The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-03-19

:
else, oil the collisions which have occur
red between them, or between the Whole
Government and those of the States, or
either of them. We could then compare
our actual condition, after fifty years trial
of our system, with what it was in the
commencement Of its operations, and as
certain whether the predictions of the pa
iriots who opposed It's adoption, or the
confident hopes of its advocates have been
best realized. The great dread of the
former seems to have been, that the re-
served powers Of the States would be alb
sorbed by those of the Federal Govern
ment, and consolidated power establish
ed, leaving the States the shadow, only,
OF that independent action for which they
had so zeaiously contended, and on the
preservation Of which they relied as the
last hope OF liberty. Without denying
shat the result TO which they looked with
so much apprehension, is in the way Of
being realized, it is obvious they did not
clearly sec tie mode OF its accomplish
ment. The General Government has
seized upon none of the reserved rights
of the States. As far as any open war
fare may have gone, the State authorities
have amply maintained their rights. TO
a casual observer, our system presents no
appearance of discord between the differ
ent members which compose it. Even
the addition OF many new ones has pro-
duced no Earring. They move in their
respective orbits in perfect harmony with
the central head, and with each other.
But there is still an undercurrent at work
| by which, if rot eayonably checked, the
worst apprehensions of our auti-federal
patriots will be realized and not only
Will the State authorities be overshadow-
ed by the great increase Of power in the
Executive Department of the General Co
vernment, but the character Of that Co
vernment, If not its designation, be essen
TALLY and radically changed. This state
OF ,hIngs has been effected in part by
causes inherent in the Constitution. and III
part by the never failing tendency Of pc.
liiical power to increase itself-By max
ing the President the sole distributor of
all the patronage of the Government, the
trainers Of the constitution do not appear
to have anticipated at how short a period
1t would become formidable instrument
TO control the free operations of the State
Governments. OF tri1ing importance at
first, 1t had, early in Mr.. Jeilerson's adj
min!siratlon, become so powerful as to
create great alarm in the mind of that pa
trlot, from the potent influence it might
exert in controlling the freedom Of the
elective franchise. II such could have
then been the effects of It's influence, how
much greater must be the danger at this
time, quadrupled i'll amount, as it certain
ly is, and more completely under the
control of the Executive will, than their
construction Of their powers allowed, or
the iorbearing characters Of all the ear
ly Presidents permitted them to make.
But il is otby the extent of its patron
age alone that the Executive Department
has become dangerous, but by the use
which IT appears may be made Of the APP
pointing power to bring under its control
the whole revenue of the country. The
Constitution has declared it to be the duty
OF tho President to see that the laws are
executed, and it makes him Commanders
ln-Chiei of the Armies and Navy Of the
United States If the opinion OF the
most approved writers upon this species
of mixed government, which in modern
Europe is termed Woaarchy, in contra
distinction TO DespoiiSm, is correct, there
was wanting no other addition TO the pow
crs of our Chief Magistrate, to stamp n
monarchical power ON our Government
but the contral of the public finances
And to me 1t appears strange indeed, that
any one should doubt, that the entire con-
troll which the President possesses over
The officers who have the custody of the
public money, by the power of removal,
with or without cause, for all mischievous
purposes at least, virtually subject the
treasure also to his disposal The first
Roman Emperor, in his attempt to seize
the sacred treasure, slenced the opposition
of the officer to whose charge it had been
committed, by a sgniiican, allusion to
his sword. BY selection of political IN
struments, for the care of the public
money, a reference to their commissions
by a President, would be quite as oiIectual
an argument as that Of Cesar to the Ro-
man Knight. ! am not insenslble of the
great difficulty that exists in drawing a
proper plan for the sale-keepinc and dis