Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-14
80 A.. LOIII LIle NatonaI InteIioencaE

there were certain points so prominent in all ]
the discussions of the nine months preceding
the late election Of President, as to leave no
doubt upon any mind oftheir having been those
upon which the decision Of the People mainly
turned Among these, beyond question, was
the argument Of the necessity of a change Of
public measures, as the only means OF arrestinp
the General Government in its career along
the road to ruin.
As for our part in the canvass, it is just a
year ago this very day that we invited the seri-
Gus attention Of our readers to the actual con-
dltIon of our common country. We asked |
them TO cast their eyes over the continent, and |
behold in all directions the evidences of fatal
Encouragement of public affairs. We remind |
| ed them of our commerce dwindled to a mere
remnant; of our manufactures, lingering out an
improbable existence; of our internal improve
ments, abandoned, with the loss Of millions of
| dollars from their suspension in an unfinished
state: of our foreign and domestic credit pros
trate; of enterprise ,sticken down in despair
of labor wandering about in rags begging for
EMPLOYMENT: of the ruinous state OF our interior
exchanges; of the existence, in fine, of a ma
tional paralysis, the consequence of which was,
| 10 individuals, ruined fortunes and suffering,
and to the Government bankrupt Treasury.
! Nor, we then said, ha things yet reached their
worst, unless the people iaterpoSed; for the ten
dency ofthings was still downward. Such be,
inp the fruits of NAL administration still persIs-
/ ted in, SAID we, what thinking man but must be
satisfied of the necessity Of a change, of Admin
istration, with a view of change OF measnresl
/ Was It not known determination of the doml-
nant power in the Government to preserve IN
its injurious policyl Was there, Their, we asked
any other earthly mode Of bringing back the
country to It's former sound and happy condl-
ton than by effecting such reform in the ad-
ministration of the Government as would give
it a new direction!
This was the argument which, in the OPEN
ING of the campaign, we addressed to our rea-
ders in favor of the election OF Gen. Harrison
to the Presidency. We wanted a change of
measures, and therefore change of admins
tration, inorder, as we said, TO give the Gov.
eminent new direction. Bad as things were,
we added, they had not reached their worst.
Nor had they.-It was not TIL three months af-
ter this that Mr.. Van Buren, succeeded IN fas-
tening upon The country the Sub Treasury
Scheme, that odious measure, persisted IN
against the viii of the People for three years,
and the passage of violent expulsion of the
lawful Representatives OF one OF the States
from the legislative Hall.
II Tie ueC@Sc ~ lOi d NudA2S Vi HlEdSuAEn
was apparent then, is it less so now! Are the
circumstances of the country at all improved IN
the intervening time! Has not the progress OF
public affairs, on the contrarys under the infiu-
ence of unchanged and unchecked Locofoco le-
gislation been from bad to worse! Can any ore
deny that the existing state of things, as exhi-
bited IN the stagnation of every stream of com-
merce, and every branch of industry, has been
brought about by the action of the government
!. itself, and that il is only through the counter
action Of the government that any imp owe
/ ment IN the state of the country can be hoped
forl
1t is 10 Congress alone cooperating with the
Executive, that we can look for such legisa-
: ton as viii at least repel the incubus which
d Expresses the yitals and stagnate the fluids of
the body polite, fit do not also, as we trust it
will, reinyigorate its nerves, and restore in all
It's veins healthful circulation. Upon the
:. President we can implicitly RELY TO do every
J, thing in his power t1wards the Accomplishment
a of those important objects. Buthis agency III
the work of legislation is limited to the recon-
: mendation of measures to the consideration Of
J, Congress, and the appreciation or disapproba-
G tin of such measures as Congress may ma
g tute. Without the aid of Congress, the Pres.
= ident can do nothing but what is already pre-
scribed or permitted by the laws.
J 1t is to Congress, therefore, that we mus
c look for efficient action IN the reform which ha
been promised TO the people.
The question then obviously presents itsel
Shall the execution of the chief purpose fo
e which the People called the present EXECUTIVE
:; into power, and with an eve TO which the
: have elected and will elect their Representa-
J., tives in Congress be entered upon now,or sha
I ii be deferred for twelve months, the (shortes
II period within which any measure would proba
bly, be matured at the next regular annual ses
i sion y Shall the state of things, so much de
plored year ago as to have brought about
revolution in the mind of the People, be Above
) to continue for year to come, without an ei
: fort at least to changeit 4 Having effected
> change IN the administration, would the peopl
!, rest satisfied L the new administration did no
o at least attempt to effect change in thos
. measures which made the old one obnoxious
- Is there any good reason why the new Admin
, lstraton should wait an entire year before the
, attempt to relieve the country from its pros
:, trate and suffering condition, and the Govern
e ment itself from the embarrassment, inconven
: fence and distress occasioned by the measure
OF the Locofoco dynasty! Surely not. On tn
contrary, is there nor, the most urgent neces
q slty for commencing the work ofreliefwithou
: delay Would the people, we repeat, res
d satisfied with whole years delay Believin
. ourselves that they would rot the Extra Ses
sion has appeared to us, on that ground, indie
J pendently Of other considerations, to be mea
o sure necessary TO meet the public expectation
o But there are other grounds, not of expedl
ency, but of necessity, which require this earl
convention of Congress.
In the very outset, it has become quite appa
rent that the Sub-Treasury system is no
I merely useless protuberanee on the Treasu
d ~, but a positive impeachment to its proper ac
ton. Without entering to-day into particular
IN regard TO that system, it is sufficient to stat
that, under the restrictions of the law reuuil
: ing all public moneys to be placed in the vault
n ofthe Receivers General, the Treasury De
: partment is deprived of the facility ofconvert
ing into specie funds the Treasury note
). which it is authorized to issue, Ga miserabl
= expedent, but without alternative in the pres
: ent state ofthe Treasury because it canno
e stpulate to draw for proceeds of the sale {
them as they may be wanted for use, &c. 1
a word, apart from all other objections to tn
sub-Treasury scheme, the operations of tn
Treasury are so fet'ered by it that it is not pos
: sible to conduct the fiscal affairs Of the Gov
: eminent conveniently (and hardly rnnOfa hI.,