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

his friends, whoreport the law he has dictated,
and force it, by further applications Of Exc
cutive influence, through the Legislature. II
is thus, possibly, that, habit being second ma
lure, the Executive may have become possess
ed Of the idea that he is really a component
part of the Legislative poyer. II SO, ne has
yet TO learn that influence is not govern
| ment." i
| Passing over portion of the Message,
which is probably only an index TO the reports
from the Heads Of Departments, we come TO
the currency question, which, like Aaron's
serpent, swallows up all the others.
| This part Of the Message is truly its = butt
ender." The small affairs Of the foreign coun-
tries, and the army, navy, post-office, public
lands, treasury revenue and expenditures, ju-
dietary and territories, Indians, &c. &C., are
finished off in 2-3d pages but the remain
ing seven and half, closely printed, are ex-
clusively devoted to the banks and the credit
system. This is prima lacie evidence of
bad cause, and is by no meant complimentary
to the patience and forbearance OF the people.
In three several messages, before, has the
Sub Treasury scheme been pertinaciously
urged upon Congress, and five or six several
times has it been repudiated and rejected by
that body Now we have the recommends
| ton for the fourth time, accompanied by
still more violent and elaborate attack upon
the State banks and the credit system Of COM
4 ~ Jav from, Enr-
mer principles by the open advocacy OF gold
and silver, exclusively, for the revenue trans
actions of the government.
The President opens this part Of his mes
sage, by announcing that the continued agi-
lation Of the question relative to the best
mode Of keeping and discussing the public
money, still iyuriOusly affects the business Of
the country Why then continue to agitate
| it Why send from the White House an
other and another declaration of war upon the
State banks, scattering every where the seeds
Of discord, and frebrands of terror and de-
struc,on, alarming, agitating, and distressing
the whole country Who but the President
began the agitation OF this subject--who SO
much as the President has supplied the flame
Of agitation with fuel At the very outset
of this controversy, we declared that "AcI-
TATIoN" would be the policy of the Execu-
tive, and events have verified our prediction.
| Vain, therefore, will be the effort to shift the
responsibility of this businessman will be
the attempt to divert public attention or popu-
l., Il , frcn, fhn pG all IN
trouble, the great arch AGrTAToR himself!
Three long years has he kept The country in
incessant agitation, and now, when his fate is
to be decided, and while he is still in doubt
whether the nation has been agitated to ia
,igue. he makes the last, long, great effort,
which, like the sea storm at its climax he
hopes will either rend the vessel to pieces, or
send her onward in triumph over the agtated
deep, ~.
Without descending now to particulars to
expose the fallacy and impractcabilty of
many Of the notions of this part Of the mes
sage, or attempting to explain how ruinous
would be their consequences if carried into
practice, it will suffice for the presen, to call
attention to the great, predominant and alarm
ing fact, that it carries with it clear. and con-
elusive evidence Of the centrass=ing tendency
Of the entire action of the Federal admins
tration, and of that greedy avarice of power
which seems not likely to be satiated with
any thing short Of an entire absorption of all
the powers of this government.
The powers and duties Of the President of
the United States are limited and defined by
the Constitution. He has none other than
those therein granted and prescribed. What
are they?
lie is the executor of the laws-the COM
mander of the army, navy and militia--he
appoints to Office and makes treaties with the
consent of the Senate---he commissions Off
cers---he may convene the Congress, and ad
journ them in case Of disagreement between
the two Houscs---he fills vacancies happening
during the recess of the Senate---he receives
ambassadors and public ministers.--he may
reprieve and pardon offences against the
United States--he may require the opinion, in
writing, of the principal officer in each Of the
Executive Departments, upon any subject re-
lating TO the duties of their Offices, and he
shall from time to time give to the Congress
information Of the state Of the Union, and re-
commend to their consideration such measures
as he shall judge necessary and expedient.
These are all the powers and duties OF the
President If he has, or exercises any other,
il is an assumption on his part, not warranted