The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-05-24


TO be the duty Of the Government 10 lul
nish q sound currency, Of uniform valu
throughout the Union, by means Of vel
regulated and closely guarded national il
sliiuIlon, which may, on the one hand, re
Ieve US from The evils Of an exclusive me
ialilc currency, and on the other, protect Il
from The mlschIeis Of fictitious, blonted
paper currency Of unequal value IN d (Iereu
sections created by multitude Of Ill man
aged, unsound local banks. We are, as
party, opposed TO such prollisale system
OF expenditure as the country witnessed
under Martin Van Bureaus administration
end Ia favor Of holding public officers Il
street accountability. Upon all these ques
lions of policy the Wings are united, will
very few exceptions. Bu, there o.o SON,
great cardinal principles which we chorist
with entire unanlmity, and which will al
Temp, briefly to unfold. The gentleman
/ declared that ours was the Federal party
Does he not know that James buchanan
the individual he eulogzos so highly, aud
who was but lately held up as candidate
Tor The Presidency in several States by hls
party, was an ultra Federaist, according 10
his own admission, until very lately =
Is no not aware that countless number oil
The members ef his party formerly belong,
ed 10 the old Federal ranks Perhaps he
may say that these individuals have chang.
ed their views, and this circumstance 10
mol q conclusive test. So be II, then
Bot ! will not take the declaration Of him
aud his party as alofdlng any evidence Of
then Democracy. No one in common life
would determine the principles Of a man
SIMPLY by his professions, bot he would look
TO his conduct as furnishing much surer
test. " hat were the principles Of the old
Federal party IN the year ls00l They
thought the Executive branch Of tho Gov.
eminent IN that day too weak, and endeayor.
ed 10 enlarge the powers Of tho President.
Ihis was supposed to be their cardinal prin.
cple, and they sought TO strengthen the
President and diminish the privileges Of
The people. Some OF tho means they used
TO effect this object were the sediton law,
The increase Of the army and navy, aud an
OF The expenditures of the Gov.
eminent, so as to increase the patronage
Of The President, and thus Indirectly add 10
his power, The Republicans of tina, day,
believing that the Government had already
power enough, resisted these measures,
Tho contest, therefore, rested on the
Same principles on which was based the
struggle between tho Wing and Tory par.
ties IN England. There the Tories have
eyer been found on the side Of tho Crown.
resisted, 10 convert the Govcrumcnt mrv =
despotism. But the Wings have ever
been tho champions Of popular rights, and
have necessarily leborcd TO keep within
proper bounds, and reduce il possible, the
mopaychica power w that coun
Try. Where, hen, Mr.. Speaker, does the
gentleman from Ohio stand Where is
his party, tried by this standard 7 The
immense expenditures Of Mr.. Van Buron's
Administration, lis corruptng patronage,
IT'S sub, Treasury, the army bill need not
mention them, for they viii start up Of
themselves before your mind. All those
are defended and sustained by our adverse
tles, because they tend 10 increase the
power of the Executive branch Of tho Gov
On this account, they are pleas
cd with the frequent exercise Of the veto
power, 10 contempt Of the will Of the people,
II the President, seeing that q bill viii DO
passed by a majority of two thirds in spite
Of his veto, should refuse to return II TO
Congress, aud thus prevent their passing II
into law, such an act Of tyranny IS APP
plnuded by them. II he should corrupUy
refuse 10 carry into execution law alrea.
dy made, he is defended and greatly oulo-
= I'D. They desire to see President eli
glblc q second time TO office. When,
therefore, he is once IN power, if he be u
selfish and unprinclpled man, instead OF dis
his official duties, his whole atten.
election. Having the appointment Of moro
than fifty thousand officers, he selects his
lrends for Office, aud threatens with re.
moval all who do not oleciIoneer for him.
This system was brought into the admln's'
tratIon Of the Federal Government by Mr..
Van Buren,, when he became Secretary Of
State. Ec and his friends justify II by
saying, that the Offices of the country are
spoils, which belong 10 the victor parity
The tendency of this system is TO convert
tho office holders of the country into mer-
cenary army Of eloctoncerers, commanded
by the President, So sensible was Mr..
Jefferson of the mischief likely TO result
from this condition of things, tina, no pub.
hshed circular letter lorbiddng the off.
GERS of Government, on pain Of dismissal
from Office, to interfere, except by simply
voting, IN any manner in tho elections
General Harrison did the same thing, as
soon as he came into the Presidential chair.
But Mr.. Van Buren, not only requires them
to take part in his favor, but, as the reports
of the investigating committees OF this
House prove, they were compelled, by
threat of dismissal from Office, TO pay, IN
proportion to the salary Of each, tax 10
raise a fund for eectioneerng purposes
Tho adoption of this system accounts for
the large number of delaulters in Mr.. Van
Buren's time. Officers we're not selected
because they we're "honest aud capable"
as MIR. Jefferson advised, but because they
had rendered the party service. Hence,
after /, was known that they were taking
money from the public Treasury, as the