Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-03-16

pensaod for his services out of their pockets, become
the plant instrument OF Executive will.
There is no part OF the means placed ia the hands
of the Executive which might be used with greater Of
feet for unhalowed purposes than the control Of the
public press The maxim which our ancestors deriv-
ed irom the mother country that "the freedom OF tho
press Is the great bulwaTk OF civil and religions bet-
ty,' is OF the most precious lcgaces which they
have LEFT MS. We have learned, too from own as
well the experience of other countries that golden
shackes by whomsoeyer, OF 10y whatever pretence Inn
posed are fatal TO II the iron bonds of Despot-
ism. The presses IN the necessary employment OF
the Government should never be used ito clear the
guilty or TO varnIsh crimes, decent and manly
animation of the acts Of Government should be not on
y tolerated but encouraged.
Upon another occasion have given my opinion al
some length, upon the improperly OF Executive inter
ference IN the legislation Of Congress That the ari
Gle IN the constitution making II the duty Of the Pres
dent TO communicate information and authorizing him
TO recommend measures, not intended to make hin
the source OF legislation, and in particular that he
should never be looked to for schemes of finance Il
would be strange indeed, that the Constitution should
have strictly forbidden branch of the Legislature
from interfering IN the orignation OF such bills and
that II should be considered proper that altogethe
different department of the Government should be per
mitted to do Some of best political maxms
and opinions have been drawn from our parent Isle
There are others, however, which cannot be introduce
cd IN our system without singular incongrulty anc
the production of much mischief And this conceive
to be No matter in which Of the Houses of Par
Lament bill may originate, nor by whom introduced
minister, or member OF the opposition, 10y the ictior
OF law, or rather of Constitutional principle the Sove
reign is supposed TO have prepared it agreeably his
will, and then submitted it TO Parliament for their ad
vice and consent.
Now, the very reverse is the case here, not onl,
with regard 10 the principle but the forms prescribed
by the Constitution. The principle certainly assign,
to the only body constituted by the Constitution Che
legislative body0 the power to make laws, and The
forms even direct that the enac,menis should be pre-
scribcd TO them. The Senate, in relation revenue
bills, have the right to propose amendments and 81
has the Executive, by the power given him to
them TO the House of Representatives with his obec
uons 1t Is IN his power also, to propose amendments
IN the existing revenue laws suggested by his obser
yations upon their defective or injurious operation
But the delicate duty of devisng schemes of revenue
should be left where the Constitution has placed it
with the imdiate Representatives Of the people -
For similar reasons, the mode of keeping the public
treasure should be prescribed by them; and the far
Their removed il may be from the control of the Execu
tive, the more wholesome the arrangement, and the
more in accordance with Republican principle
Connected with this subject is the character of the
currency The idea of making it exclusively metallic
however well intended, appears to to be fraught
with more fatal consequences than any other scheme
having no relation 10 the personal rights of the citizen
than has ever been devised If any single scheme
could produce the effect of arresng, at once that mu-
tation OF condition by which thousands Of most in
dlgent fellow citizens, by their industry and enter
prise, raised their possession of wealth. that is
one. II there is measure better calculated than
another to produce that things so much depre-
Gated by all true Republicans by which the rich are
daily adding their hoards and the poor sinking deep
er INTO Penury, 1t is an exclusive metallic CURRENCY
Or If there is process by which the character of the
country for generosity and nobleness OF feeling may be
destroyed 10y the great increase and liberation of usury
II Is an exclusive metallic currency.
Among the other duties Of delicate character
which the President is called upon perform is the
supervision OF the Government of the United States
Those of them which destined to become members
OF our great political family compensated by their
rapid progress from infancy manhood, for the par
tial and temporary deprivation ofheir political rights
IL is IN this district only where American citizens are
to be found who under settled system of policy are
deprived OF many important privileges, without any
aspiring hope to the future. Their only consola-
uon, under circumstances Of such deprivation, is that
of the devoted exterior guards Of the campthat their
suierings secure tranquility and safety within. Are
there any of iher countrymen who would subject them
10 greater sacrIhces 10 any other humllilons than
those necessary to the security OF the object for which
they thus separated from their fellow citizens
Are their nights alone not To be guaranteed by the APP
phcatlon OF those great principles, upon which
constitutions founded We are told by the great
ost OF BRUSH orators and statesmen that the COM
rnencement Of the War of the Revolution, the most
stupid men IN England spoke Of "ther American sub
ecis Are there, indeed citizens of any Of our states
who have dreamed Of their subjects in the District Of
Columbian Such dreams can never be realized by
any agency ofmine.
The people Of the District ofCoumbia are not the
subjects Of the people Of the states but free American
citizens Being 10 the latter condition when the Con
siituton was formed, words used in that instru-
neut could have been intended 10 deprive them Of
hat character II there is any thing in the great
principles Of unalienable rights, 50 emphalically M
listed upon in our Declaration Of Independence, they
.Ould neither make nor the United States accept a
surrender Of their liberties, and become the Jecfs 10
hef words the slaves Of their former fellow citizens
{ this be true, and viii scarcely be denied by any
me who has idea Of his own rights as an A
percan citizen, the grant 20 Congress Of exclusive
fisdicOn in the District Of Columbia, be inter
reed, for respects the aggregate people Of the
United States as meaning nothing more than 10 allow
Congress the controlling power necessary 90 afford
free and safe exercise Of tie functions assigned 70
be General Government by the Constitution. In all 4
iher respects the legislation Of Congress should be
dapted 10 their peculiar position and wants, and be
omiornabe with iheT deliberate opinions oftheiI own
interests.
/ have spoken Of the necessity Of keeping the res
ecise departments Of the Government as well as all
ther authorities Of our country, within their sppT0pr-
&c orbits. THIS Is a matter II difficulty in some ca
rs, the powers which they respectively claim are
1t often defined by very distinct lines. MischieyOus
oweyeT, IA their tendencies, collisions Of this kind
fhDee which the |