The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-12-31

sed him from the obscurity and disgrace
into which he had fallen at home, had
obstructed all their measures; who, Sc
cure himselfin the enjoyment of luxuri-
Gus ease, with certain salary of $685.
600 year, which no change of condi-
ton in the public treasury could affect
as if in mockery Of the sufferings of all
around him, exulted over the nisortunes
of his coun.rymen, which if not brought
on by him, were at least continued and
aggravated by his own obstinate and
self-willed perverseness and miscon-
duct.
saw him setting at defiance the public
will, laughing to scorn the voice Of the
Representatives of the people, each new
difficulty and disaster seeming only to
add to his qualification. and to administer
to his depraved and vitiated ape,ite-l
saw him sacrificing all the great interests
Of the country, first repeating all existing
laws for the custody of 1he public money
and then Withholding his assent to any
other scheme that could be devised, al
though Congress had lent itself to his
will, and sent him bill that was shaped
to suit his peculiar views as expressed to
members of his own Cabinet, and TO dis
tinguished members of Congress, thus
virtually and substantially taking the pub
lie money into his own hands, saw him
follow this up, with threat TO the &C
counting officers of the Treasury Depart
ment, over whom he had no legal con-
troll, with dismissal from office, and to
find others that would do his bidding I'M
less they settled accounts of twenty. five
years standing, upon his order, which
they had rejected for want of legal au-
tEorily to pay; which threat had its desi
red effect, and by which thousands were
drawn from the public treasury saw
him breaking down the most wholesome
and beneficial measures that had been a.
dopted at the extra session of Congress
only because they were recognised as
Wing measures, which, as a protested
Wing at the time of their adoption, he
had himself recommended and helped to
build up.
Isaw him, in order to crafty his per-
sonal spleen, defeating the passage of a
Revenue bill, which was indispensable to
the maintenance and very existence of
Government, thereby leaving the country
without revenue, or the means of collect
ing it, and by consequence virtually Sus-
lending the government he has been cal
led upon to administer. ] saw him plac-
ing upon the records of the State Depart
ment, an invitation to disorder, and DISC
bcdience to law, which he was bound,
By his oath, to see faithfully executed.
| saw him in spirit of resentment and
perverseness, regardless of the public in
teres,, retaining men in office who had
been declared by the Senate of the United
States (whose advice and consent were
necessary to their continuance,) to be I'M
worthy and unfit, for months after they
had been rejected.
saw him, from the basest personal mo-
tivcs, pros'ituting the power of appoint
menl to and removal from Office, with an
utter disregard and indifference to the pub
lie interests. saw him dipping his hands
deep into the public treasury, TO compen-
safe officers of his own creation, whose
commissions had not been sanctioned by
Congress, and for whose services no APP
preparation had been made by law; in de-
tiance of that provision of the Constlu-
ton, which declares that mo money
shall be drawn from the treasury but in
consequence of appropriation made by
law" ! saw him reviving Offices tina, had
just been discontinued and abolished by
his immediate predecessor, the lamented
Harrison, as useless and unnecessary, to
make room for the dependents of his own
family at the public expense. saw him
with u"blushing impudence. treating with
contempt the declared opinions Of Con-
gress. that there was no authority for the
collection of duties, until finally claiming
through his official organ to be special
agent in lie hands Of Dirine Providence
and 10 deriue his po,cers directly from the
'MosT HIGH saw him undertaking to
collect taxes from the people i'll the alb
sencc of all law to Justify it.
All this, and much more than this,
saw and knew; and as an honest man, with
the Constitution as my guide, and my
oath (and if the term had not been so
much abused } ! would say my conscience,
urging me on to the discharge of a high
and solemn duty, what was | to do, but
to demand his impeachment, or rather at
that stage of the session, to signify my
purpose to demand ii?
| was aware, as well of the importance
as of the novelty of the proceeding. Yet
my more matured and deliberate judgment
after wees of anxious reflection, satisfied
me that the case had arisen and time had
arrived, when the perpetuity of our free
institutions require the virtues of that
hitherto dormant provision of the Con-
stitution to be tested. Moreover, knew
it was no. the work of day or week to