The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-24
Moses Ridley and others, committee.
Erom the Hartford Patri0t and Democra

| AMENDMENT OF THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION In
the Address and Resolutions that were adopted by
| the Conservative Republican State Convention, re-
Gently held at Syracuse, New York, which speak the
| language Of freemen and are truly democratic in
principle, proposition is made to amend the Con-
sitution Of the United States, entirely 10 sepa
rate the United States from the Executive depart
men and thus effecluay divorce The money po1cer
from The political pocer Of Ac country. This is a
great and democratic proposition vitality important
to the nation, and cannot fail, we think TO commend
itself to the honorable approval Of every Republican
patriot in the land The following is the resolution
recommending the proposed modification.
"Resolved That the Democratic Republican party
throughout The United States be- and hey are hereby
respectfully requested to cooperate with in pro-
curing such modification Of our National Consti-
tuition in resemblance to those of the several States
as shall confer Congress the selection of the Sc
cretary of the Treasury, and such subordinate
officers connected with the federal treasures shall
for all time TO come place the public purse under
the control of the immediate representatives of the
people"
In urging the propriety and expediency of this
amendment, the address proposes that The Secretary
of the Treasury shall be elected By Congress for Tie term
of tro gears. This il seems to us, would be rad-
cal and valuable REFORM and would strike at once at
the root of the evil which is undermining our ber-
ties and eating out the heart of the Republic
Separate the money power OF the Government from
all Executive influence and control, and the "gseat
fountain of corruption" would be sealed up. Amend
the Constitution and place the revenues of the nation
exclusively under the control of the peoples repre-
sentativeS, and we may confidently hope for the pre-
servation Of our liberties-but with the purse and
sword united in the hands of the Executive all will
be lost The Constitution already authorizes the
representatives of the people alone provide for and
raise the revenue-why should It not also charge
them with the custody and disbursement Of il, and
why should they not select the officers and define by
law the mode, Tor managing it BY doing SO, all
the vast number of dependents and creatures of the
Executive, under The present system, would be shut
out from all connection with the public purse-the
doors of Congress would be closed against any
undue Executive nAuence-and the representatives
of the people would be preserved from the danger
Gus consequences of that invisible and indirect sys-
TEN OF bribery and corruption" which has repeat
edly dsgraced the British parliament and proved
the bane and destruction of every former Republic.
In view Of this subject 1t need hardly be remarked
that so numerous and insidouS have the modes of
corruptng the legislative branches recently become
and to such an extent have they been pracised by
the Executive or his agents, that the independence
Of the legislature is almost entirely overhrown. " 1t
was the common opinion Of the statesmen and sages
who framed the Constitution" says the New York
Times "that Executive and Judicial officers ought
not TO partakc in the business Of legislation II
feared that persons holding Office from the President,
might be too much inclined TO yield 10 his WISHES
and consult his will But the rapid progress OF cor
ruption under the "spoS system was not foreseen
by them-lhe mighty influence oith hopes of future
benefits and future smiles was not developed and re-
manned unthought of or unknown when the Consti-
tuition was adopted Under its blasting influence,
however we have seen the personal integrity OF the
representative wither-his fidelity 10 his constituents
and his country disappear, and he himself wheel to
the right about, and support and sustain by his vote
the very Executive measure which his Judgment his
conscience and the voice OF patriotism bade him to
oppose" Under these circumstances, II appears to-
US that the curtailment Of Executive influence rela-
tive TO the public revenues and the making OF the
representative dependent alone upon his immediate
constituents is TO be the only saving principle OF the
Constitution