Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-09-20
STRICT CONSTRUCTION, AGAIN.

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Every body knows the holy HORROR the righteous
rage with which the professors Of Abstraciionism,
the Ultra Republicans, the Progressive Democrats.
who subvert some old or find some new principle
in the Constitutions every little while, look upon the
old Federal latitudinarianism of deriving powers
from that instrument by implication. they are
shocked at the old idea of the Governments bor-
rowing any right from the phrase in the preamble
to the Constitution which speaks Of its g providing
for the common defence aud promoting the general
welfare !" in which and in some other like instan-
ces Of loose interpretation practised by various par
ties among us, the Abstractonists were perfectly
right but thai they have continually proved by their
own facility Of much more daring interpretation,
that their objections were mere special cavis against
particular abuses by others that they themselves
were at least ready as any body TO commit like
assumptions and that however just in themselves,
the exceptions, as taken by them, were utterly in
sincere, mere pretence, under cover Of which
they hoped to get and to use the very power, for
using which they had blackened others. Ina word,
they have constantly shown themselves greater la-
tudinarians than the old e General Welfare men ;
far worse Federalists than the (" Black Cockade5
men; Disunionists, to whom those Of the Hartford
Convention were loyal Nufers, TO whom they
of South Carolina were las they themselves have
since baptised them) .shonest'' and conservative
Need we refer, for examples Of these strange
tuition, within the last few years, by the socallet,
Strict Constructionsts to more than few great
cases! We have seen a President Of the United
States assume; under the mere authority Of the
phrase which directs him to see that the laws be
faithfully executed, the right to say aohat laws are
constitutional; ,chich laws he will execute; and
we have seen the" Strict ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS sustain
that strange addition of high Judicial to the Ex
ecutive power. We have seen that officer, by his
\ d.. a..
removal Of the deposites, the claim control has
officer the head Of the Financial system Of the coun
try, and all his other measures for /" reforming al
his pleasure the money circulation, wrest from Con-
grcss large and controlling share of the legisla-
tive power, especially In the matter of revenue and
the fiscal operations and all this, again, we have
seen !" strict construction not only sanction but
hail. We have seen the same functionary crush
with his arbitrary Teto what laws he pleased, and
where he could not otherwise destroy them, openly
strangle them, by pocketing and keeping the bills
passed BY Congress; and " strict construction has
found nothing amiss in it. At this instant to pass
over many intermediate cases, the Executive has in
reality proclaimed and says that in certain con
tingency he will wage war, entirely Of his own;
orgination if it arises from our taking possession
Of the country beyond the Nueces. His organ says
So and his purpose thus announced remains uncons
radicted; so that the declaration has really become
has own. All this is done not only with an utter
omission to take any measure for consulting Con-
grcss but in direct contravenon Of the plain inten
tons of Congress as shown in the Joint Resolution
Of Annexation and so bent is strict construction
on backing this shocking usurpation, that if public
journal dares 10 exhibit the alarming fact of such
stretch Of power Strict Construction sets up its
din and blows all its rams horns against that Jour
nal, in peal to which that of Gideons trumpes at
Jericho was gentle and melodous.
MOI for its Importance, but for its beauty and by
way Of keeping up the historical series, of the acs
and precedents of strict consruchonism, we bring
before our readers, from the great repository of hy
per-strngent Interpretation (he Union the latest
instance OF the manner in which Absractionism can
forge powers for the Government out of nothing.
In its paper dated Saturday night, it has extract
from the Richmond JFhig, with the following com
mentary and authority:
- AxorHxn clacuLAa.-Sccretary Walker has issued
another circular, (bu this time in conformity of Con-
gress calling for information. BY the act referred To- tho
Secretary authorized employ three Of the
clerks collecting, arranging, and classifying such statistical
information may be Procured showing each year the
don Of the agriculture manufactures domestic trade,
ency, and hanks Of the several States and Territories II is
stated by the Union that the circular has been generally
circulated among the officers of the Federal Government,
well the Governors Of the respective States and Ter
rtorcs, the presidents Of colleges Sc-kchnond Wig
The Secretary had ample power the ofer circular
him the execution Of his duties We have already demon
sated this proposition the authorities have produced
But if the tariff Wings more have it hand, the
9th section Of
g An act 10 procide from imports, and 10 change
and mod criyfig Lrrs imposing duties imports, and
for other purposes, (passed August 30, 1912
ssScc. 81. And further enacfed That il shall be the
duty of the Secretary of the Treasury annually, ascertain
whether for the year ending the Goth day Of June
preceding the duty any article has exceeded thirty five per
cenum all vaoem the average wholesale market value Of
such articles in tho several ports Of the United States, for the
preceding year and so he shall report tabular statement
Of such articles and Of duty Congress, the
mepcement Of the next annun thereof with such Oh
serrnfions md recommendations he may deem necessary
for The Improvement IF The rere'ue.
1t is his duty report annually any subject which he
may deem necessary for the improvement Of The and
therefore he obtain the necessary information for that
purpose Union.
1.-THE words the law UNDERSIGNED above are so
emphasized BY the Government paper; and The last
paragraph is that papers special Interpretation OF
them into authority ito report on any subject
which he may deem necessary for the improvement
OF the revenue"
Here is beautiful afer-thought Of authority for
the Secretary sproceedings Congress directs him
to ascertain and report precise and limited fact
the single fact Of tcnl articles hare during the pre-
vious fiscal year, paid duty ercesding fhirfy,fre
per cent ON their price in our markets. II directs
no general inquiry, no other inquiry. OF course,
as 10 the special one, il was willing TO have, in his
report on the articles found to have paid high du-
ties. his sippestiou of tho tnofifed rate IN these