Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-09-23

: every oNe ttlk 10 pc cue 10 CFFlplGnFN
siye policy, whose scope should includl
J legeFy interes, 10 the natioa. Ii is tria
} Tor the bfne6, Of the country, and re-
mains to be altered or improved as this
public wants may hereafter be found IA
require. The importance, in the present
posture Of oar affairs, Of attending TO the
national offences, suggested the measures
of establishing Home Squadron, of re-.
pairing and arming the Foriications, OF
providing for the defence Of the lakes,
and Of bringing the nation at large into n
state Of readiness against hostile aggres-
sion--in regard TO which measures, ms
great unsnmity prevailed in Congress, we
may safely assure ourselves they will
meet the undivided appreciation Of our con-
s,ituents throughout the whole Union.
This rapid review, fellow-cilizens, will
exhibit what we have done. What we
have failed TO do remains to be told.
1t is with profound and poignant regret
that we find ourselves called upon to in.
woke your attention TO this point. Upon
the great and leading measure touching
/ this question, our anxious endeavors 10
respond TO the earnest prayer OF the ma
ton have been frustrated by an act as I'M
looked for as it is to be lamenttd. We
grieye TO say to you that, by the exercise
Of that power in the Constitution which
has ever been regarded with suspicion,
and often with odium, by the People--a
power which we had hoped was never 10
be exhibit, d, on this subject, by Wing
President we have been defeated in two
attempts to create Fiscal Agent, which
the wants Of the country had demonstrated
to us, in the most absolute form of proof,
to be eminently necessary and proper in
the present emergency. Twice have we,
with the utmost diligence and deiberntion,
matured plan for the collection, SAFE
keeping, and di5hursihg Of the public no.
neys, through the agency Of a corporation
adapted TO that end, and twice has il
been our fate to encounter the opposition
Of the President, through the application
of the veto power. The character Of that
veto in each case, the circumstances in
which it was administered, and the grounds
upon which il has met the decided disap-
probation of your friends in Congress, are
sufficiently apparent IN the public docu-
ments and the debates relating to it. This
subject has acquired a painful interest
with us, and will doubtless acquire il with
you, from the unhappy developments with
which 1t is accompanied. We are con.
strained TO say, that we find no ground to
justify US in the conviction that the veto of
the President has been interposcd on this
question solely upon conscientious and
well considered opinions Of constitutional
scruplc as TO his duty in the case present
ed. On the contrary, too many proofs
have been forced upon our observation to
leave us free from the apprehension tina,
the President has permitted himself TO be
beguled into an opinion that, by this ex-
hibilion Of his prerogative, he might be
able to divert the policy of his Admins
trstion into a channel which should lead
to new political combinations, and accom-.
plish results which must overthrow the
present divisions Of party in the country,
and finally produce "A state Of things which
those who elected him, at least, have never
contemplated. We have seen, from an
early period Of the session, that the Wing
! party did not enjoy the confidence of the
President. With modification we have
observed that his associations more sedu
lousy aimed at free communion with
those who have been busy to PROSTATE our
purposes, rather than those whose princi-
pies seemed to be most identified with the
! power by which he was elected. We
have reason to believe that he has per.
mitted himself TO be approached, counsel.
ed and Influenced BY those who have
manifested leas, in:rrt st in the success OF
( Wing measures. What were represent.
ed to be his opinions and designs have
been freely and even nsolenily put forth
in certain portions, and those not the most
reputable, of the public press, in manner
that ought to be deemed offensive 10 his
honor, as il certainly was to the feelings
Of those who were believed to be his
friends. la the earnest endeavor mani
tested by the members Of the Wing party
in Congress to ascertain specifically the
Presidents notions in reference to The de-
tails OF such bill relating to a Fiscal
Agent, as would be likely to meet his ap-
probation, the frequent changes Of his
opinion, and the singular want Of con.
SfoNtilN III HiS NiNNo, bNfC MS DCSR
friends, and rendered the hope of adjust
ment with him impossible.
Congress, early in the session called
upon the Secretary of the Treasury Tor
the plan Of Fiscal Agent: the result of
this call was bill which was reported IN
detail, with an argument IN its favor, and
il was, MS we had right 10 regard il, re-
ceved by all as the bill Of the President.
In fact, it was known to contain provis-
ions, in reference to the assent of the
States, which corresponded with the pri-
vate opinion of no member of the Cabinet.
This bill the President had even informed
more than one member Of the House he
would be willing to sign fpassed by Con-
gress yet il contained provision for local
diScounting, in regard to which, his veto
message afiirms his objections 10 be alto
gether insuperable. The President has sub
sequently declared that this was not his
measure, and that when he said he would
sign this bill he had not read il. The
plan Of an Exchange Bank, such as was
reported after the first veto, the President
is understood by more than one member
OF Congress to whom he expressed his
o.:.,u.- 49, ranardcd faunrs.a