Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-03-22


words can make it. ask the Secretary
to read the first article, 9tb section, and the
clause uext to the last, J
"No money shall be- drawn from tho
Treasury, but in consequence of appropri-
attons made by law and regular state
rneut and account Of the receipts d expen-
.di!ures Of all public money shall te pub
lished from time time"
How clear! How explicit! No money
to bedrawn from tho Treasury but in con-
sequence of approp: iations made by law;
that is, the. object on which the expenditure
the sum alo:ted To effect ii, specified and vet
we have lived in tho daily and ha!,itual vi
olation Of this great fundamental provision
from almost the beginning Of our political
existence to this day. Behold the consc-
'quences! 1t has Frustrated and engulphed
che very Institutions. which have enjoyed
this illicit favor, an,l tainted, above nll
other causes. the morals and politics of the
whole country. Yes, to this must be trac-
ed, az one of tho main causes, the whole
system OF excessive rev cnuc, excessive cx-
pentliture. and excessive surplusscs; aud
to them, especially the last, the disastrous
overthrow Of the banks and the currency,
AMI the uncxampled degencracy Of public
and private morals, which have followed.
We have suffered the aiiliction, may the
blessing which follows chastiscmcnt, when
its business is confessed, come in due season.
But take still higher ground. strike
at the root of the mischief. deny the right
OF this Government to treat bank notes as
money in its fiscal transactions. On this
great question, never have before commit
ted myself, though not generally disposed
TO abstain from forming or expressing Opin
ions. In all instances, in which national
Bank has come in question, | have inva-
Iiab!y ;aken my 2roand. that if the Gov
ernnlcnt has the right to receive and treal
bank notes as money. it had the right. and
was bound under the constitution. to rceu-
late them so as to make them uniform and
stable as il currency. The reasons for this
opinion are obvious, and have been so often
and fully expressed OIL former occasions,
that it would be useless TO repeat them now;
but never examined fully tho right of re-
ceiving, or made up my mind OH it, till
rs | have said, entirely separated the Gov
period, it was an abstract question, with
no practical bearings; as much so as is now
the constitutional right Of admitting Louis
aua into The Union, Things are now alter
cd. The connection is Dissolved; aud it has
become practical question ofthe first mag
niludc.
The mover Of the substitute assumed rs
Il postullte, that this Government had right
to received ill its dues. whatever it might
think proper. deny the position in toto.
II is one that onnhl not to he assumed, and
cannot be assumed, and cannot he proved
and which is opposed by powerful obcc-
tons, The genius of our constitution is
opposed 10 the assumption o! power
Whatever power itgivos is expressly grant
cd and if proof were wanted, the numerous
grants Of powers Far more obvious and ap-
parent much more safe to he assumed than
the one in question, would afford it. shall
cite a few sinking instances.
If any. powers might be assumed, ono
pay The debts of tho Government, and hor-
rowing it to carry on its opcrat; ons would be
among them;-yet both are expressly provi-
ded for by the Constitution. Again to Con
grcss is granted the power to declare war
and raise armies and navics; vet the DOW
cr TO grant letters of marquc and rcprsal
and to make rules for, the regulation of the
Army and Navy are not left to assumption,
as obvious as they arc. bu, are given by cx-
press grant. With these and other instances
not less striking, which might he a,I.laarA IS
Il bold step to assume wi1Ftmt proof, the far
Jle!s GAyiss.s power Of the Government re-
cciving whatever it rlcnscs in its dues as
money. Such an assumption would he in
direct conflict with The great principles
wpich the State Rights party, with Which
the Senator (Mr. Rivc:;) classes himself,
have ever adopted in tic construction of the
Constitution. Bur, if the former cannot be
assumed, i, would he in vain to attempt to
prove that ii has been granted, or that i, is
necessary and proper 10 carry any OF the
granted powers into effect No such al
tempt has been made, Eor can he, with sue
cess. On tie contrary, there are strong
objections 10 the power, which, in my opiif-
ion cannot be surtnOuntcd.
lfoncc admitted, it would lead by consc-
qurnce 10 Il necessary interference with in
divldnal and State concerns never contem-
plated by the Constitution. Let us, for
instance, suppose that. acting on the as
sumption Of the Senator, The Government
Gle IL he received in payment of its dues,
which would he as well entitled to it ms any
other product, alll in which The Senator's
constituents are so much interested. Does
lie not see the consequences IN order to
make its taxes uniform which i, is bound
10 do by the Constitution, and which cannon
be done unless the medium in which it is |
paid is so, The Government would have to |
assume a general control over the great
staple in question; to regulate the weight |
of tho toSsIIcaa or package; to establish |
inspections under its own officers in order
To determine the quality, and whatever else
might he necessary to make the payments
into the Treasury uniform. So likewise, il |
the still greater staple, cotton, be selected. |