The North-Carolina standard., 1845-11-12


terms in the constitution, has often been advered to-
But another fact, scarcely less important, has been
strangely neglected. That fact is, that the jour
nails OF the convention show clearly that such a
Epower was often asked for and often refused, IN
every form in which it could be presented
! There is potency in this recorded fact, second
only to the silence ofthe constitution, which ought
TO have long since ovcrthrown all the feeble am
plications so much relied on by The advocates oi
and mighty as this is should never have been eit
ITO mere implication at all. 1t should have stood
out in advance Of all Others and have been render
ed undoubtcd by its boldncss and conspicuty.
| IT was but a poor evasion Of the constitutional
objection to have located the bank in the District
of Columbia If Congress has the power OF ex-
elusive jurisdiction over that District It must De
for it, as we'll as IN it-local in It's Objects, ana
territorial in its action.
| To seize on a power granted for such Limited
and special purposes, and expand it over NIGH
ty continent, is shameless perveTsion-a traudu'
lent usurpation-Er more wicked than the bold
est Interpolation ofthat instrument could be- The
pretcnce so often relied on that bank was neces-
sary and propeT (and therefore constnntIonal) as
the fiscal agent of the government is fully expos,
cd by the fact that the bank never was charged
with the collection or disbursement Of the revenue
at ALL The most that could ever have been SAID
of It's fiscal agency would have been that it was
charged with the simple custody Of the funds du-
ring the brief period between their collection and
disbursement l repeat, therefore, what l have
before said in another place, that this alleged fis-
cal necessity is false prttence; for the expert
mcnt has now been made, and the fact tested, that
the government has, and can, collect, keep and
disburse its own revenues, without the aid OF any
bank wha!rvcr--an experiment which Washing
Ton adopted by signing the act of 1892, which
| Mr. Jefferson subsequently, recommended and de-
cared to be entirely practicable. "
But forbrar any further observations on the
subject of bank. l have referred to it>only for
the purpose of illustrating my opinions more fully
to the mode of constituting Of the constitutions
which am presently to swear tn 1t will faith
fully support. say nothing of the expcdiencY-
nothing ofis dangerous and corrnpting tendencies
nothing of that full and ample refuation, which
time and experience have given, TO the argument
that exchanges could not be regulated, nor sound
uniform currency be given to the country with
out such an institution All topics belong not 10
the OCCASION nor is their discussion necessary in
order to make known my opinions to my fellow
citizens of the State.
In relation 10 the tariff, have always mainta-
inrd that its rates were too high, its discrimina-
tions unjust, and that It ought to, be modified and
greatly reduced. The agricultural States have
suffered much already; and nothing but the warm
ly-cherishcd hope that it will be repealed or
greatly modified, has subdued the murmurs of the
consuming classes. ] am fully aware OF the ar
gnmrnts usually employed 10 prove that the peo-
pe so far from being injured, are really benefited
bv the high duties of the tariff; but know not
which most to condemn, the mpudence which
could fabricate, or the crednlty which could be
imposed upon by them. Strong as this language
may seem, nevertheless entertain no hostility to
the manufacturers ofthe United States. cherish
for the valuable and important ones the very
highest regard, and would cheerfully give to all
any advantages incidental to the collection Of our
national revenue. l look forward to the next
Congress of the United States to make such mod
i6calions and alterations in the present tariff as
will make the system impartial and honest That
dissatisfaction which is now fit with its provisions
in many qnaIters will then be suppressed, and
hose deep feelings of attachment, which are
cherished by nearly our whole population, in
1vnr Of the perpetuatiOn of our blessed Union, |
will then acquire renewed energy and strength. |
Passing now, gentlemen, from these subjects,
On which the Federal and State Governments
have heretofore conflictrd-and which lay too
directly in my way to be omi!ted-I desire to
submit few observations in relation TO our Stale |
government in particular. The condition of our
affairs at home challenges our most anxious at
ention Our Legislators have yet much work to
10 to enable the people to enjoy all the blessings
which wise use of our free institutions can GER
AMY secure. ne Preservation oil our public
:redit stands out amongst the foremoslTof all our
luties. Every liability, whether prudenlIy or
contracted, should be met with most
punctuaiy. In individual life, many
apologies may be urged for the want Of this vir-
ue which can find no parallel in the public en-.
yagements of great and prosperous Stale like
Jurs. To meet these liabilities with case, and
Without probable Inconvenience 10 the people,
hall, in some future communication to you invite
,our attention to the establishment of sinking
und adequate to tho liquidation of our outsand-
3g liabilities, at the respective periods when they
nay fall due. The bank of the State has hereto
orc been much relied on, by the profitable opera
ions of its concerns, to meet these liabilities.
However this may be. it cannot be amiss, in my
pinion, to bring 10 its aid all the other means {
hort of additional taxation, which the State may
ave at its disposal Amongst these none can
e more commendabIe than the most rigid econo- J
ny in the administration of the government of
he State. a a." =
Economy in your own expendilures-;n the +
an9th or duration of your session-in the cxecu- L
on of the necessary public printing-apd, in fact
J all the subjects of expenditures which arc i'm. I
lediately connected with your Legislative dclber-
tons. Economy, also, in the executive and i
ldlcia departments, carried to the utmost extent e
with the administration of justice and d
faithful execution of the laws of the land Il I;
'Ill be palt of my duty, under the Constitution. F
20 take care that the laws be faithfully executed ~
no l can assure yon that no portion of my duty il
NIL be more agreeablethan that which shall be {
o. Al