself into
mere power, without stopping to point on
the sources of that power, is not only the
shortest, but in truth, the most just. He is The
most sensible, as well as the most candid
reasoner, IN my opinion, who places th'
Treasury order ON the ground of The pleasur,
Of The Executive, and stops there. regart
the joint resolution Of 1916 as mandsiory al
prescribing legal rule; as putting this objec
in which all have so deep an interest, beyon,
the caprice or the arbitrary pleasure, or tn
discretion OF the Secretary OF the Treasury
believe there's not the slightest legal authority
either in that officer or in the President, l.
make legal distinction, and 10 say that pape
may be received for debts at the Custom house
but that gold and silver only shall be receiv
ed at the Land offices. And now for the sc
quel.
At the commencement of the last session
as you know Gentlemen, a resolution wa
brought forward in the Senate for annullin
and abrogatng this order, by Mr. Ewing,
gentleman Of much intelligence. of SCUM
principles, o. vigorous unu ene.Seuc characte'
} whose loss from the service Of the country,
regard as public misfortune. The VIII
J members all supported this resolution, and a
the members, believe, with the exception c
some five or six, were very anxious, in som
way TO get rid of the Treasury order. Sut M
, Ewng's resolution was too direct. 1t wa
/ deemed a pointed and ungracious attack %
!, Executive policy. Therefore it must be soft
ened, modified, qualified, and made Ito SCUM
. less harsh to the ears Of men in power, an
, to assume a plausible, polished, inofienslv
character 1t was accordingly put into III
plastic hands of friends of the Executive {
lie moulded and fashioned, so that IL Nigh
have the effect of Kidding the country OF tn