The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-09-15


ton or as The first in new series Of ruthless expert
ments We believe lis professions ~ iaNor OF a hard
money currency 10 be inpncere hecause we do not
believe that any person, OF common information ana
ordinary understanding, can suppose that the use OF
paper as a circulating medium will be discontinued
even II such disconInuance were desirable unless the
Government shall break down the acknowledged au-
thority of the Stale Governments To establish banks
/ We believe the ciamor against State banks, State
bonds, and State credits, TO have been raised by the
friends OF the administration TO divert public attention
from It's own Encouragement, and 10 throw others
the consequence OF its own misconduct We heard
nothing OF all this in the early part of Gen Jacksons
administration unti his had brought the
currency OF the country into the utmost disorder We
know that ia times past the present chief magistrate
has, Of all men, had most To do with the systems Of
State banks, the most faith in their usefulness and no
very severely chasiened desire profit by their infu
| ence.
We believe that the purpose OF exercising money
influence over the community has departed from
the administration. What IL could not accomplish by
attempt TO bend the Bank of the United States TO
Its purposes believe ii has sought and now seeks
TO elect by ITS project OF the sub Treasury We be-
isve that, IN order to maintain the principles upon
which the system of the sub reasury is founded, the
friends of the administration have been led to spouse
opinions Destructive of the internal commerce Of the
country, paralyzing to its whole industry tending
SINK It's labor, both in price and in character to the
degraded standard of the uninfonned the ignorant the
suffering labor of the parts OF Europe Led by
the necessity, pushing the same principles still
farther, and with kind OF revolutionary rapdity we
nave seen the rights OF property not only assalcd but
denied the bodest agrarlan notions put FORTH the
power OF transmission from father TO son openly de-
nounced tho right OF one to participate the earnings
OF another, to the rejection Of the natural claims of
MS own children asserted as fundamental principle
OF the new democracy and all this by those who are
In the pay OF Government receiving large salaries
and whose offices would be nearly snecures but for
the labor performed in the attempt give currency
| these principles and these opinions
haltn hat 10
Of the administration, the manner in which it coniers
favors Its apparent preference for pazans of extreme
opinions, and the readiness with which it besows its
confidence on the bodest and most violent are pro
duclng serious injuries upon the political morals and
general sentiments OF the country We believe that
10 this cause is to he fairly attributed the most lament
able change, which has taken place in the temper, the
sobrlety, and the wisdom with which the high public
counsels have been hitherto conducted. We look with
alarm to The existing state Of things, in this respect
and we would most earnestly, and with all our hearts
well Tor the honor of the country for its interests
beseech all good men To unite with us in an attempt TO
bring back the deliberatye age of the Government,
to restore the collected bodies of the peoples Repre-
sentatives that selfrespect dccorum and dignity with
out which the business of legislation make no
regular progress, and is always in danger either of
compshing nothing, or of reaching its ends by unus
/ uhabe and violent means
We believe the conduct of the admnisrat re-
speeding the public to be highly reprehensble
II has expended twenty millions previously accumu-
|
into power; and there at this moment to be no
doubt but that it will leave TO its public
debt OF from five to ten millions OF dollars 1t has
shrunk from its proper responsibilities With the inn
mediate prospect of empty Treasury, has yet not
had manncss to recommend to Congress any adequate
provision. 1t has constantly spoken of the excess OF
receipts expenditures until this has finally
manifested itself in absolute necessity for loans,
and in power conferred on the President altogether
new and in judgment hos lie to the whole spirit
OF the Constitution, TO meet the event of want OF re-
sources by Withholding out of certain classes of APP
preparations made by Congress- such he chooses
think may he best spared 1t lives by shifts and
4 trivances by shallow articles and deusve names by
what it calls facilities, and the exchange of Trea
suTy notes for specie while IN truth 1t has been fast
contracting public debt in the midst of all its boast
ing, without daring to lay the plain and naked truth
of the case before the people
We protest against the conduct of the House of
Representatives in the of the New Jersey cleo
ton. This is not a local, but general question:
In the union of the states, on whatever link the
blow of injustice usurpation falls is felt and
: ought to be felt through the wi ole chain The
cause of New Jersey is the of every state and
every state is therefore bound TO vindcate it,
/ That the regular commission, certificate of re-
turn, signed by the chief magistrate of the state,
cording to the provisions of law entities those who
produce it to be sworn in members of Congress,
to vote in the organization OF the House, and to hold
their seats until theii right be disturbed by regular
petition and proof is proposition OF constitutional
law, OF such universal extent and universal acknow
or by analogy There is nothing clearer and moth
ing better settled. No legislative body could ever be
4 organized without the adoption of this principle
Yet in the of the New Jersey members ii was
entirely dsregarded And il is of awful portent that
on such question, question in its nature strictly
judicial the domination OF party should lead men
thus hagrantly to violate first principles. 1t is the
first step that costs. A er this open disregard of
elementary rules Of law and justice, it should create
no surprise that pending the labors of committee
especially appointed to ascertain who duly
elected set of men calling themselves Representa-
tives of the people of New Jersey who had no certi
fcates from the chief magistrate of the state,
cordng to the laws of the state were voted into their
seats under silence imposed by the previous ques-
ton and afterward gave their votes for the passage
4 of the Sub-treasury law. We call most soemnly
upon all who with US, believe that these proceedings
alike invade the rights of the states and dshonor the
cause OF popular government and free institutions, to
supply efficient and decisive remedy by the UNI
sparing application of the elective franchise.
We protest against the plan of the Administration
respecting the training and discpining OF the mill
tia The President admits it TO be unconstitu-
tional and it is plainly so, on the face of it, for the
trannSof the militia Is by the constitution expressly
reserved to the states. II it not unconsuton-
al it would yet be unnecessary, burdensome entail
ing enormous expense, and placing dangerous pow
ers in the Executive hands. 1t belongs to the prolific
family of Executive projects and it is consolation
to find that at least of its projects has been 50
scorched by public rebuke and reprobation that no
man raises his hand, opens his mouth in its tavor
i 1t during the progress of the late Admnstra-
ton and under the well known auspices of the pre-
sent chief magistrate, that the declaration was made
in the Senate, that in ragard to public office the
spols of victory belonged the conquerors thus
boldly proclaiming the creed of the party that
political contests rghtully struggles for office and
emoument, We protest against doctrines which thus
regard offices as created for the sake of incumbens,
and stimulate the basest passions the pursuit OF high
public trusts.
We protest against the repeated instances of dis