The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-19

Government was compelled TO reSort to loans and
Treasury notes TO defrsy its ordinary expenses
enact Bankrupt law--t0 vote gratuitics from the
Treasury to individuals well asthe States and to
mpcach their own President. The only measure Of
Executive reform which ! rccollect as meeting the
general approbaton0f the Wing party was the pro-
position to abolish the veto power from the Consttu-
ton, and this was urged as an ater-thOught because
that power used TO prevent the charter Of the
Bank, by one who like themselves, stood pledged to
the country against q Bank
Soon after the commencement of the extra session
select COMMITTEES was appointed, on my notion to
investigate the various departments Of the Goverp-
ment, Ia tquEe whether the expenditures Of Govern
ment could be reduced, the pstrQaage Of the Execu-
tive diminished, md to report adck Measures Of re-
form as our sxaninatops night yAggsst. After ma
king as thorough examination 81 the departments
at Washington and Of other hranchea Of the public
service as our other duties would permit it was re-
commended to abolish the franking privilege 10 reg
ate and reduce the mileage to reduce the expend-
lures, to abolish certain illegal usages and many use
less Offices in the Departments, to institute new
system for the examination and appointment of clerk,
and other officers in the Departments, to require a
more detailed and rigid statement Of expenditures
to institute more responsible system of accounts.
and to require the President to report the Senate
the reasons for every removal from Office &c &c
The journals and the events of the 9th Congress
will explain why these measures were never acted
on. Leading members Of the majority objected even
TO the printing OF an extra number Of the various re-
ports from the rerenchment committee. The events
Of the last ten years will explain why it was atemnt
ed by the Wing party to do those things which, as
party, they were pledged not to do, and to leave un
done the only things which, as party, they were
pledged to do. The national republican party was in
small minority in 1882, with MIR. Clay its cand-
date for President as 1t was in 1925 with Mr. Adams
Neither its leading measures nor its leading men
could receive the support of the democratic portion
Of the wing party, in 1896, or in l84O Mr. CLAY
who had been beaten in 1924 and in 1892, was not
proposed m 1885, and he was rejected in 1885, as the
wing candidate. The c!amor for executive reform
and for strict construction of the Constitution as to
the executive powers, was used to decoy the old re-
publcans into the support OF national republican or
federal men and measures. The power of associa-
ton IS very great, and we see how many of the old
republicans have been brought by degrees to acquesce
or to approve federal principles. But few very few
OF the democratic republican party who opposed the
removal Of the deposites could have been persuaded
in 1884 that in 1S43, they would have sustained he
wing measures OF the 9th Congress, or any candi-
date for the Presidency the1jssues now proclaimed
by the wing party. Yet many seem to have made up
their minds for such revolution. The bank was the
favore measure of the wing party after the election
OF l64O though that party up to that so sudi-
ously evaded it. 1t was calculated to hasten the ac
ton of Congress on this and other subjects by means
Of the extra session, and with charter for twenty
years. with the prcjudices resulting from the last Pre-
s'denal canvass, the patronage Of the government,
and other means which accident might supply pre-
mct2mOrD0OSlS
Wing party into national republican party by 1874
What is the position of parties now? If we test
them by their personal preferences as to the prcsi-
dental candidates, they will present again. as they
ad ~ le4o, confused mass of partalties and pre-
JUDGES, resulting from former party conflicts. the
spectacle Of men united and opposed promiscuously
without reference to their convictions as to the great
principles which must give practical effect to govern
men', OF prolonged and angry excitement without !
any adequate cause or distinct object, of violent
" her ic
lhng Tor the country. The experience of the last |
ree years ought to teach all men of all opinions that
Tins IS not desirable The people have more interest
IN the measures OF government than in the men who
agree that something should be settled by the next
election That the policy of the government should
be liked in some direction. Confidence can never be
permanently restored until the great issues now avow-
co before The country are dcte mined. What are
they NO one will pretend that the removal of the
dePostcs the protest or the expunge practical
party issues They never can be again unless another
national bank is chartered ! am aware of no per- |
manent measure of executive reform, except the
ABORTION Oh me Veto now proposed by the Wing
party. Certainly mono other proposed by that
party IN the last Congress- unless the proposition to
divorce the Executive patronage from the political
press while the legislative patronage under their own
control was permitted to remain, be- considered
sucn. The political issnes asevery candid mind will
perceive are now distinctly joined in reference TO
the revenue and the currency they will be affected
by the legislation OF Congress There are other oues
lions, some OF them important too, connected with
both the legislative and executive duties of the Go
vernment but they cannot now be regarded practi |
cay as party issues 1t my purpose at present
TO discuss any Of these questions of issues NV OBJ
lect is simply to state the positions of parties here To-
fore and now in reference what have been and are
practical issues. 1t would be as unreasonable how
ever, Tor man, who Is opposed TO q National Bank
or Protective Tariff, to vote for candidate or a
party avowing those measures as leading objects be-
cause he disapproved of the removal of the deposes
the protest. expnnge &C., as il would be for Chris
'ian 10 turn Mshomedan because he opposed the
sures OF the Pope which led TO the reformation.
The bank question arises now under very different
circumstances from those which existed when il was
formerly before the country. Our experience has
Taught US much, which, if we are wise will be re-
membered. While no one advocates the policy of
government issuing permanently its own paper either
TO loan to individuals TO receive it back as re-
venue 1T Is coDlendcd that government itself an
agent, has the power and is bound to create corpo-
rauon 10 become partner IN this corporation TO
permit individuals to issue their paper in the shane
OF promises to pay money that government shall re-
ceive this paper that these favored individuals shall
be permitted also to keep the revenue when collect
ed, to lend 1t to the people who paid it and TO lend
the credit OF the government besides their own II |
is commended moreover that government has authori-
ty and ought to exercise to raise money by taxa
lion for other purposes than to pay its debts and de-
fray its expenses Professions Of economy in p,blc
expenditure and Of relief to be afforded to individuals
by sw, have been too often made to be longer heed
ed. Parties will be judged, they should be- by
The tendency of the measures they advocate. and the
people can thus determine which will cost them least
The distribution of the proceeds of the public
lands, when there is no surplus in the trea-
sury, is like assumption of the State debts.
policy which can only be favored by those who
re gard taxation and public debt as blessings and
will resort to these or SIM ar measures merely as
prctexts for using the taxing power for individual or
local benefit The best guaranty for economy and
fidelity is furnished by those who maintain that the
power of raising money is limited by the nature and
objects Of the federal government and that when
raised, it shall be applied public money only for
he purposes specified in the constitution. Taxation
md appropriation are certainly the most mportan,
powers employed by government, and they ought to
,e most narrowly watched by the people The
noneyed power (as it may be termed).or the power