Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-12-20
From the MiileJgeuiHe Journal.

we near great ucal oil Inc proposed
Divorce OF the Executive and monicd pow
er. Now, if by DIvoRCE, these astute pol
illciuns mean A SEPARATION we understand
the phrase. The action ana profession do
not square with each other. The Pres-
dent possesses the Executive power, no
one will deny. They proposed TO invest
the President with the power to appoint
men to ALL the Offices which they design to
create, 10 receive and keep the public rev.
enue. If he can dismiss from office the man
who can dismiss them from office, he can
control the revenue. The Secretary of
the Treasury is to be invested with dis
cretionary authority to increase the bonds
required as secretary Of the collectors of
the revenue. The President can dismiss
from Office the Secretary of the Treasury.
Gen. Jackson dismissed Mr.. Duane be-
cause he would not do an unconstitutional
act, Now let US take familiar case
Oar friend and neighbor, John Smith, has
been an earnest and decided adherent Of
the President: he was withal an honest
man, though a poor one. In consequences
of his politics, he received the appoint
ment Of Collector of the Customs for the
port Of Savannah, and q bond is requr-
4 ed OF him to the amount OF S8O,UOO. lie
executes the bond, and enters on the duties
Of his office. In a short time it is dscov.
cred that an impression is to be made on
the people ofhis vicinity. Heis directed by
the Secretary privately to act in a par
tlcular manner towards the merchants
having business with him. 10 an admin
istration merchant, be sinduIgent and ac'
commodating, to an opposition merchant,
harsh and oppressive. lie demonstrates
and declares he cannot do violence 10 his
conscience, he must act impartialIy as an
officer.
The Secretary Of the Treasury scruples
to enforce the obedience Of this honest Col
ector, but he is told by the President it
must be done; "if you will not do ii, retire
and | will find a man that will" Forth
with the Secretary informed John Smith
that his bond is too small he must increase
it, he must give a bond in the sum Of $780,
600. and if he fails, lie mnst leave the Of
fee; he cannot give this enormous securi-
ty, and leaves the Office.
Now here is palpabIe case, where the
President can control the officers W no are
to receive the public evenuc;and if there
be any truth in logic, he must OF course be
able to control the public revenue ITSELF
Then already possessing the Executive
power, he is enabled to direct in short,
all offices invested with money power.
Yet this operation the v Buren, party call
a "Divorce!" separation! "totaI Dl-
vorce!!r' Do these impudent politicians
suppose there is no dictionaries to be had,
that they thus attempted to swndle the
country out Of the English languagef
This common sense article advances a
consideration, to which we have more than
once adverted, and which il 10 chiefly won
dertu to every rejecting mind. We al
lude TO the view taken of the ''dlvorce."
While the Executive claims and exercises
the power of controlling the Secretary OF
the Treasury and all the officers who may
have the keeping Of the public money, the
contest is, and must continue to be, mere
ly, sin which pocket the President shall
keep the National Funds" Whether you
have the Sub-treasury system or the bank,
so long as this power is conceded, the PreS-
ident to all intents and purposes, has the
money power in his hands, and no statu-
tory provision can wrest it from him. The
Secretary Of the Treasury is no longer
according to the Jacksonian doctrine the
officer Of Congress, and amenoble to 1t; but
he is the mere creature of the Executive,
bound to do his bidding, and subject to re-
removal at moments warning, with or
without cause. This new construction OF
the constitution and usurpation of power,
have abolished the old landmarks, whate-
yer system may be devised, tho result is
the same, the President is absolute-he has
the Purse as well as the Sword
In contest involving such consequences
where the issue, whatever it may be, must