Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-06-29

We publish below an extract from the
letter of the Hon Benz. WATKINS LEIGH.
to the Committee of Arrangements of
the Rives Festival at Amherst Court
fiouse, Va. We invite the attention OF
our readers to il, for it breathes the pure
spirit of patriotism, that should charac-
terize the thoughts and feelings of every
freeman.
awhile the doctrine stands admitted,
that the President is entitled by the CON
stitution to the custody Of the public
treasure, it is, in my humble opinion, a
question of comparative nsignifcance,
whether the system of SUBJ Treasuries,
or the select State bank system, with
general or special deposites, or any 9th
er scheme for keeping the public trea-
sure, which the wisdom OF the LegisIa-
turc or the ingenuity of the Executive
can devise, shall be adopted; for, in eff
feet, the custody Of the public money
will still be in the President alone. 1t is
the doctrine itself which it behooves the
people to explode and condemn, as the
most false, the most impudent, and the
most dangerous, Of oil Executive pre-
tensions.
| regard the Presidential election. as
in truth the only important question, the
great question, of national interes
which involves and absorbs all others,
in the present juncture of affairs.
Nothing, in my sense of things, can
stop, or even check, the transition of the
federal government into mere elective
monarchy, and a monarchy elective
through the instrumentality of the most
malignant faction and the foulest corrup-
ton, but the dismission Of our present
rulers from the public councils and con-
fdence forever; rulers | call them, for
they are our masters In fact, whatsoever
they ought TO be in theory; and hard
masters, too, who maintain and pay the
army of partizans on which they depend
for power, by openly and avowedly deal
ing out the honors and emoluments of
office, without the least regard to any
merit but party zeal and party services.
In one instance at least land believe in
many more,) ON officer, after having re-
ceived and appropriated public money
to his own use, has been knowingly per-
mitted to retain his office, and to enjoy
the spoils, in order 10 secure the contIn-
uancc of his own and his friends sup
port of the Administration; and the Ca
bInet Minister, who was President Jack
sons instrument in this gross and indie
cent abuse of Executive patronage,i is
still President Van Buren's Secretary of
the Treasury. Corruption is raising her
head without shame, without fear, and
$50 far as the dominant faction and the
reIgning dynasty is concerned) without
reproach.-The stimulus to the Agrari-
an spirit administered by the govern
ment at Washington, through all its or
gans-thc cry of the poor against the
rich, which has been wilfully and sue
cessfully raised--the clamer against all
independence in the administration of
justice. which is but the prelude to an
assault on the principle of property
those disgusting professions of ultra-de-
mocracy, louder and louder. always in
proportion to their conscious insincerity
and the success Of these odious and
dishonest arts; these are symptoms of
degeneration from our republican insti-
tutions, the nature and tendency of which
are not TO be mistaken by any man who
has bestowed the least attention to the
history OF the progress and downfall of
republican governments. And unless the
practice of these arts can be signally re-
aukcd, by discarding from Office the un-
happy or the guilty man, who, willingly
or by conIpulsion, is the leader, or the
tool, of the faction which practises them,
for one shall cease TO have any hope
of the Republic. In fine, must insist,
that Mr.. Riyes and every honest man.
thinking as he thinks of the measures of
this administration, ought to stand forth
with Mr.. TalImadge, and proclaim ssun-
compromising hostility to the election of
Martin Van Buren,
have written this letter to avert the
possibility of any misunderstanding of
my own opinions by those who have
thought proper 10 honor me with the in
vitation which you have communicated
tome. Whether these opinions q re right !