Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-03-16

reserved powers Of The States would be
absorbed by those Of the Federal Govern
ment, and a Consolidated power establish
ed, leaving to The States the shadow,
only oftbat independent action for which
they had so zealously cOntende d, and on
the preservation of which they relied as
the last hope ofIiberly. Without deny ing
that the result to which they looked with
20 much apprehension is in the way of
being realized, it is obvious that they
did not clearly see the mode of its accom-
Dlishment. The General Government has
seized upon none of the reserved rights
of States. AS far as any open war
fare may have gone, the Slate authorities
have amply maintained their rights. To
casual observer, our system presents no
appearance of discord between the differ
ent members which compose it. Even
the addition o! many new ones has pro-
duced no jarring.
They move in their respective orbits
ia perfect harmony with the central head,
and with each other. But there is still an
under current at work, by which, it not
seasOnaby checked, the worst apprehen-
sons of our anti.federal patriots will be
realized; and not only will the State au,
lhoriles be oversha dowed by the great
increase OF power in the Executive De-
partmenl Of the General Government, but
the character of that government, if not
its designation, be essentially and radical
ly changed. This state of things has
been in part effected by ca1ses inherent in
the Constitution, and in part by the never
failing tendency Of political power to in,
crease itself By making the President
the sole distributor Of all the patronage Of
the government, the trainers Of the con-
stitution do not appear to have anticipated
at how short period it would become
formidable instrument TO control the free
operations of the state governments.
OF triAing importance at first, it had,
early in Mr. Jelferson's administration,
become so powerful as to create great
alarm in the mind of that patriot from the
potent influence it might exert in con.
trolling thefre edom Of the elective fran
chise. II such could have been the effects
Of its influence, how much greater must
be the danger at this time 4nadrnplcd in
amount, as it certainly is, and more com.
pIely under the control of the Executive
will Than their construction oftheir pow
ers allowsd, or the forbearing characters
or all tho early Presidents permitted them
to make. But it is not by the extent of
its patronage alone that the Executive De-
partment has become dangerous, but by
the use which it appears may be made of
the appointing power to bring under its
control the whole revenues of the country.
The Constitution has declared it TO be
the duty Of the President to sec that the
laws are faithfully executed, and it also
makes him the Commander-in. Chief of
the armies and navy Of the United States.
If the opinion Of the most approved wr.
ters upon that species Of mixed govern
mont, which in modern Europe is termed
monarchy, in contradsinction to despo.
tism, is correct, there was wanting no 9th
er addition TO the powers Of our chief ma
gistratU TO stamp monarchical character
on our government, but the-conLrol of the
public finances.
And TO mo it appears strange, indeed,
that any one should doubt that the entire
control which the President possesses
over the officers who have the custody of
the public money, by tie power Of remov-
al, with or without cause, does, for all mis-
chievous purposes at least, virtually sub
iect the treasure also TO his disposal. The
first Roman emperor, in his attempt TO
seize the sacred treasure, silenced the op-
position Of The officer to whose charge il
had been committed, by significant al
lusion to his sword. BY a selection cfpo-
litical instruments for the care Of the
public money, reference TO their commits
sions by President, would be quite as
effectual an argument as that of Cesar
TO the Roman Knight, am not insCnsi.
bio of the great difficulty that exists in
drawing proper plan for the public reve-
nues, aud ] know tho importance which
has been attached by men Of great
abilities and patriotism, to The divorce,
as it is called, of the Treasury from the
banking institutions. 1t is not the
divorce which is complained Of, but {
The unhallowed union Of the Treasury |
with the Executive Department, which 4
has created such extensive alarm. To t
this danger to our Republican institutions d
and that created by the influence given p
o the Executive, through the instrument r
llhy of the federal officers, ] propose TO f
apply all the remedies which may be at q
nv command. II was certainly great t
error in the trainers of the Constitution, t
not 10 have made the officer at the head a
Of the Treasury Department entirely in. p
dependent Ofthe Executive. He should Il
1t least have been removable only upon u
Ihe demand af the popular branch ofthe i.
Legislature. have determined never oI
% remove a Secretary Of the Treasury, tr
Vithout communicating all the circum- al