Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-02-28

sage and the bill Of the last session. of
winch Tins bull is also full, and which
has peryaded all the recommendation
ana all the measures Of Government
since May. Yet confess that | am
not, even yet, so familiar with IL. SO
accustomed to hear such sen,imeut,
avowed, as tina, they cease TO astonish
me. | am either cropping in thick and
palpable darkness myself, in regard TO
the true objects Of the Constitution.
and the duties of Congress under il, or
else these principles OF public policy.
thus declared, are ut war with our
most positive and urgen, obligations.
The honorable member made other
observations Indicative Of the same gen.
eral tone OF political feeling. Among
his chosen topics Of commentator OF
the bill before us, prominent one was
10 shelter the Administration from that
shower oil mputations, as he expressed
the idea, which would always beat up.
on It as il beats now, when disasters
should happen to the currency. In.
deed And why should the Admins.
tration, now or ever, be sheltered from
that shower? Is not currency sub.
Ject over which the power and duty Of
Government extend Is not Govern.
ment justly responsible for it's condi.
ton Is ]: not, ofnecessiiy, wholly
and entirely under the control and
regulation of political powcr7 Is it
not a matter, in regard to which, the
People cannot, by any possibility, pro.
tect themselves, any more than they
can, by their own individual efforts,
supersodo the necessity Of the exercise
by Government Of any other political
power What can the People do for
themselves. to improve tho currency
Sir, tho Government is Justly answera.
BILE for the disasters Of tho currency.
saving always those accidents which
cannot at all times be foreseen or pro.
vided against. II is at least answero.
BILE for It's own neglect, if ii shall be
guilty OF 1t, IN not exercising all its
constitutional authority for the correc.
: ton and restoration Of the currency.
Why does it, how can il, shrink from
this responsibility Why does il seek
not the laurels Of victory, not the re.
putatlon, even of manly contest, but
,, the poor honors Of studied and eager
escape Sir, il never can escape -
The common sense Of all men pronoun.
ces that the Government is, and oughr
to be, and must be, nnswerable for the
regulation of the currency ofthe coun.
try that il ought to abide, and mus,
abide, the peltings Of the storm of i'm.
putaton, so long as il turns it's back
upon this momentous question, and
seeks to shelter itself in the safes and
tho vaults, the cells and the cayerns.
ola sub. Treasury system.
But Of al Governments tina, ever
existed, the present A administration has
least excuse for Withdrawing its care
from the currency. or shrinking from
It's just responsibility in regard to it.
Its predecessor, in whose footsteps
it PROCESSES TO tread, has interfered.
fatally interlered. with that subject
That interference was, and has been,
the productive cause Of our disasters.
Did the Administration disclaim power
over the currency in 1898, when it
removed the deposilcs And what
meant all its subsequent transactions,
all IFS professions, and all its Efforts,
for that better currency which it pro.
missed, If, in truth, il did not hold itself
responsible to the People of The United
States for a good currency? From
the very first year Of the late Admin.
stration to the last, there was hardly
a session, if there wns single session,
in which this duty of Government was
not acknowledged, promises of high
improvement put forth, or loud claims
Of merit asserted, for benefits already
conferred. 1t protested to erect the
grea, temple Of its glory on improve,
ments of the currency.
And, sir, the better currency, which
he's been so long promised, was not
currency for the Government, but a
currency for the People. II was not
for the use of revenue merely, but for
the use Of the whole commerce, trade,
and business Of the nation. And how,
when the whole industry, business, and
labor Of the country, is harassed and
distressed by the evils brought upon
US by its own interference, Govern
ment talks with all possible GOODNESS of
the great advantage it will be to adopt
system which shall shield itself from
thick falling shower of imputations.
II disclams, il renouncos, il abandons
its duties, and then seeks an inglorious
shelter in its professed want OF power
to relieve the People.
We demand the better currency
we insis. on the fulhlment Of the high
and fattering promises and surely