Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-08-13

Government soon after the adoption of the
Couslilutiun-princi piles " hich had already
led to acts OF fearful usurpation, and threa.
tened speedily to destroy as well the ishls
of the States as the Liberties of the people.
1t was the Kentucky Resolutions, backed
by those of her patriotic parent State,
which changed the current of public opin-
ion and brought back the administration
of The Government TO the principles Of the
Revolution. For forty years the Democra-
cy of the Union have looked upon those
resolutions as the creed of their political
faith; political degeneracy has been mark
ed by departure from that standard: and
! like the original language Of the Biule in
matters of religion, they are the text bouk
Of every relorncr.
Nothing could more eilectually prove
the purity oflhe principles they announced
than the progress they have siuce made in
the minds of men. While even the name
oflhe proud and powerful party which
opposed them, has come TO be considered
term reproach' if not Of ignominy aud
insult, The principles Oflhe Kentucky rcso-
lutons, in profession if not in fact, now
enter into the creed of every political sect,
and The once derided name borne by their
apostles and advocates, is considered an
essential passport TO popularity aud sue
cess. Nay, more the people almost with
one voice have recently recognized and
consecrated The principles of those resolu
lions by an act as impressive and emphatic
tc E,r
Since your letter has been lying before me
waiting fora reply, il has become my
agreeable duty 10 confirm the fiat of the
na1ion settling for ever the unconstitution
ality of the sedition law of 1S93, by APP
proving an act for the relief Of the heirs
of Mathew Lyon, refunding to them fine
collected of their ancestor under the law
in question. Party prejudice, judicial au-
thority, dread ofthe precedent respect for
that which has assumed the form of law
for forty years, have successfully resisted
This acI of justice, but at length all are
swept away by that irresistible current OF
public opinion, and the sedition acl has
been irreversibIy decided to be uuconstitu-
tlonal hy a tribunal higher than The courts
OF Jus'ice-lhe sovereign people of the Uni
led States. The patriarchs of Kenruckv
aud Virginia, The men who in that dav.
midst obloqny and insult, volcd for or sus.
tanned The kentucky and Virginia resolu-
tons OF 1899. cannot but rejoice with a
joy unspcakable in witnessing the final
triumph of the pure principles 10 which
they then announced their allegiance
Ia RI b, 81; l,t
glory in seeing those principles recognized,
even at this late day by The acclamalious
OF nation, aud one of,he tyrannical acts
against which they protested virtually cx.
plunged from the records ofthe country
While to aged patriots it is a suhjccI of
consraulaion and jov, il teaches The young
that eliortS ofreform in the Government of
their country oushtnever to be considered
hopeless, as long as there is any thing to
improve. ard THAI, iflhe fathers do moi en-
joy the fruits of their exerlions in the cause
of Democratic principles, they are certain
10 fall in blessings upon the children.
am most happy to inform YOU gentle
men, that | have this day signed the bill
for tine establishment of an Independent
Treasury, measure Of which you speak
in decided commendaIion. BY this meas
ure, the management of an important
branch of our national concerns, after a
departure of nearly half a century, will he
brought back to the letter, as well as the
obvious spirit and intention Of the Cousti-
tuition. The system now superseded was
in fact, one nf those early measures devils
ed by the friends and advocates of privi-
legged orders for the purpose of pervertins
the government from its pure principles
and legitimate objects, veslipe all power
in the hands of few, and enabling them
TO profit al the expense Of The many.
need not inform you, gentlemen. that the
effect of deposting the public money in
banks, was to lend il to those institutions
generally without interest, 10 be used az
a part of their capital, and that they leul
it0ur upon interest TO their customers, there
by largely increasing The profits of the
Stockholders. Thus the few were enabled
10 enrich themselves by using the money
which belonged to the many. and the pub
lie funds were in fact drawn from the
Treasury, without an appropriation in
Congress. in clear violation of the spiri,
Of constitutional prohibition.
The manner in which this abuse crep,
into The government and fastened itself
upon the country with the acquiescence
of the whole people, is an impressive les
son. teaching the necessity of perpetual
vigilance and energy in selecting and re
sistins The first encroachuen,, however
seeming y lriflins upon the principles of
our government. From the deposire of
the public money in banks, il did moi he
cessarily follow rha, the banks should use
il. lis use was never until lately, and
then only to limited extent, directly au-
t'orised by an act Of The government.
But as The hanks were in the habit of using
deposites, they silently treated those of
The government like those of private citi-
zenS, and the government as silently ac-