The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-14
RALTrmoRE MONDAY MORNING. sEPTEMBER "A, 1910.

new DtInOcfdcyj and all thls, Dy tHoSS VIM a.
in the pay OF Government, receiving large saIa
ries, and whose offices would be nearly sine
cures, but for the labor performed in the attemP
to give currency to these principles and thes'
opinions
We believe that the general tone of the mea
sureS OF the Administration, the manner III which
1t ceners iavors, its apparent preference Tor par
tIsans OF extreme opinions, and the readiness
with which 1t bestows its confidence Oh the bold
est, and most violent, are producing serious IN
Juries upon the political morals and general SEN
timents OF the country. We believe that to tn IS
cause is to be fairly attributed the most lamenta-
BILE change, which has taken place in the tenn
per, the sobriety, and the wisdom, with which
the high public counsels have been hitherto con-
Quoted. We look with alarm to the existing
state of things, in this respect; and we would
most earnestly, and with all our hearts, as well
for the honor of the country for its interests,
beseech all good men to unite with us in an at
tempt to bring back the deliberative age of the
Government, to restore to the collected bodies
of the peoples Representatives that sclf-respect,
decorum, and dignity, without which the bust
ness of legislation make no regular progress,
and is always in danger either OF accomplishing
nothing, or of reaching its ends by unjustitiable
and violent means.
We believe the conduct of the Administration
respecting the public revenue, to be highly repre-
hensible. It has expended twenty millions, pre-
viously accumulated, besides all the accruing in
come, since it came into power; and there seems
at this moment to be no doubt, but that it will
leave to its successors a public debt OF from hive
to ten millions of dollars. 1t has shrunk IRON
its proper responsibilities With the immediate
prospect of an empty treasury, 1t has yet not had
manliness to recommend to Congress any ade-
quate provision. 1t has constantly spoken OF the
excess of receipts over expenditures, until this
excess has finally manifested itself in an abso-
Lutte necessity for loans, and in power confer
red on the President, altogether new, and in our
Judgment, hostile to the whole spirit of the con-
stituton, to meet the event OF want of resources,
by withholding, out of certain classes of appro-
priations made by Congress, such as he chooses
to think may be best spared. 1t lives by shifts
and contrivances, by shallow articles and delu-
sive names, by what it calls E'facihtleS," and
the "exchange of Treasury notes for specie;'
while in truth it has been fast contracting pub
lie debt in the midst of all its Boosting, without
daring to lay the plain and naked truth oil the
case before the people.
We protest against the conduct of the House
of Representatives in the case of the New Jer-
ssy election. This is not local, but general
question. In the Union of the States, on whate-
yer link the blow of injustice unsurpation
falls it is felt, and ought to be felt through the
whole chain. The cause of New Jersey is the
of every State, and every State IS therefore
bound to indicate it.
That the regular commission, or certificate OF
return, signed by the chief magistrate OF the
state, according TO the provisions OF law, entl-
ties those who produce it to be sworn IN as menu
bers of Congress, to vote in the organization OF
the House, and TO hold their seats until thelr
right be disturbed by regular petition and proof.
is a proposition of constitutional law, of such
universal extent, and universal acknowledgment
that it cannot be strengthened by argument OF
by analogy. There is nothing clearer and moth
ing better settled No legislative body could
IL \. - ~
principle Yet, in the case of the New Jersey
members, it was entirely disregarded And it is
of awful pertent, that on such question, ques-
ton in its nature strictly judicial the domination
of party should lead men thus hagrantly to vio-
late first principles 1t is the first step that costs
After this open disregard Of elementary rules of
law and Justice, it should create surprise that
pending the labors OF a committee especial,T
appointed to ascertain who were duly elected,
set of men calling themselves Representatives OF
the people of New Jersey, who had no certih-
Gates from the chief magistrate Of the state, or
according to the laws oil the state, were voted
into their seats, under silence imposed by the
previous question, and atterward gave their
votes for the passage of the sub-Ireasury law.
We call most solemnly upon all who with us,
believe, that these proceedings alike invade the
rights of the states, and dishonor the cause OF
popular government ana free institutions, to
apply an efficient and decisive remedy, by the
unsparing application OF the elective franchise
We protest against the plan of the Admins
tration respecting the training and disclplining
of the militia. The President now admits it to
be unconstitutional; and it Is plainly so, on the
face Of it, for the training Of the militia is by the
constitution expressly reserved to the states. Ii
it were not unconstitutional, ii would yet be I'M
necessary, burdensome, entailing enormous eX-
pensc, and placing dangerous PUwers in the EX-
ecutive hands. 1t belongs to the prolific family
of Executive projects, and it is a consolation to
find that at least of its projects has been SO
scorched by public rebuke and reprobation, that
no man raises his hand, or opens his mouth Units
taYoF.
1t was during the progress of the late admin
istration, and under the well known auspices OF
the present chief magistrate, that the declaration
was made in the Senate, that in regard to pub
lie office, the spoils OF victory belonged to the
cenquerors: thus boldly proclaiming, as the
creed of the party, that political contests are
rightfully strugglers for office and emolument;
We protest against doctrines which thus regard
offices as created for the sake of incumbcnts, and
stimulate the hasest passions to the pursuit OF
high public trusts,
We protest asainst the repeated instances OF
disregarding judicial decisions, by officers oil
government, and others enjoying its counte-
nance; thus setting up executive interpretation
over the solemn adjudi cations of courts and Ju-
riesJ and showing marked dlsrespect tor the