The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-07-08
W AS HI N G I O N.
MONDAY EVENING, JULY 8, 1874.
THE ZOLL-VEREIN TREATY-EXECU-
TIVE USURPATION.

THE ZOLL-VEREIN TREATY-EXECU-
TIVE USURPATION.
The Locofoco press, generally, in this quarter
including the MadisoniaD, have been making great
efforts to draw odium upon the Wings, because
the Senate thought fit, in the exercise of its ap-
propriate duty, to reject the commercial treaty
with the Zoll Verein, or German Customs Union
It has been thought objectionable that all legisa-
tive control over the foreign commerce of the
country has not been surrendered, without muir
muir, into the hands of the Executive. more
arrogant assumption Of authority was never made,
we will venture to assert, than this sweeping de-
mand of the present Executive. Could anything
be more inherently ridiculous? To think Of
Captain Tyler, President by accident, without
the confidence or support Of any body, claiming
to set aside the Senate and House of Represen-
tatiyes, and setting up HIS WILL, for the law of
the land! Had such demand been made by
Gen. Jackson, it would have walked spirit of
indignant opposition which his great popularity
could not have resisted the pernicous and cum
brous thrall of his military reputation would have
been shaken off, had he attempted such usurpa-
tion But the same danger threatened by Cap
tain Tyler, wears altogether different aspect.
People are rather disposed to laugh at his AFRO
gance, than to be reused to opposition.
The same spirit of usurpation was displayed in
reference to the Texas treaty, and being second
ed by the selfish purposes of some, and the trea-
sonable designs of others, this impotent Pres-
dent--impotent in himself for good or ill-had
nearly dragged the nation into war. We regard
Al V,nU of
system of Executive usurpation and arrogance,
first evnced in the vetoes and which attained it's
climax in the Texas treaty. 1t is the apsh am
bition of treading in the footsteps of Gen. Jack
son. That self-willed man boasted that he took |
" the responsibility" Every officer of the Gov
eminent, from the Secretary of State down, he
declared to be solely responsible to HIM, and
acting upon the monarchical maxim, he removed |
from Office one of the best men who ever held
office under him, (Mr Duane0 for refusing to
OBEY the President in the discharge OF his Off
cial duty-for refusing to surrender his own judg-
ment, and to become the tool of the President in
the prosecution of his reckless, unconstitutional
war upon the United States Bank. All this
weight of responsibility" Gen. Jackson's popu-
larity could bear. His bold, dashing, dare devil
way Of doing things, had its captivation for some
minds-hs minons applauded his reckless course,
and the cowardly, and the unthinking, acquiesced
but the manly, independent spirits of his party in
every part of the country, abandoned him, and
became his fierce opponents.
1t is in imitation of these daring strides of Ex-
ecutive usurpation, that John Tyler, the weak,
incompetent, and unfaithful accidental President
has presumed to declare war and to make treaties
for regulating commerce. He would never have
dared to infringe the Constitution, had he not
seen the footprints of General Jackson engraven
upon it's tablets, which it will require years of
patriotic administration to efface.
But to return to the Zoll Verein treaty. When
we adverted to the subject some days ago, we
were under the impression that the treaty con-
ficted with our existing treaties only SO far as
the doctrine of " the most favored nation applies
That is to say In most treaties between nations,
mutual agreement is entered into, that neither
of the "high contracting parties" will lay duties
or imposts upon the goods, wares and merchan-
disc of the other, higher than are imposed upon
the same articles of any other nation, or "the
most favored nation,' as the term is. Now, if
there be any meaning in language, such clause
would require us to give the same privileges to
all other nations which Mr.. Wheaton g treaty sur
renders to the German States-but with refer
ence to England, greatest customer" the
existing treaty of 1916 makes the concession in
still stronger language, so that no alternative
would be left u.s. but an unconditional surrender
of our whole revenue system, acithom an equipa-
lent in our intercourse with England. Here is |
the stipulation of the Convention of 1915 with |
Great Britain:
"No higher or other duties shall be imposed