Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-07-19

ment 10 prone to absorb all power W itsoh' Nhue
grown M as one vast over,owerng fabric in the
tndst of the Republic, while the States stand
round about it like so many out-otiices and depen-
denotes. hidden in its shadow. Look at the state
and habits of the public mind in relation TO it,
Time was when the States of this Coniederacy
stood up side by side on platform of equality
and independence, and this Federal Government
feIt itself 70 Ire mere emenation OF their viii
but now II moves on with giant strides to empire
and the States shrink abashed from tho assertion
and the exercise Of their high power, until, II
things proceed MS they have been going for some
years past, those State authorities will eventually
be swallowed up in the vortex and melstrom OF
Federal power.
Look al the Executive Department, especially
rs IL was in possession Of the party just gone out
of power; see the mighty amount of force 1t
welded for veal or for wo behold the almost
omnipotence of the Executive hand, and the Peo-
pie bending and knuckling before it! l mean no
disrespect to the existing President far from 1t
but yet l say, look at the mighty power that can
yet he welded by one in his high place. And mere
4 cannotbut mention ono fact TINT illustrates INC
real state of things | went tho other DAY 10 ONE
OF the Departments and was told tliat tnere were
fifteen hundred applications upon file Tor places
within the gift of that Department alone. was
struck with amazoment at the proclivity oil the
public mind TO generalization, and ut the total n
mount of power and patronage which the Exec
utve could WELD and bring TO bear in what di-
SON? He was made by the Constitution mere
administrator of the laws to carry into effect the
acts of the two uouscs Of the Legislature; but
now he is looked up TO the great administrator
of public bounty Congress, whose voice WIS
once potential throughout the length aud breadth
of the land-Congress itself iIns caught the con-
tngon. How many of lis members, forgetting
the dignity of their station, have bowed dowE to
worship before the Executive shrine.
And, then, there are your heads OF Depar ments,
men designed by the Constitution as mere clerks
ofihe Exccuve--as subordinate menia officers:
20 TO their reception rooms, and sec the ycile
ration with which they are approached by nm enger
crowd of obsequious applicants rs If tIoy were
so many little monarchs. Each has his daily lc-
wee, and is surrounded by bowling circle who
seek from his look their hopes of profit or prefer
ment. Yet these men were originally but so ma
ny clerks of Congress; mere orderly scrgcants TO
execute the laws; but now they have erected
themselves each on bis pedestal to receive the
alteration of a suppliant crowd, and to WELD over
them the sceptre of their destiny. Who nre they
The mere breath OF the nostrils of the President.
! would not have these things So But the con
strucron which has been put upon the Cnnstilu-
tim and the downward tendencies Of all Govern
menfs have co-operated TO bring il about There
they sit, each upon his throne each nursing his
own power, afraid to exercise their o licia powers
for the good Of the People, but to conform to The
will OF him who happens to fill the Executive
no personal aims or unkind feelings | wish 10
sustain the present Executive in all just and prop
er measures he shall recommend. Yet | am no
worsbipper of power.
Whit do we see No sooner is one Of these
Secretaries, or my other individual in The coun
try named publick!y one likely ono day 10 al.
tain the height of the Executive throne, and there
to WELD the sceptre oftlis vast amount of power,
and straightway he is worshipped idol
none darrs TO contradict him: all seek Ito nal,er
and to court him. Is il not so d? Do we not all
know it and see ii? speak of facts-as an A.
mericaD legislator should speuk-ns tho worshp-
per OF no man. and the slave OF no nan. ] ray
this General Government grasps at power MS urg-
cd by the natural proclvity of the human mind !;
II is nothing strange or wonderful it grows out
of the very nature Of Government. But take
my stand upon State gifts ground, and | say,
now is the time, the uuspicious time, TO re-estab-
lsh the rights and the influence of the States. |
would have the States to possess and manage their
own money, and to make their own works Of in
ternnl improvement, and not 10 come here like
suppliants and beg this Government, for the means
oil improving their own rivers and making their
own roads and canals. l would have The u
walls OF the public lands flow INTO The Golfers of
the States instead or the Treasury of Ibis Gov
eminent. ] would have this Government pared
down and stripped Of all TINT influence it derives
from its power over the public domain. 1t has
long been high game, and the has seemed
10 be who shall squandor the public resources the
fastest. II you pass this bill, you will place the
Western States as guardians 10 prevent this be
cause il will then be their interest that the
lands are properly husbauded because the dilnp.
idaion of the fund will he the loss of the States
Now, il is often their gain. 1t will make this Gov.
eminent mere agent for the States, and will
place the States uponstheir own resources. Will
not this be fair? Is il not Just aud equil able p
How often have heard the language reiterated
on this floor, "if you do not stop this business OF
internal improvements by tho General Govern
ment you will destroy the Union 1t is system
which does and must operate unequally. The
great States are powerful in the House through
their numerous delegations, md the rest stand no
chance in the scramble" now say TO gentlemen
here is fair way Of removing this Objection
here is a fair way to let the States divide their
own revenue: each State will get its own. Re-
Ject this bill, and you ut once unite all the States
who are DESTROYS of carrying on internal improve
ments within their own limits you band them
together in the strongest lies; seize the opporlli-
nifty; make fair distribution, and equalze H,e
operation OF your land system by parceiling out
the proceeds among all the States.
What will he the consequence if you defea
this bill? Suppose the argument to prevail before
this committee That there must be no increase oil
revenue and no loan TO poy the national debt, bu,
that we are TO have new batch of Treasury notes
are to absorb The of The States forn these
lands and try how much of foreign luxures we
can get into the country duty free--suppose this
and what do gentlemen suppose will be The con
sequence upon the People? The Stale Govern
nlents will be placed under the necessity ofresor
ting TO direct taxation-;he most onerous and op
pressive form in which the wants of Government
- can be demanded. The resources of the S,ute
viii oil be absorbed; the balance of trade will b,
against you; md when the bunks shall resum
specie payments, the very first importation will
take all your specie nut of the country.
but if you impose duty upon foreign iuxure
and divide the proceeds of The public domain
who is ii that will pay. the twenty-five millions q
revenue? Will il he the plain, Woodworking me
chanc? viii i, be the frugal, industrious, indie
pendent tiller of the soil ? A man that never SD,
bottle of champagne or mareschino in his hous
in all his days? No; the duty will be pal
a I.n fav xx,t