The Weekly register. (Ponola [sic] Panola, Miss.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-27

not the COtfStilullOl, Sllui1MDJ TIC IilSuo-
ure of power, and virtually making one
acknowledged wrong the pretext for
committing still more grieyous wrong.
But how, it may be asked, will the con-
stitution be violated in levying a tax to
pay debt, even though that debt was
contracted in violation OF the constitu-
ton? II has been assumed that the tax
ing power resides with the Legislature !,
and that they may exercise it for any
purpose within their discretion, not pos
lively prohibited by the constitution
This construction Of the powers Of the
Legislature is by far too comprehensive.
Under it the Legislative department may
lax al li5ifcm. No such authority, in
my opinion, was ever conferred. The
Legislature may rightfully tax the citl-
zen to defray the economical expenses
of the government, and TO pay the debts
Of the state, but il would be going far
beyond The authority delegated 10 them
TO levy taxes to pay the debts ofany one
or all the corporations within the state.
If the Union Bank Bonds constituted
debt against the state, then would it be
constitutional to tax the citizen to pay
them: but that these bonds do not consti-
tute such debt, will, | think, be made
sufficiently manifest by candid review
of their origin and ofthat clause Of the
constitution under which only they
could ISSUE"
He then goes into the threadbare his
tory of The bonds, and infers from it
that, the supplemental charter not hay
ing been approved by the people as pre-
scribcd by the constitution, the bonds is
sued are void; the reason being that in
the original charter, which was approx
ed by the people, the faith Of the state
was pledged as security, and that by the
supplement that pledge was changed
from the attitude OF security to that Of
principal, without the appreciation OF
the people of the state. Under all cir
cumstances he thinks the state bound 10
enforce the payment Of whatever the
Bank can pay, and then holds the state
absoIved morally and legally. The
whole smacks strongly of the judge, or
10 come nearer TO it, perhaps we should
say of the attorney. Can this be the
same Gen. Brown that now apologies
for deserving tariff, bank, gag law, and
all other dem. humbugs 10 attend TO this
household matter of ours, who when he
was a candidate, contended so Justify
that it was settled matter, which should
give way to Tariff, Bank, Van Buren,
& Co, and which il was improper then
TO discuss?
Bat, for the honor ofour state abroad,
weare pleased 10 see the governor diff
fering so far with the general as 10 deal
with tie subject to the exclusion Of 9th
ers. and cover the shame of his state
with as decent mantle as he can man
age to make fit her. Ye: there is little
prospect that his subtlety and ingenuity
will not be exposed and scathcd abroad.
Will not foreigners say--the faith Of
your state was pledged in the first in
stance according to the forms Of your
and the objection that that
pledge was altered By your supplement
act so as to affect the constitutionaIity Of
The bonds is sheer technicali' y-the PEG {
Pile of your state did in reality with as
much unanimity approve the supple
mental act as they did in form the origi-
act-if your speculation had been prof
table you would not have grumbled-
you did not grumbe in time, as you
might have done, 10 prevent payment
Of the last instalments--the fact that all
your own proceedings were not pre-
csely in form will OF eyculpate you in
the point Of honor--and if yoar petit
Jogging technicalities could let you off
as they would let off the endorser of
promissory mole, for want of due notice
of protest you still are not absolyed in
honor, for all classes of your citizens
have lain passive for years, permitting