Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-04-18
POLITICAL.
R E M A r ks


MARKS
MIR. CALHOUN, OF S. CAROLINA,
ON THE
Bill to prevent the interference Of certain
Federal Officer, in elections.
CONCLUDED.
The next movement he made was the
boIdest of the whole series. The union
of the Government with the paper system
was not yet complete. A central control
was wanting, in order to give 10 it unity
of acliou, and full development Of IFS
power and influence. This he sought in
a national bank, with capital of SlOU00,-
OOO, TO be composed principally Of the
srock held by the public creditors; thus
binding more strongly to the Government
that already powerful class. by giving
them, through its agency, increased profit
and decided control over the currency,
exchanges, aud the business transactions
of the country. On the question of char
,ering the bank, the great battle was
fought belw cen the two schools. The
contest was long aud obstinate, bur victo-
ry ultimately declared in favor OF the ma
tional Federal school.
The leader of that school was not con-
tent with these great achievements. His
bold and ardent mind was not of tenn
per to stop short of the end at which he
aimed. His next movement was to seize
on the money power, and he put forth
able reports. in which he asserted the
broad principle, that Congress was under
no constitutional restriction in the use OF
the public money, but the general ,pel fare,
aud that it might be appropriated to any
purpose whatever, believed 10 be calcu-
lated To promote the general interest, and
as freely to the objects not enumerated as
those that were specified in the consrirll-
ton. TO this he added another, and per-
haps more dangerous assumption Of pow
er; that the taxing power, which was
granted expressly 10 raise revenue. might
be used as protective power for the en-
couragement Of manufactures, or any 9th
er branch of industry which Congress
might choose 10 foster; aud thus il was in
fact perverted from revenue to penal
power, through which the entire capital
and industry Of the Uuion might be con-
troiled: Congress was not prepared a,
that early stage TO follow so bold lead,
but the seed was sown by sklful hand,
10 sprOut when The proper season arrived.
When he retired from Office no con-
trolling mind was left 10 perfect the sys-
lem which he had commenced with such
consummate skill and success; and short
ly after, under the administration Of the
elder Adams, the alien and sedition acls,
and the quasi war with France, as it was
called, followed the violent and precipi-
tate measures of less sagacious and pow
erful minds, and which in their re-action
expelled their authors from power, aud
raised Jefferson to the Presidency.
He came in as retormer: but, with
the most ardent desire and the highest ca
pacity to effect reformation, he could do
little TO change the direction which his ri
val had impressed Il, the outset on the po.
litical machine. Economy. indeed, was
Introduced, and the expenditures reduced,
but the lisatures which united the Gov
ernment with the paper system were too
strong 10 be bursted. The funded debt,
though greatly reduced by him, could not
be extinguished. The charter of the Uni
ted States Bank had still its Term to
run, anu The use Of banks and bank notes
in the fiscal transactions of The Govern.
ment had taken too strong hold 10 be
superseded at once. In the mean time.
the agitation caused by the gigantic con-
flIct between France aud England reach
ell our distant and peaceful shores. and
the ADMINISTRATION was almost exclusive
ly occupied in efforts to prevent ageres-
sions On our rights, and preserve our neu-
trality. To effect that, every expedient
was attempted; negotiation, embargo,
non-importation, aud non-intercourse, but
in vain. War followed, aud with it all
hopes OF carrying on, the reform contem-
plated by Jefferson when he came into
power failed.
When the peace arrived, the country
was deeply in debt. Capital and indus
try had taken new directions in conse-
quence of the long interruption of our for
eign commerce, and the public attention
completely diverted from The questions
which had brought into conflict the two
great political schools, aud whicn had SO
long divided the country.
The season had now arrived when the
seed which had been so skilfully sown by
Hamilton, as has been stated, began TO
germinate, and soon shot forth with the
most vigorous growth. Duties came to
be imposed without regard to revenue. aud
money appropriated without reference to
The granted powers. Tariff followed ta-
riff in rapid succession, carrying in their
train profusion of expenditures on har-
bors, roads, canals, pensions, and host
of Others cnmnrehendinr nhiacts nfalmnst