Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-04-28

IL Is not satisfactory answer 10 say ihS piac-
ice Is oilang standing. lit be. a Pslpable ''o-
/ ia''on OF the Constitution, lis instant reformation
5 an Imperative demand of principle and duty
he disasters which have followed an abandon
menl OF the Constitution on this point, require
! return TO It as matter Of eXpedlency "a well as
Of principle.
2d. An independent Treasury is necessary to
mainnin the independence and efficiency OF the
Government. We have much in English hlso-
ny as well as in the productions - our own state
men, about the "uni n of the purse and The
sword" IN the same hands. In Great Britain
the power 10 declare war, and raise an army and
marne, Is vested IN the King, and that Is called
"the S,eord." The power Ia raise money to pay
the army aud marine, lsyt>ed in the Parliament,
aud that Is called 1.-THE purse The King
holds "the sword aud the Parliament holds
the purse This arrangement checks the
King, and protect, the liberties of the people from
| Executive aggression.
In our Government, Congress only can de-
clare war and amhnrlSe the raising OF an army
and marine, and therefore, Congress holds TIC
| swotd.' Congress only can raise moaey 10 pay
the army and marine and therefore, Congress
holds the purse" also In these provisions IS
double check upon Executive aggression. lie
has neither "the purse" nor 1.-THE sword until
Congress put them into his hands by lawi and
although, after they have given him 1.-THE sword
| by declaring war, they cannot withdraw It 10y ma
king treaty ofpeace, they can wlthdra" or close
up "the purse by refusing " RAISE money.
But modern ayarce aud Ingenuity have INTRO
duced a new urse-holdcr-it ~ the banks, Con-
gress or Parliament can no longer be traSted
with "ihe pursc'- is safe only IN the hands OF
banks! Suchls the modern theory, Let us
see what may be the practical operation oil tins
theory. Congress declares war and raises t"eh-
'y millions OF money to carry it on, which, m
stead of being deposited IN the Treasury. under
charge Of the appropriate officers, IS put INTO sun
dry banks, which now become the pnrse-holdFrs
Of the Government These banks are opposed
to the war; md think the condition and cIrcum-
stances of the country" viii not justify IT'S prose-
cutoi. The Executive applies to them Tor the
money provided by Congress to pay the army
and navy, and they withhold it for the purpose ol
putting an end to the war. Is this the chech
"lhch The Constitution intended to impose on lhe
Executive On the contrary, IS II not TARA
polcer introduced INTO the Government, unknown
To the Constitution, and subyerslve as well OF the
Just powers oil Congress as Of the President
look AT what actually has happened. Last
Nay the deposte banks had on band about TWEEN.
Y-seveh mi'lion' Of the ruhr money. every dol
lar OF "hch was appropriated by Congress- OF
directed - be deposited with tn, States. These
laws the Executive was proceeding to execute
when the banks suddenly stopped payment, II
the money had been u! he Treasury, as The Con
stiiuton requires, the Executive could have drawn
II out IN pursuance of law, aud carried into extcu-
lion the Will Of Congress. But as the money OF
the Government was gone 10 spectators ano
others, with the capital of the banks, The stop
page u HE banks was necessarily ,he SioJpdgt
Qt The Treasury. The Executive could not ex.
ccu'e 'he acts Of Congress; he could moi pay a
soldier or sailor, clerk or contractor, III the legal
currency of the United States, though nonllnaIly
there were twenty-seyen millions OF dollars IN tho
Treasury, already appropriated for thai purpose
and the efforts made to fulfil Tie obligations and
keep the faith OF the Governments under crcuin
Stances brought upon ii by these safe pus'-hoid-
ers, have been the consiauttheme Of abuse, taunt
and rdicu'e, by Their organs and advocates ever
since
Now, are not the liberties Of this people safe
under the guardianship Of the Legislative, Exec.
uye, and Judicial departments OF their Govern
mentl Must We hayea third power to step III
between The Legislative and Executive depart
ments, 10 nulIiy the laws passed by the iermer by
o5Struclhg the constitutional action OF the later
l. not the guardianship Of Congress over the
public purse suifrieutl When Congress have
raised money, and appropriated il, Is it not >afe 10
let the Executive have II to apply to the deslgna-
| oil ,Ii al. nIa
Of both, be brought IN to check the Executive,
and refuse HIM The means to execute the laws Of
Congress, and discharge the Obligations OF the
Government
Il must not be overlooked thai Uis foreign
powe Is as much check upon Congress as up
on the Executive. 1t is VAIN thai Congress raj
ses money and approprlaies it, if there be third
power which can lntepose and preyentits expet-
duue. It's IN vain that Congress declares wat
aud raises money to carry on, II they put II INTO
The custody % an INDEPENDENT and irresponsible
power, "ilIch has the will as we'll a. the ability to
withhold II from the Executive, and thus prevent
it, applt alton to the support Of an army and ma
w. Inns pilnclple puts not only the Executive
but Congress also, directly under the control oi
the banks, and without their consent, ship can
lot sal, and an army cannot march.
TINS check upon popular government is Of mo-
dern Invention. It's not one Of those safeguards
o liberty which was fought FOR in the Revolution.
There was not snk in l776 within tho limits
Of the thirteen States. Th'y are moi found to
constitute part Of the State Governments III Their
early constitutions they formed no part Of the
General GoveHmen, under the Articles Of Con-
federation ; and they were directly repudlated BY
The convention which formed our present COnsII.
tuition. 1.-THE CoutnenialC Congress resorted TO
a bank, It was not for the purpose Of keeping
theiE..AQney' flor nope they had,) but as means
OF getting money TO carry on the war. The first
Bank Of the United Siaias ,raa mi created car