The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-08-27

The Public Lands and the Tariff. The
President is said 10 be consistent and the
majority inconsistent, and Mr.. G. says If
there is evidence of the least corruption in
in the Presidents conduct he should be
impeached. He adds:
'The President has either assumed
power which does not belong to his office,
or he has abused power which does be-
belong to il. l, has not been denied that
the power in question exists under the
Observation-Disclosures it has been proposed
10 abolish it by amendment. If it has
been abused, it was done either corruptly
and wantonly, or under an error of Execu.
tive judgment If there is evidence of the
corruption in The Presidents conduct, he
should be impeached. The power of i'm.
peachment has been con6ded TO the House
of Representatives. Ii is the duty therefore
of the majority who accuse the Presi-
den,,to arraign him under articles of
impeachment before the Senate, if they
believe him to be guilty of any impeach-
able offence. If he has neither assumed
power, ner abused it. corrupuy then The
issue dwindles TO a mere question of who is
| right as 10 measure of policy.
'If the Undersigned we're allowed by the
circumstances which compel him to omit
many considerations very proper 10 the
subject he would not despair, of showing
| that, independent of all the exlraneous pre-
judicers and political feelings which the ad-
voca,es of error on this occasion endeavor
10 bring in their aid, the mere opinion of
the Executive in this case is right, and the
mere opinion Of Congress is wrong
| He asks.
Can Congress excuse themselves for
refusing TO provide for the government, be-
cause the President did not approve either
of the forms in which at the extra session
they attempted TO charter bank of the
United States! Is the issue which has been
so solemnly proclaimed on this occasion,
10 embrace the long agiiated question OF
currency besides that OF revenue? Dotbe
majority mean to declare that they will
| permit no revenue to be collected, or in
other words. that the government shall
cease,uness two conditions aresubmitted TO;
first, the charter, of bank in some form, land
second, the distribution of the land fund.-
If this be the object. then these questions
should have been all connected with one
bill.
ut has been deemed prudent. however, 10
connect only two Of them. The question
of distributing the iland fund and raising
rsSsnue for the supper! Of government,
doubtful whether the majority of Congress
considered themselves bound - provide
revenue first for the States, or for the Unit.
ed States. Since they insisted on uniting
them in a second bill after former bill had
been vetoed on account Of their union, and
since 1t is now declared that Congress is
disgraced if il recedes SO far as to separate
the questions, and that the United States
government shall have no revenue unless
the land fund is distributed to the States
there can no longer be doubt of the deter
mina.lon in them to besow the ways apt
means of the Federal treasury on the State
treasures, or to starve the government o
the United States. The majority seem no
only resolved on this, but they are resolved
TO accomplish .heir object only in one par
ticular mode-and that is by legslating or
the two subjects in the same bill.
"Where then is the issue! Is il not whetl
er the power exercised by the President il
lawful power. Its existence is conceded
by the proposition 10 abolish it. II is no.
whether that power has been corruply a
bused. If this is believed The majority art
guilty OF culpable neglect OF duty in no
impeachng. 1t is no. whether the State,
shall have the land fund. Ii is not whethe
the United States shall have a revenue. -
But it is whether .his government shall hav,
revenue and the States shall have the lant
fund in particular form OF legislation, whic!
Congress have resolved at all hazards Il
perseVere in--a form of legislation resortet
to first to coerce the voles of Congress, ant
persisted in to coeroe the Executive by put
ting the treasury under duress."
elf" he says, towards the conclusion
"there has been disposition on the part
the Executive TO resist the action of Con
gress on certain subjects. there has certainly
beer corresponding disposition on III,
part OF Congress TO attack, and to repeat III,
attacks on the Executive. Congress hav.
appropriated the money required to carr,
on this government. They have au,horis
ed the debts which are contracted. The,
alone, under the Constitution, can furnish
means of meeting their own appropriations
Il is not in the power of the minority O
Congress to egisaie. All that the Execu
, tive can do is TO convene COngress shonlf