Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-03-13

essentially and radically cnangcd. MS s'ate OF
things has been in part effected by inherent
in the Constitution, and in part by the ncver-fIilins
tendency Of political power TO increase itself BY
making the President the sole distributor Of all the
patronage of ,hc Government, the trainers Of the
Constitution do not appear 10 have anticipated at
how short period it would become formidable
instrumen 10 control the free operations of the
State governments. Ofhihing importance nt f:s',
il had ea,ly in Mr.. JelIerson's administration, be-
come so powerful to create great alarm in The
mind Of that patriot, from the potent influence it
might exert in controlling the freedom of the ,lcc-
tive french se lf such had been the effects Of its
influence, how much greater must the danger at
this tue be- quaduped in amount Us it certainly is
nd more completely under the control of the Exc
ouve will, than their construction Of their powers
allowed, The forbearng characters Of all the early
PRESIDENTS permitted them 10 make. But il is not
by the extent of its patronage alone, that the Exc.
cuive Department, has becom = Jans rous. iut BY
the use which ii appears may be made Of the ap-
pointing power, to bring under its control the who'll
revenues of the country. The Constitution has de-
cared it TO be the duty Of the President TO that
the laws arc executed, and it makes him the Com
mander>n- Chief of the Armies and Navy Of the
United States.
If the opinion Of the most approved writers upon
that species of mixed Government, which, in mod
ern Europe, is termed Monarchy, in contradistnc'
ton to Despotism, is correct, there was wanting no
other adion to the powers of our Chief Magistrate
10 stamp a monarchiIl character on our Govern
ment, but the control of the public finances. And
TO me it appears strange indeed, that any should
doubt that the entire control which the President
possesses over the officers who have the custody OF
the public money, by The power of removal with or
wi,hou, cause does, for all mischevous purposes at
least, virtually suhec, the treasure also TO disposal
The first Roman Emperor, in his attempt 10 seize
the sacred treasure silcnced the opposition Of the
officer 10 whose charge it had been committed, by
significant allusion 70 his sword. BY selection
of political instruments for the Of the puhl.c
| money! a reference 10 their commissions by Prrs
| dent, would be quite eiiecual an argument as
that of Cesar to the Roman Knight. am not in
sensible of the difficulty that exists in devisins a
proper plan for the safe keeping aud disbursement
! of the public revenues and know the importance
which has been attached by men of great abilities
and patriotism to the divorce, it is called of the
! Treasury from the banking institutions. 1t is not
The divorce that is implanted of, hut the unhaIw-
ed union of the Treasury with the Executive De.
partmcnt which has created such extensive alarm.
To this danger to our republ can institutions, and
that created Ivy the iaucnce given 10 the Executive
through the instrumenal,y OF the federal officers,
propose to apply all ,he remedies which may he a
my command. 1t was certainly a very gr, at eror
in the trainers of the Constitution. not TO have
made The officer at the head of the Treasury De-
partment entirely indepe, dent of the Executive -
He should al least have been removable oily upon
the demand of the p,ru.ar branch Of the Lesi,Ia
iure. am determined lever 10 remove Se;rc'
tary Of the Treasury without communicating all h,
circumstances attending such removal TO both ious
Of Congress. The influence of the Executive i,
controlling the freedom Of the elective franch.s
through the medium of the public officers Can b.
cfitotuuy checked by renewing The prohibition pub
lished by Mr.. Jefferson, forblddlng their intcrfrr
ence in elections further than giving their owl
) votes; and their own independence secured hy al
assurance Of peri,cI immunity, in exercising thi
sacred privilege of lIeemen under the dictates q
I their own unbiased judgements. Never, with IA
c consen, shall officer OF the People, compensat
for his services ont of their pockets, become the p
: al, instrument Of Executive will.
o There is no part of the means placed in the hand
S of the Executive which might he used with create
effect, for unhaIlowed purposes, than the control
d the public press. The maxim which our ancestor
If derived from the mother country that 1.-THE feeloI
II Of the press is the great buwark of civil and rel
:, sious liberty" is of the most precious legac
20 which they have left US. We have learned to-
Of from own well as the experience OF oihc
a. countries, that golden shackels, by whomsoever
ID by whatever pretenco imposed, as fatal TO it
lg the iron bond. of Despolism, The presses in Il
ie necessary employ mcnt OF the Government shlu
D. never he used "to clear The guilty, OF yana
of crimes" decent and manly examination of d
We acts of Government should be not only tolerated
ed encouraged.
C. nave spoken oil the necessity oi keeping 'he
sr- spectiye Departments of the Government, as well
on all other authorities of our country, within their
ey pIopriale orbits This is a matter of difficulty
ny some cases, as the powers which they respective
iut claim are often not defined by very distinct lines.
if Mischevou1 however, in their tendencies, as co
Of sons Of this kind may be- those which arise betws
10, the respective communities, which for rIain Il
by poses compose one nation, are much more SO;
na NO such nation can long eHist without the care