The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-13
From The Philadelphia North America,
THE EXCHEQUER BILL.

This fiscal plan, conceived in spirit of mode
ration and enlightened concern, is in fair way to be
strangled in its birth It's not allowed time even for
true exhibition of its features, much less an inves-
CATION of its merits Why this hot haste Why this
impetuous act of immoation Why not let the in
tended victim have time to protest its innocence, or
at least to say its prayers Why send it of un-
housled to its last account; Is this the moderation
that becomes statesmen Is this the candor and JUS
tee which should attach To the responsibility of le-
glslation
No matter what may be the parentage of this bin;
or what preudices, just or otherwise may cloud the
authors of its being No matter if its inception lie
in the very essence of the Veto power it is to the
being itself that to look and not TO the ele-
men out of which springs Is the bill itself good
one are its provisions practicable will it promote
the substantial interests of the country these and
these alone are the questions legitlmately at issue
But when these grave questions are met III spirit of
intolerance, unenquring prejudice, and sweeping de-
nunciation, what are to expect but ruin ON the
one hand--a the trumphs of political insanity on
the other Were these exhibitions of anmosity con-
fined to the wranglers of bai-room the evils inflicted
would be less but in grave Senators, the moral in
urics stretch far and vide. They not only involve
forfeiture of our respect, but destruction Of that in
lluencc which belongs to the senatorial Office Nor
does the evil stop even here; law, emanating from
such sources, loses half its moral force hat Is
the legislation of blind passion, or political deprayity,
but mockery of reason and the human conscience.
in regard TO the EXcheaucr Bill IS premature and
flows from impulses dishonorabe to both parties, IT.
The legitimate opponents ann 10 make political capi-
tai out of it. and the Wings to retaliate the vetocs,
and between these two factions, the merits of the
bill and the wants of the country are forgotten. Why
not extend to this bill the courtesy extended to all
others Why not let it have the advantages OF a
timely reference 10 an appropriate committee why
keep it III its imperfect state on the arena OF the Sc
nate To be pierced by all the shafts that ambition or
hostility can find in It's quNer Is tins JUST is It ho-
norabe is it becoming statesmen No, II is MOI II
is the reverse of all this and they who do it, know
full well the character which the transaction bears
and hence they try 10 conceal il under show OF
alarm and under the senseless cry Of "purse and
sword"
We arc as strongly opposed TO an increase Of Exc
cutye power as any body reasonably can be, and we
have but little sympathy with yctocs But show Us
where this bill must necessarily augment the power
in question. The ExcheTuer, which IT proposes, may
be severed utterly in all lis prov visions and III MS en-
tire administration, from the interference oil the EAe-
culye II may be made To possess no powers, exer
csc no functions but those conferred and sanctioned
by our national legislature Even the appointment
OF the board of control may be brought within the