The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-13

out Of place TO make few explanatory observations.
As has been seen in our first number, the Specie
Circular issued in july 1886, and went at once
into regular operation. large majority ofthose who
understood this measure OF whatever party condemn
ed the policy; and very many thought and predicted,
that the President himsef( Secretary by direction
upon second thought would retsact il or if not that
the next ensuing Congress certainly would forthwith
repeal or counteract it, Congress met usual, and
tile Circular still remaining full force and virtue
al an early day bill originated in the Senate known
by the name of Rives' billy in effect everything
the Circular" and after having been deliberately de-
bated in the Senate, passed that body and the lower
house by very heavy majorities in each. This bill
having thus passed the two houses detained by the
President until the rising of Congress shortly after
and having thus lost all efficacy and hope, became as
much wastep paper in his pocket Might we no, say
that when bill (more especially very important
billy fully debated passes both Houses of Congress, by
heavy maorities twothirds for instance IN each, we
shall be led TO expect that President OF the United
States, more especially one calling himself emphati-
caly and on all occasions democratic" would not,
except for less plain than weighty, withhold
his assent But here we have case where such as
sent virtually withheld not because of any alleg-
ed objection TO the objects of the bill but simply be-
cause in the Presidents and Attorney Generals OPT
nion not explicit to preclude all possibility
of doubt in its construction And even this poor
plea when closely scanned, fails For although the
Attorney General (and Presidency term il in the out
set an obscurely penned bill" (see the Globe 9th
| March 1887 already referred toy Yet we after
wards, in the same paper find that when the
Attorney General himself attempt an analysis Of
| its provisions" the cloud of darkness which had
hitherto enyeloped il vanishes before him. and the
light breaks in with MONDAY splendor And if the
task were SO light him. why should it present an i'm
possibility to others But the President did some
thing more than merely exercise the veto power in
this case He simply detained the bill without degn-
ing to say the Peoples representatives one word in
explanation OF his course, but left them to think as
they pleased
| But to return il was while this obscurely penned
bill was pending in the Senate that the arguments and
views next to be examined were brought forward,
| Our main authority will be The Globe" of that
day.
As standing nearest the President in confidence and
party feeling may begin with the Senator from
Missouri Mr.. Benton That gentleman in speech
delivered in December, 1886, said This (act Of
1870 the law and nothing be palmer than the
right of selection which it gives the Secretary of the
Treasury. Four different media mentioned in
which the may be collected, and the Secretary
not the President is made the actor, the agent, and
the power by which the collection is to be effected
He is to do it in or another. He may choose
several ALL or two or All in the distinctive 1t
is clearly the right Of the Secretary by directions
l he 10 ba eith of
the four media mentioned" If we have been
prised the power claimed for the Secretary by the
Attorney General how greatly do find that surprise
increased by pcrusing the above extract embracing
words boldly uttered in speech in the o. s. Senate
and uttered by less parsonage than the acknow-
lodged leader of the Jackson party Here Mr. Editor
we are presented with fair specimen Of the manner
in which (when suits their purpose) the bold adyo-
Gates of power construe laws made mot for the
sport or pleasure of office hoders but for the convent
ence and good of the people According to the terms
land the spirit too) Of this speech the Secretary if he
pleased might have selected any more of these
denominations, and refused the rest He might for
instance have refused gold and silver, and have
ceived U. S. Bank paper, &c, or, rice rersa. The
whole business was in his hands and he might act
he pleasedl These sentiments, among other matters
will claim our notice in succeeding number. Our
more immediate attention will be turned to other
members of the Senate The subject is important and
Graves faithful examination.
BY reference to the debates of that winter 80
perceive that the Chem honorable Senator from
Connecticut Mr.. Nes) said that he was satisfied
that the treasury order could he justified, viewed
temporary only intended to remedy evils OF
great magnitude, arising from the extraordinary cir
cumstances connected with the sales of the public
lands 1t the duty of the Executive watch over
the public revenue and that it secure" So fai
perceive the Treasury order rather disparaged but
the honorable Senator forgetting his first position that
it could be justified only g a temporary measure,
&c, seeks afterwards justify it fully. Unlike the
Attorney General and Mr. Benton, he tauntly dis
claims all idea of deriving authority this act from
the act of 1916 ESQ often broughtto his notice in thai
debate and to the land law of 1920 for au
thority. As some others have also appealed to that
law for the same end we may claim little of the tim,
and attention of your readers to make this point
perfectly plain 1t is matter Of special Importance
do so for another reason it is, that the present Chic
Magistrate, in this instance, departing from " tn,
footsteps" SC, has apparently looked to this law o
1920 for authority to continue measure, which origi
mated with his predecessor, and which last circum
stance design to notice particularly in on
concluding number.
Upon looking at the land law of 1920, it will b.
to consist Of six sections The first section treat
of the manner of laying of the public lands TIL
second section merely in effect declares that Their
shall be credit, but that the purchasers shall maxi
complete payment" at the time Of sale. The thir,
section sets forth the price The fifth and sixth sec
tons relate merely the to the compensation to b.
To he