Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-02-13
NUMBER 81.

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and hence the provision in the constitu-
ton, borrowed from that Of England, res
,rc,ing the originating of Revenue bills
to tho immediate Representatives Of tho
people. So far from agreeing IN opinion
with the d stinguished character who late.
ly retired from the Presidency, that Con-
gress should have applied to him for .
project of a Banking System, think that
such On application would have manifss-
ted not only great subserviency upon the
part Of that body, bu, an objectionable ig-
norance oflhe chief danger to be appre-
| hended from such an institution. That
danger unquestionabIy consists in an union
of interests between the Executive and
the Bank. Would an ambitious incum-
bent Off Executive chair neglect 70 "a.
vorable an opportunity as the preparing
Of the law would give him to insert in ito
provisions TO secure his influence over III
In The authority given to the President by
the constitution ITO recommend to Con-
gress such measures as he shall Judge ne
cessary and expedi.nt," il was certainly
never intended that the measures he re.
commended should be presented in shape
suited for the immediate decision Of the
Legislature. The sagcs who made the
constitution, too well knew the advantage
which the Grown Of England derived from
the exercise ofhis power by its ministers,
to have intended II to be used by our
chef magistrate, or the heads Of depart.
ment unjer his control. The boosted
principle of the English constitution that
the consent Of the democratic Branch Of
tho governmentwas not only necessary 10
receive money from the people, but that
il was its inviolable prerogniIve also TO
originals ali the bills for that purpose, 10
as true in theory No in tile letter, but rem.
derej It utterly false and nugatory in ri-
feet, by the participation Of the ministers
of the crown in the details Of the Legisla.
ton. Indeed the influence they derive
from sitting as members Of the House Of
Commons, and from welding the immense
patronage Of the crown constitutional or
usurped) gives them power over that
body, that renders plausible at least tho
base ilattery, or as II is more probable,
the intended sarcasm Of Sir Walter Raj.
eigh. in an address TO James the LIST, that
the demand oflhe sovereign upon the Conn
mons Tor pecnniary aid. was intended only
"thu, the tax might seem TO come from
themselves" wherens the inference 10,
it was really LAID by the sovereign him.
self.
Having thus given you my opinion Of
some things which might be done, and
others which should not be done, by
President coming into power by the sup
port Of those of the people who are OPP
posed to tho principles upon which the
present administration 10 conducted, you
will see that have omitted one, which 10
deemed by mnnv ofas much importance
as any other. uluda to the appoint
ment of members Of Congress 10 Office by
The President. The Constitution contains
no prohibition of such appointments, no
doubt because its authors could not be.
Geyo in its Necessity, from the purity Of
character which was manifested by those
who possessed the confidence OF the peo-
pie at TINT period. II is, however, an
opinion very generally entertained by the
opposition party, that the country would
have escaped much Of tho evil under
which il hus suffered for some years past
il the Constitution bud contained provi-
sion OF that kind. Having had no oppor-
tuni,y Of personal observation on the con-
duet OF the Administration for thn last
ten years, am unable TO decide upon tho
truth or error Of this opinion. And ]
should BIO very willing that the known
subscrvency OF the Legislature 10 tho
Executive, in several memorable instan-
C, s, should be accounted for in way
somewhat less injurious to the character
Of our country and Republicanism itself.
Than by the admission that the Fathers OF
lhe land, the trusted servants Of a virtu-
Gus People, conld be seduced from the
path OF duty and honor, by the paltry
trappings and emoluments Of dependent
Offices. But If the evil really exists, and
II there Le good reason to believe that
its source is 10 be found in the corruptiblll.
~ OF the members Of the Legislature, an
.ffsciual remedy cannot be too soon np'
Piled And it happens in this case. that
there is a choice OF remedies. One OF
those, however, is in my opinion fec from
tue objections which might be offered 10
the other. The one to which object 70,
that which the late President has been 30
loudly called upon to adopt, in conse-
ouence of promise made at the COM
mencement Of his administration, viz;
tha, the Executive under no clrcumstan-
ces should appoint TO Office member Of
either branch ofthe National Legislature.
There are, in my mind, several weighly
reasons against the sdopiionsof this prln-
c;ple. I will delain you with the mention
Of but two OF them, because, ! believe
that you will agree with me. that the o.,