The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-22
MIR. pAvls's REPORT.

reasoning elaborated 10 lmmoderale length by
Mr.. Davis against the Exchequer plan submit
ted by the Secretary of the Treasury. To trace
him through all his tortuosities Of augmentation
is duty, the performance Of which is at this
time rendered unnecessary by two causes
That plan, whatever may be its merits or de-
fects, has been modified in many parts by the
committeeman the bill reported by the commit
tee is the one which is TO be considered by the
House, and whose fate must be decided by the
vote of its members. Moreover, expositions
have been given already of the principal fea-
lures of the Secretary's plan, accompanied by
arguments drawn both from reason and autho'
rity in support of their constitutionallty and ex-
pediency For these reasons we shall not again
venture on the task of the review.
! But TO quote his own language, sour atten-
ton was stron ely arrested" by the first para
graph of his crtique, in which he denounces
the method proposed for appointing the commits
sioners. This is passage which we deem the
most worthy of note in the whole report. II
furnishes the country with the opinions held by
the honorable gentleman in relation to the gene
raj tendency and character OF that essential in
gredent in free and representative govern
ment,-the conflicts of political parties. We
will not do the precious moroccan the injustice
of merely giving its substance; we extract il at
full length. After a summary of the provisions
in the bill for appointing the Exchequer Board
and its agencies, he thus proceeds:
In this country, where all have equal and per-
feet right to take part in public affairs the mass OF
the People always have BEEN and will continue to
be- separated into antagonist political parties The
President for the time is generally the head of
of them and if, from accident or lnadvertence,
man who does not occupy such position should be
elevated to the Presidency he will desecrate his sta
ton by bestowing Office and emolument with view
to build up party for himself In the case, Exc
cutve appointments would be made to enlarge and
secure the continuance of personal power: in the
other that of party In both, qualifications, honesty
and fidelity to the country subordinate consde-
| rations, which would be generally overlooked for
partisan efficiency, and unrehectng, blind obedi-
ence to the mandates of party. 1t is reasonably
tam that, in filling this commission the President
would choose men, not for their experience and skill
in the management of great fiscal and monetary con-
Germs not for unbendng integrity, devotion to the
public veal, not for any peculiar fitness for the
place. but would be governed by, to him, the more
important considerations of personal and party adhe-
sion, of disposition to Justify Unfortunately the
course Of his administration, and of ability to contri-
butte to the augmentation of his clique and power
Adventures, ready to prefer place and emolu-
| ment to principle and the public veal, would be
| clothed with the most extensive and complicated
powers yet created by statutory authority and for
the proper fulflment of which, they would stand dis
qualified by all their previous studies pursuits habits
and associations. When protested politician
ever given the immediate control and management of
large and intricate money concerns, that bunders,
loss or defalcation did not ensuei All the inferior
officers are be made by the creatures of the Pres
dent who hold their official existence but by the
breath of his nostrs, and of approved feay to HIM
He and his confidential advisers would overlook and
direct these appointments and they would be made
upon the unsafe, the mschievous principles of party
tactics, The subordinate agents would affiliate well
with the commissioners of the " Excheqder Board -
but less intelligence and greater profgacy would in
dictate that they in the descending scale of trust
and authority 1t is true that in this scheme, there
is show of clothing the commissioners and inferior
officers with some seeming independence, by an emu
meration of the causes for which they may be re-
moved /; but slight examination will demonstrate
that this promise is altogether illusory.
| We have known men, in the heat Of argu-
ment, attempt the vindication Of principles
which, in the moment Of dispassionate reflection,
they would not dare to justify. We have known
men who, in the pride Of talent, would exhibit
their ingenuity in the defence Of the most sin
gular paradoxes. The history of party strife in
our own country furnishes US with the number
less examples of the injustice which rioleat po-
hhcal partisans will commit towards their OPP
ponents by attrbuting to them opinions and acts
of which they are guiltless but the wise, mode
rate and upright, never approve such mode of
warfare.
| But, the language employed by Mr. Davis,
and which we have quoted above, is not 'suscep-
tible Of any palliaton. 1t is taken from state
paper, apparently with great caution, and may,
therefore, be supposed to contain such opinions
as have been carefully and deliberately formed.
| In its composition it is 10 be presumed that he
was agitated by none of the emotions which are
excited by verbal discussions We cannot sup
pose that he intended an insult to the Represen-
tatves of the people, by amusing them on such
an occasion, by advancing doctrines which he
deemed unsound, for the mere purpose of prov
ing his superior logical acuteness. He does not
assail, in the language of partisan acrimony,
those who stand in the opposite ranks; but he
deliberately denounces all parties, and breaches
boldly the moral imposslbility of purity in the
administration of an elective government. The
worst pander of despotic power, the most impla-
cable foe TO Republican institutions, could not
have concocted expressions more definite to
convey his ideas Of the corruptions and evils of
repubcanism, than we here read in report
presented to the Representatives Of free peo-
pie and solemnlv publishing the deliberate con
vctons of one of those Representatives. Let
it be carefully examined-not that the charge
Of obeying corrupt influences in the discharge Of
! his official functions is not individualiZed-
Pre- sident nor any one man. He declares cor
ruption TO be an inseparable part Of the system