Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-04-18

servant bat that he 10 tainted with Can
ssrrassss, sad will not pledge h.mseit 10
''siak OF swim" with Mr.. Vac Burepi If
this attempt 10 control Executive action by
organised clubs shsii sueesed. and become
part q that system Of political msehin.
cry oy which tho party ia power hope, 10
MAINTAIN its asesndsney.i ii will no, De long
before Ne shall see .hem spriuging up in
every town and village throughout the
uoioa, and huoting down, with the re-
lsntle's vengeance Of party intolerance.
every independent man IN every commu.
nifty. and causing the offices Of The coun-
ny, from the NEST elevated and response
bic. 10 the mott s.gn,6ssnt. 10 be flied
with the tame and servile instruments of
power. u will be On evil day for the
country. porteoding the heaviest cslami-
ties. IL thi, powerful. and. when organized,
rssisslsss mobocratic influence, shall be
brought saectuslly to bear upon and to
control the decisions Of the Executive. in
che dispensaiion ofiis patronage.
There ere other prominent Modernism
the history Of this Administration. a. well
% in that Of its immediate predecessor.
which still more conclu,ively, IL possible.
demonstrate how little confidence ougb,
TO b. repossd in the profe ssion. OF the
Chief Magistra'e, and how widely variant
arc his principle, from those OF the old
Virginia School. At tas head Of which he
10 placed by his Par.iz,ns.
The hrst OF these is the strenuous efr)r.
OF the dominant party TO shield Executive
othcers from q just accountability to the
Peoples Representatives. The ground a..
sumed by Gen. Jackson. 10 his letter 10
Henry A. Wise. Esq. is, cha, the PEOPLE.
through their Representatives.. have no
right. With or without suspicion Of mani.
fold coruPiions aud breaches Of trust in
the vanous Executive Departments. to
make call upon the Heads Of those De.
parments for such inform alton as NAV
lead to the development Of their guilt
that. unless specific act 81 corruption or
crime be charged. IT is illegal and un-
constitutional to call foI informs alton: and
that It Is the duty of the Executive officers,
u thus called upon. TO ''r-pel ell such Al.
tsmpts - IN invasion Of the principles of
justice. - veil n Of the Constitution. -
10 this the Republican doctrine OF Jefferson
and Madison Is il not. on tina other
band, entirely Inconsistent with the prin.
ciples and practices Of the Republican par
~. at all times: one Of tho fundsmen ,al
articles ofi,s creed being. the rigid &C.
eountsbili,y Of public otficers;" L. not
this accountability merely nominal. If a
buses supposed to exist. are to be specih-
ically Designated. before the Office. are ex-
smined. in which alone the evidence Of
these abuses Is 10 be found' Every Off
eial delinquent. it is apparent. whom the
Executive may desire 10 screen. will, I'M
der such restriction upon the right Of en-
quiry. escape with impuni,y-for in what
manner can specific charge Of guilt be
made. prior to that scrutiny which is ne
esssary to ascertain the fact Of It's exist
ecce.
or kindred character is the complain,
ofPresiceni Van Buren,. in hislast Message
TO Congress, that the Postmaster General
had been compelled. "by the common
Law writ Of mandamus." which he admits
10 applicable TO oil other citizens" 10
comply with the judgment Of the Circui,
Cour! ofthe District Of Columbia, lounded
upon al award Of the Solicitor General
made in compliance with 40 act Of Con.
gress and his Recommendation that law
be passed sxemPting hereafter the Exec
uivs Officers from the operation Of this
process. This incident is adver,ed to, moi
Tor the purpose Of commenting upon the
merits Of that par,icula: case. but with The
view Of drawing public attention TO the
striking and important fact. that, the direct
tendency OF the principles avowed by the
present. and preceding Administrators. is
to divest the Executive officers Of all &C.
tusl responsibility to the Courts as we'll as
to The People. and to raise up privilege
class ia the community. dependent upon
and accountable to the President, alone!
Another Incident 10 which public a,,en
ton is invited. involves principles Of still
greater magnitude. Ia hi, Message TO
Congress, at the Extra Session, ir Septem :
Der 1887, Mr.. Van Bursn, for the express
purpose Of Correcting the evils Of disor-
dered currency. Qhough it 10 understood,
from other papers from bis pen, that he
expressly denies to Congress all right.
under the Constitution. TO legisla,e upon
this subject recommended the adoption
OF "uniiorm law concerning bankrupt.
eiss OF corporations and other bankers"-
which. had 1t been concured 10 by Con.
gress. would have armed the General Go.
Sernment With power as far TRANSCEND
ing that conferred by the incorporation OF
National Bank. under iis exclusive con :
troll. as the capitals aud influence OF The
State Banks. consolidated into one. may
be presumed TO exceed the capital and in
fuence II National Institution. Such a
Law would have subjected the whole
banking system Of the States TO the SUI.
peTSisioo add eoniIol Of the Federal Go.
vernmen.--s power which caprioiously
sne arbitrarily exercised, as it would he
by . corrupt add ambitious PRECEDENT.
might, and in all probability would lie d
20 the most eslamitous censequences.-
AID IN addition 20 this mona,Ious aceu.
mutation Of power ia the hands Of the
Central Government, to be welded, &C.
eerdiog 10 the prevalent dogma Of the day
ct the discretion Of the Executive. IL OBJ.