Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-10-08

never departed from the administrations
What 1t could not accomplish by an attemp
r to bend the Bank of the United States to it
purposes, we believe it has sought, and nov
seeks, to effect by its project of the Sub
} Treasury. Webelieye, that i'm order to main
) tain the principles upon which the system o
the Sub-Treasury is founded, the friends o.
the administration have been led to espouse
opinions destructive of the internal commerce
OF the country, paralyZing to its whole in.
dustry, tending to sink its labor, both in price
and in character, to the degraded standard OF
the uniformed, the ignorant, the suffering
laborer of the worst parts of Europe. Led by
the same necessity, orpusbing the same prin-
ciple still further, and with a kind of revolu-
tionary rapidity, we have seen the rights of
property not ONLY assaulted, but denied-the
boldest agrarian notions put forth-the pow
or oil transmission from father to son openly
denounccd-the right Of one to participate in
the earnings of another, to the rejection of
the natural claims of his own children, as
serted 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 merely
sinecures, but for the labor performed in the
attempt to give currency to these principles
and these opinions. We believe that the &C.
neral tone of the measures of the adminstra-
ton, the manner in which it coHfcrs favors,
It's apparent preference for partizans of ex-
treme opinions, and the readiness with which
1t bestows its confidence on the boldest and
most violent, and producing serious injuries
upon the political morals, and general senti-
ments of the country. We believe that to
this cause is fairly to be attributed the most
lamentable change which has taken place in
the temper, the sobriety, and the wisdom with
which the high public councils have been
hitherto conducted. We look with alarm to
the existing state of things, in this aspect;
and we would most earnestly, and with all
our hearts, as well for the honor of the coun-
try, as Tor its interests, beseech all good men
to unite with us In an attempt to bring back
the deliberate age of the Government, to re-
store to the collected bodies of the peoples
Representatives, that sef-respect, decorum,
and dignity, without which the business of
Legislation can make no regular progress, and
is always in danger either of accomplishing
nothing, or of reaching its ends by unjust and
violent means.
We believe the conduct of the administra-
ton respecting the public revenue to be high
W reprehensible. 1t has expended twenty
millions, previously accumulated, besides all
the aoer"in5 i~.~--.o, sii'.o IL oa'"o Into pow
er and there seems at this moment TO be no
doubt, but that it will leave to its successors
public debt of from FIVE to ten millions of
dollars. 1t has shrunk from its proper re-
sponsibilities.-With The immediate prospect
of an empty treasury, it has yetnot had man.
illness to recommend to Congress any ade-
quate provision. 1t has constantly spoken Of
the excess ofreceipts over expenditures, an
til this excess has finally manifested itself in
an absolute necessity for loans, and in pow
er conferred on the President, altogether new,
and in our judgment hostile to the whole spi-
rit of the Constitution, to meet the event OF
want of resources, by Withholding, out of
certain classes of appropriations made by Con-
gress, such as he chooses to think may be
best spared. 1t livesby shifts and contrivan-
ces, by shallow articles and delusive names,
by what is called facilities and the Sex
change of Treasury notes for specie;" while
in truth it has been fast contracting public
debt, in the midst of all its boasting, 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 case OF the
New Jersey election. This is not a local but
general, question. In the Union of the
States, on whatever link the blow ofinjustice
or usurpation falls, it is felt, and ought to be
felt through the whole chain. The cause Of
New Jersey is the cause Of every state, and
every State is thereby bound to vindicate it.
of return, signed by the chief magistrate of
the State, according to the provisions of law,
entities those who produce it to be sworn In
as members of Congress, to vote IN the or
ganization Oft the House, and to hold their
seats until their rights he disturbed by regu-
lar petition and proof, is proposition OF con-
sttutonal law, of such universal extent, and
universal acknowledgment, that 1t cannot be
strengthened by argument, or by analogy
There is nothing clearer, and nothing better
settled. No Legislative body could ever be
organized without the adoption of this prln-
cplc. Yet, in the case of the New Jersey
members, it was entirely disregarded. And
it is of awful portent that on such aquestion.
a question in Its nature strictly judicial, the
dominant of party should lead men thus fla
gravity to violate first principles. Its the first
step that costs. After this open disregard
of the elementary rules of law and justice, il
would create no surprise, that pending the la
bors of Committee especially appointed tc
ascertain who were duly elected, a set of mer
calling themselves Representatives of the
people of New Jersey, who had no certificates
from the Chief Magistrate of the State, or &C
cording to the laws of the State, were voted
into their seats, under silence imposed by thu
previous question, and afterwards gave thei
votes for the passage of the Sub-IreasuTy
law. We cali most solemnly upon all who
with us, believe that these proceedings allk'
invade the rights of the States, and dlshono
the cause Of popular government and free III
stitutions, to supply an efficient and dccislv
, remedy, by the unsParing application OF tn
; elective franchise.
We protest against the plan Of the Admin
5 istration respecting the training and disclpIin
] ing of the militia. The President now ad
q. nj rIl