The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-28
rHE pREslpENr,s MESSAGE.

We have perused this document attentive
ly, and have been grati6ed to find in it con-
frmation Of the opinion universally entertain
ed that the United States are at peace with
the world. Dur foreign relations seem 70 be
in all respects on tolerable footing, which
was naturally expected, since il is doubtless
the interest Of most nations TO behave them
selves decen.ly towards us. Portugal, for a
wonder, has paid the debt she honestly owed
us, and the King of the Netherlands has paid
US for vessel Of ours which was appropriate
ed to the use Of his countrymen. The North
eastern Boundary, as usual, remains unset
tied, and in consequences thereof it will be the
easiest thing in the world 70 get into war
with Great Britain. Mr.. Van Buren, has
made some progress-he has sent project for
the adjustment of the limits in dispute to her
majesty for her consideration. Itseems there
is another boundary line also to be settled, to
which he has called the attention of the British
government He refers to the line from the
entrance of Lake Superior to the northwest
ern point of the Lake Of the Woods, stipua-
tons for the settlement Of which are in the
7th article Of the treaty OF Client. The com
missioners appointed under that article having
disagreed, their differences are to be referred
to an umpire. SO the number of difficulties
in the way Of settling our controversies with
the British is increasing instead Of diminish
ing.
The financial operations of the Govern
ment, we are informed, have been very sue
cessfu. This is the first novelty in the mes
sage. We presume it will surprise most peo-
pie. We had heard Of Treasury embarrass-
ments, Of treasury loans, of treasury drafts
sold at discount, of government drafts pro-
tested, Of government bills for specie being
paid in rags, of inability TO pay the 4th install
ment, and of large defalcations We recol-
lect that the Secretary of the Treasury re-
ported to Congress, not long ago, that unless
some new fiscal system was devised, the de-
partment could not possibly go on All Diff
fculties, if the President is correct, neverthe-
less, have been surrounded without that sine
qua non demanded by the Secretary, and
Notwithstanding the distressing embarrass-
men,s of the financial affairs Of the people,
those Of the Government have been ''yery
successful" Does this verify the conservative
declaration that the Sub-treasury was calcu-
lated to establish one currency for the people,
and another and a'better one for the Govern
mentl We are, however, incredulous as to
the disclaimer Of the necessity of any more
Treasury notes. Before the present session
is far gone, IN our opinion, the Secretary Of
the Treasury will petition Congress for per-
mission to emit an additional batch. Why is it
that the members of Congress are stinted to
$3.50 per head! Nous perrons.
The talk about economy is all very proper
and very captivating. But, between theory
and practice there happens to be wide diff
ference. When the administration undertakes
practical and actual retrenchment of erpend,-
lures, then, and not till then, shall we begin
to think that something is meant by the talk
about economy.
The President, by design or inadvertence,
has introduced, parentheticaly, new, and,
as we think, monstrous doctrine in the fol-
lowing sentence:
No instance has occurred, since the establish
ment of the government, in which the Executive
though COMPONENT PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER
has intePosed an objection the sole ground OF is
extravaganza" ~
We have reference only to the Presidents
claiming to be a component part Of the legisiu-
the poDer. This is not true If it were so,
the government would be worse than mo-
narchy. The President approves laws, but
he does not really, cons,itutionally, cooperate
in their formation, since the refusal Of his as
sent does not annul them He has, const,u-
tionally, no share in the formation of the legis-
laive body nor can he dissolve any part of it.
If the laws had no weight till the President
gave them his sanction, the Executive would
be the sovereign power-indeed, he would be,
in power, king But his authority, in fact,
is inferior 10, and dependent upon, that Of the
Legislature. He is the executor of the ord-
nances Of the Legislature-not their creator.
We speak according to the spirit and letter Of
the Constitution. According to the course of
things in modern times, and the virtual revo.
luton in our government, the President may,
perhaps truly, claim to be, no, only a compo-
nent part, but the essential and controlling
part Of the Legislature. He exercises the
power indirectly, and penctratcs that body by