Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-08-09

Administration is. by many. thought Of only
10 It's mere pccuniary relations, without re-
hscting on the object ofthe Executive in ur.
gng i without perceiving that its danger
consists, not so much in the insecurity OF
l"leg treasurers' '---maniiest as that is---as in
the augmented patronage and power which
the system would give TO the President
land which, in fact, has formed his leading
motive for pertinaciously pressing it upon
| Congress and the country
/ l am, sir, far from Undertaking. the i'm
lportance of these questions OF the currency,
the markets. and the sale-keeping ofthe pub
lie moneys, in their pecuniary bearings
But there are matters Of mighter moment
connected with them. While the last of
these questions sustain relation to that Of
Executive patronagean power, which gives
to il its chief importance, the two former in.
yolve interests which lie quite beyond the
mere comfort and qualification OF pecuniary
Incompetence and independence. The true
value Of nothing on earth can be estimated
independently Of its bearings on the highest
nature of man. 1t is this light only that we
can justly estimate the value Of individual
and nation prosperity; which confer the full
measure Of their blessings only when they
minister 10 the high and noble purposes Of
moral and intellectual mprovement--the
tfusst iceafth aud glory of nation. But
thtrei is danger OF overlooking these inter
esisand making.the acquisition ofwealih, the
ADVANCE Of population, the improvement OF
The face of the countrywide development its
pbysic,l resources, and the augmentation of
ofits physical power, the great and allah
sordins objects Of regard and effort There
is danger Of forgetting that, in all these res
poets, We may make very rapid advances
while, In the process OF doing il, we may
plant, and nourish to rank vegetation, the
seeds q national corruption and decay Sir,
it is not great wealth, nor natural or artif-
cial deknces, that constitute truly pros.
porous and secure commonwealth;
! "But men. high-minded men;
Men who their duties knotc, vet know their rights,
1 And knowing, dare maintain.''
| Let The currency be deranged; let banks
be driven TO suspension let property fall in
value; let millions be sacrificed. and yet the
energies of People may remain substan-
tally unimpai.ed and they may rise from
the pressure, proiied by its experience, and
wiser for its severe and painful infections.
The nation, 100. may be assailcd from
without il may be pressed with the de-
mands Of injustice; it may feel the shock oil
invasion il may be compelled 10 pour out
its treasures and its blood in its defence; il
mry be doomed TO suffer reverses, and be
brought TO the brink of ruin. and yet it may
retain. unimpaired, and even invigorated, the
elements OF IFS triumph and prosperity. In.
vasion may unite its People; injustice may
deepen their sense OF right; oppression may
make them feel for the oppressed; dangers
may develop their resources Of skill & cour-
age; privation and hardship may give pa
tience TO endurance; and adversely may i'm
part strength to virtue Our own glorious
Revolution presents an illustrious example
of all this, The noble minds that founded
our institutions, and the stern virtues that
sustained them amid the perils and weak
ness OF their infancy. exhibit some of the
fruits Of that severe and trying conflict
But, MIR, Chairman, where are the re-
deeming qualities Of that influence which ST.
lenily infuses corruption into the life-blood
Of a People What shall restore nation
thus contaminated What shall change
corruption into purity, convert base servilily
into love Of country. and give to seifshness
the ofty elevation OF stern, incorporating
virtue2 Will the Ethiopian change his
skin, or the leopared his spots2 Then will
corruption cure its own leprosy, and the
worm whichis gnawing at the root of our
republican institutions consume itself
Sir, one good sound moral principle efiec-
tually wroughtinto the very heart and soul
OF this great nation, and watchfully cherish
ed there, is worth more for its permanent de-
fence from foes without, and its security from
foes within, than all the wealth OF both the
Indies, and all the fleets and armies which
that wealth can purchase and employ. Let
the great moral principles on which our in
siitutons are based, and which were bodied
forth in the persons of our revolutionary and
constitutional fathers, cease to exert con-
trolling influence upon the men to whom is
entrusted the government OF this country ;
and let their dereliction from these princi-
Piles receive the deliberate sanction Of the
American People, and this nation, with all
its show of high health and vigor, shall feel
to its Ferry extremilies paralysis, from which
il will require little less than miracle for
its recovery.
Cause Of defaleatioas.
There has. Mr. Chairman, been much
said, recently, about the defalcations Of pub
lie officers and the amount Of losses thro'
public agents. especially one of them, has
been dwell on with much emphasis. Sir.
this is right. We may well feel the loss Of
the large sums OF which the Treasury has
been defrauded But the amount Of money
LOST is not the true measure Of the mischief
nor would IL ba ifif vera tn emf times multi.