Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-04-04


total revolution in the value of labor, property
and contracts, and involving the farmer, the me-
chanic, the tradesman, the merchant, and in short
every class Of men, with the exception of credi
tors and public officers enjoying fired salaries from
the gouernmen) in one common ruin. As an
essential part Of this policy, the President has
proclaimed crusade against Institutions, deriving
their existence from, and responsible to the States
alone, and in his newborn zeal has so far forgot
his former opinions, as to recommend to Congress
the enaction of special bankrupt law, applying
to these institutions exclusively, and intended to
put an end to their existence by an an act Of the
Federal authority-a measure which but few
years before, he had denounced in the strongest
TERMS as an "odious and unconstitutional invasion
of the rights Of the States" (See his Speech in
the Senate of the United States, on proposition
of Mr., Branch, of North Carolina, on the 9Th of
February, 1887, Sd. Uol. Register Con. Dep,
p. 1861
Upon all these sub jects, the Conservatives have
differed, and still differ with the President, as we'll
as upon his Subtreasury scheme. These Differ
ences have been manifested by them on various
occasions, and in variety of forms-speeches,
votes, and discussions Of popular assemblies In
regard to myself, have omitted no proper occa.
sion, in both written and oral addresses to my
lelIow-ctzens, to proclaim them and yet have
seen with infinite surprise, that some persons re.
Gently, to cover their own change Of position,
have alleged that it had been heretofore under.
stood that | differed with the administration on
but single question, that Of the Sub.treasur
This allegation, too is made in the face of the no.
torious fact that have been denounced by the
administration press from one extremity Of the
country to the other, for daring in the conscien.
tious discharge of my public duty, to oppose and
expose divers other acts and measures of the Pre-
sdent and his party-his Illicit and dangerous
renewal of the connection with the Bank Of the
United States,-hi alarming and anti.republiCan
doctrine preached in his message to Congress at
the commencement Of last session Of Congress
with regard to the Discretionary employment OF
banks in general, as fiscal agents Of the Goaern.
ment, at his sole 1ciU and pleasure, without any
rule or limitation Of la'o,-and finally, the daring
attack made by his friends in the protentious doc
trlnes OF Mr.. Wallis report, on the vital princi-
| pie Of representative GOvernment-the freedom OF
elections. On this last occasion, characterized
the general policy Of the administration by what
seemed to me to be its leading features and de.
clared my conviction that on all the great ques
tons OF respect for the rights Of the States, Jim.
ltatIon OF Executive patronage-economy in the
public expense-thc independence Of the legisla.
tive department --acquleSsence in the decisions OF
the ma orty-and a sacred regard to the sight oil
election-Uhe memorable land marks Of rcpubli
canism laid Gown by Mr.. Jelferson)-it had wide
y departed from every principle held aud &C
knowIedged by true republicans. 1t is. moreover
well known, that at the last session OF Congress
| opposed, to the best Of my ability, another ia
vorite measure Of the administration, commonly
called the Graduation Bill, for virtually givine
away to certain favored States, that common
fund" Of the public lands, derived in great par
from the munifcence of Virginia, and in the ben
eft Of which she expressly reserved her equal
right to participate. How idle then, the sugges
ton recently invented, that either myself or the
Conservatives in general whese opinions anc
destiny it is alike my pride to share, have diff.
cred from the administration on but single cues
ton.
Let us now inquire whether the President has
changed his policy or practice on any Of these
highly important questions, on which we have dif
fered with him. Some Of his noisy partizan.
have claimed for him great credit for the lariSh
professions Of economy he makes in his late mes
sage to Congress. But what has been the prqc
tice. which we are much more interested in know
ing than the empty preceptS Of his administration
According to his own statement the public ex,
pendture during the year 1887, the first Of his
presidency, amounted to 'the sum Of thirty-three
millions Of dollars" during the year 1888, he
says this amount twas somewhat reduced" and
for the year 1889, he thinks that the public e1.
pendture "will not in all probability have ex.
ceeded twenty.Six millions of dollars. - But
this sum Of twenty-six millions Of dollars happens
to be Just the double of the public expenditure
under the administra:ionof John Q. Adams, which
most Of us thought was so numerous and unjus
lifable as to merit the displeasure and rebuke OIL
the people. What however, are we to think Of
the Presidents promise Of Continued reduction
of the public expense, when we find on the very
same page of his message the most earnest re
commentator by him to the favorable consider
alton of Congress, U plan of the Secretary o.
War for recruiting militia army of tlrO huHdred
thousand men, one.half to be in ''active service,
the other half to form PRESERVE" the term o.
service to be eight years; the troops to be armed
equipped and paid by the United States, accor.
ding to rate Of compensation 10 be fixed by law
but in other respects TO be under the regulation
of the War Department? The annual cost o
such force, according to any conception car
form Of the SeCretary's plan, under the outline;
he has given OF it, could not fail 10 add many
millions 10 the public burthens. | now SPEAK
only of the question Of expense but in other as
poets, this most extraordinary project emphatical
ly endorsed as it is by the President, for, in hi
message 10 Congress, he says Il cannot recon-
mend /! too strongly to your consideration" de
serves the most serious reflection Of every irienC
of the public liberty.
5 Is not militia force, as the Secretary choose
TO call it, or the one half of it. at least, which
I 10 be ''iG active seryce"-"recruited for eigh