Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1837-05-15
EXECUTIVE USURpATlON

should We be II a fdu, OF corresponding with
that Order were endeted in relation to the payments
at the customs by what authority III the Renublic
would the Plaindeaer lave this lac eaactea ? lhx
Congress, 10 which body the dutie, of leoisI,.
,on are e1clusirty assigned by the constitution thr,e
would be no objection 10 it, the score of power
at least, whatever difference of opinion there miol
be as to the policy of the measure But what
would the Plandealcr think of Mr. Van Buren if
tho Ia" oil congress permitting the receipt OF bank
notes IN payment OF duties remaining on the statute
look, MIR. Van Burcn should by Treasury Order
forbid his Collectors To take any thing but gold and
silver Would it hot be such an act of tIsurnatio,
would excite the Indignation Of the commercial
community, and u,til, reslstailcc-fncccssar,a, ann
ed resistance Would it not be an ASSUMPTION of
power, III express defiance both ofthe law and the
constitution Would il not be a practical re,olu-
ton in our political systenI-a prostration of the
powers and rights of Congress, and the conversion of
our limited Executive into an Unlimited Dicuorsl,p'
ltthis be So, we would ask who.ce doe, the P,esi-
dent derive the authority which he las exercised
III reference to the receipt OF moneys for Public
Lands, which would not warrant a similar exercise
of authority in relation 10 the Customs ! In other
"oIus, lie NOT liic same flHHt 10 UlDlH the
ocipt oians species of money except gold aud silver
at the custom houses At thu land Off, IS Indeed
the exercise o his assumed power itboh ca>cswould
nullny one oi1hr strongest arguments urged a
saint the Treasury Drder--an argument which Air.
R,cs marnl, enforced last wintcr--we mean its plr-
HH opeation prc>' riding rule for the government
vi public debtors the All mite States and an opposite
rule in the Western. 1.-THE President have right un-
der the constitutions 10 raari lar requiring that the
pubic lands shall he paid ion only in specie, he
has rqnal r'-h 10 e7ac lar OF like character
III reference 10 the duties imports. On the other
hand. II he has H. LIT 90 prescribe such rule 10
the collectors OF customs. he las. by parity OF reason
ing II" right TO prescribe such IA iu+ to the rrcey-
crs OF moneys AT the land offices. Beth rest on the
same broad foundation. Hit would be an usurpltiop
III the former case II Is ho less III III" latter. And
that II is an n,urpa'ion. fragrant it was uncallrd
for and lnjnstahlc, IL inst as certain as that the
constitution conI,'o exclusive Legislative power upon
Congress and whlDids from the President It j.
an usuration which stenly persisted in, as 1t is not
only without the of congress- but ia direct op-
position iour-iills # both it. branches, de
mapds such an expression Of publ, opinion as
shall deter future Presidents from flaii,crnding the
hiHitS oi lI'H 1iHilOlHN ami making IIcr " Ill The
law OF tn land.
The popularity OF Gen. Jackson nil.riuna,rl, en-
abed him 10 do Whatsoever lac listed. The peoplr
with iniAuation which scarcely has it's parallel in
the history ol any noininslr free government seem
ed willing submit 10 all his whirs and c,,,ico.
whether in obedience L" law, or in opposition To Law
koposnS the most unlimited and dangerous conf
deuce IN the integrity Of his purposes, a large ma
Jory OF them were awaNf ready to echo his opinions
aud del nd llls measures: aud hence VIC must no,
wonder that so many OF their representatives. have
proved fairhlrss to their high responsibilities & have
consenedto be the mere tools and Instruments Of
the Popular Idol. The, saw that the road To pre-
'ernent aud honor Ii, III obedience TO hs i'll and
hence they have obeyed that WILL even When, a vio-
lated constitutions and laws rampled in the dust
ana the public prosperir, boldly hazardcd ON the
result OF fearful experiments" and private rights
and interests rulhlessly rrampIed under foot called
upon them to resist these bold encroachments upon
the fundamental law of the Republic and the rights
oil tho people. They that every man who dared
10 De honest IN these of times who had indie
'@ndence enough to resist the Isurper, and
personalities OF the people, To warn them OF these
irr"sds upon the sacred charter of their liberties
Tar from meeting the reward which they deserved in
fhe APPRECIATION Of their constituents, instantly
hunted down by the Frctorian C0horts and Danish
ed from the public councils-and hence, they quail
ed before the great Jugecrndut, whose pondcrous
wheels rolling the land crushing alike
Trend and foe worshipper and sceptic Whether Van
buren,, following in the footsteps of his illusrous
predecessor" can be long Substantially Jacksons
hected popularity, in acts OF character less fla
GRAVITY oppressive than those which kndcd the fierce
Indignation of ourlathcrs against King George and
Lord North, and which, u.s. should stir the
very stones of our to mltny and rage, Time
alone must disclose. We must have basey degene-
order-an act OF usurpaon in its origin, ruinous IN
It's effects, and adhered in despite of the nearly
unanimous vote of Congress and the loud clamors Of "A
suffering people, who believe, whether truly or not
" IS bootess TO enquire, that it is one Of the chief
causes of existing administration such act as
h's can be pcrpetrated and perpeiuated with punl-
~ King of England or of France, for al like as
sumption of authority, maintained in defiance oithc
vote OF their Parlamens, would long since have lost
LIS crown, and perhaps his head. We, thank liea-
ven need not yet resort to such measures OF vlo-
renee Our elections yet nominally free but
'iiat they will not long remain So if the people do
NOT awake to the necessity of restraining their EX-
al L mt