The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1841-03-13

Ie constitution has ueciaieu IL 10 be the
duty Of the President 10 see that the laws
ale executed, and it makes him the Com
mandef-in-Chiefo 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 modern Eu.
rope, is termed monarchy, in contradistiuc-
lion TO dcspotisns,s correct, there was want.
ing no other addition TO the powers of our
Chief Magistrate 10 stamp monarchical
character on our Government, but the con-
troll of the public finances. And to me il
appears strange, indeed, that any one should
1oub, that the entire control which the
President possesses over the officers who
lsave the custody Of the public money, by
The power OF renewal with or without cause
does, Tor all fnschievous purposes at least,
virtually subject the treasure also 10 his dis
posai The first Roman Emperor, in his
attempt 10 seize the sacred treasure, ,silenced
the opposition of the officer TO whose charge
1T had been committed, bya significant al.
iusIon to his sword. By selection of M =
li.ical instruments for the care of the publ
money, reference to their commissions tv
a President, would be quite as effectual cil
argument as that of Caesar to the Roman
knight. atm not insensible of the great
difficulty that exists in devising proper
p!an Tor the safe keeping and disbursement,
OF the public revenues, and know the i'm
portance 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 unhalowed
1union Of the Treasury with the Executive
Department which has created such extern
sive alarm. To this danger to our Republi-
can institutions, and that created by The in
fuence given to the Executive through the
instrumentality of the Federal officers, |
propose to apply all the remedies which
may be at my command. II was certainly
"a great error in the trainers Of the Constilu-
tion, ,aot 10 have made the officer at the head
of the Treasury Department entirely inde-
pendent OF the Executive. He should at
least have been removable only upon the
demand Of the popular branch of the Legis-
atare. have determined never 10 remove
b Secretary OF the Treasury without COM
Emunicating all the circumstances attending
such removal to both Houses of Congress.
rhe influence Of the Executive in CONTROL.
ing the freedom Of the elective franchise
Through the medium of the public officers
pan be effectually checked by renewing the
prohibition published by Mr.. Jefferson, for
bidding there interference in elections fur
ther than giving their own votes; and their
pwn independence secured by an assurance
bf perfect immunity, in exercising this sa-
cred privilege OF freemen under the dictates
cf their own unbiased judgments. Never
ple, compensated for his services out Of their
pockets. become the plant instrument OF
Executive will.
There is no part Of the means placed
in the hands Of the Executive which
might be used with greater effect, for
unhallowed purposes. than the control
of the public press. The maxim which
our ancestors derived from the moth
er country, that ''the freedom of the
press is the great bulwark of civil and
religious liberty" is one of the most
precious legacies which they have left
US. We have learned, too, from our
swn as we'll as the experience of other
countries, that golden shack!es, by
whomsoevera aar by whatever pretence
imposed, are as fatal to it as the iron
bonds of despotism. The presses in
he necessary employ yment Of the Gov
Prnment should never be used sto
clear the guilty, or to varnish crimes"
A decent and manly examination of
he acts Of the Government should be
rot only tolerated but encouraged.
Upon another occasion have CIV
n my opinion, at some length, upon
he impropriety Of Excessive inter-
irence in the legislation of Congress.
Fhat the article in the Constitution
making it the duty of the President TO
Communicate Information, and authori-
ling him to recommend measures,
yas not intended 10 make him the
eurce of legislation, and in particular,
hat he should never be looked 10 for
chemes Of finance. 1t would be We
y strange, indeed, that the Constitu-
ion should have strictly forbldden one
branch ofthe Legislature from inter-
[ering in the origination of such bills,
ind that it should be considered prop
r that an altogether different depart
ncnt of the Government should be
,ermitted to do So Some of anr hest