The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-06

at later period obtained, for distributing the pro-
ceeds of the sales Of the public lands among the States
Other expeGiens devised to take money out OF the
treasury, and prevent lis coming IN from any other
source than the protective tariff The authors and sup
porers OF the system the advocates OF the largest
expenditures whether for necessary or useful purposes
not because the larger the expenditures the greater
was the pretex for high taxes In the form OF protective
duties.
These several measures sustained by popular names
and plausible Arguments, by which thousands were deu
ded The bank represented to be an indispensable ms
cal agent Tor the government was equaze exchanges
and TO regulate and furnish sound currency, always
and everywhere of uniform value. The protective tariff
was to give employment TO American labor" at advanced
prices was to protect "home industry" and furnish
steady market for the farmer Internal Improvements
10 bring trade into every neghborhood and enhance
the value OF every mans property. The distribution OF
the land money was TO enrich the States nish their pub
lie works. plant schools throughout their borders, and
ieve them from taxation But the fact that tor every dol
lar taken out OF the treasury for these objects much
larger transferred from the pockets OF the people
TO the favored classes, was carefully concealed as was
also the tendency if not the ultimate design OF the sys
tenn to build up arlstocracy OF wealth, 10 control the
masses oil society," and monopoze the political power oil
the country.
The several branches of this system were so Intimately
blended togethet that in their operation each sustained
and strengthened the others Their Joint operation was TO
add burdens of taxation and to encourage largely
increased and wasteu expenditure OF public money. 1t
was the interest OF the bank that the revenue collected
and the disbursements made by the government should be
large, BECAUSE being the depository OF the public money
the larger the amount the greater would be the bank
profits by its Ii was the interest OF the favored
classes who were enriched by the protective tariff to have
the rates of that protection as high possble for the
higher those rates. the greater would be their advantage
was the interest OF the people OF all those sections and
localities who expected to be benefited by expenditures
for internal improvements that the amount collected
should be as large possible TO the end that the sum
disbrrsed might also be the Target The States being tine
benefciaes in the distribution of the land money had an
interest in having the rates OF tax mnosed by the proec
tive tariff large enough TO yield sufficient revenue from
that source 10 meet the of the government
| wit Or them
that each OF the branches constituting the system had
interest in swelling the public expenditures
They had direct interest in maintaining the public
debt unpaid, and increasing its amount, because this
would produce annual increased drain upon the
treasury to the amount of the interest," and render aug
mentet taxes necessary The operation and necessary
effect of the whole system were, to encourage large aud
extravagant expenditures, and thereby TO increase the
public patronage, and maintain rich and splendid gov
eminent the expense OF taxed and impoverished peo
It is manifest that this scheme Of enlarged taxation
and expenditures had continued to prevail, must soon
have converted the government OF the Union, intended
by It's trainers to be PLAIN, cheap and supple confedera
ton of States, united together for common poec.ion
and charged With few specific duties relating chiefly TO
fore IN AFFAIRS into Consolidated empire, depying
the States of their reserved rights and the people OF theft
just power and control in the administration OF their gov
eminent In this the whole form and character
of the government would be changed not by an amend
of the constitution, but by resorng to an unwar-
rantable and unauthorized construction OF that lnstru-
ment.
The indirect mode of levying the taxes by duty
imports, prevents the Of the people from readily
perceving the amount they pay and has enabled the few
who thus enriched, and who seek to weld the pol
cal power of the country, to deceive and deude them
Were the taxes collected by direct levy upon the people,
is the case in the States, this could not occur
The whole system was resisted from It's inception by
many of ables statesmen SOME OF whom doubted ITS
constiuonality and its expediency, while others be-
leved 1t In all It's branches fagrant and dangerous
inracton OF the constitution.
! That national bank, protective tariff levied not to
raise the needed, but for protection merely IN
of sale of the public lands without the
warrant of the constitution, would upon the matfes con-
the involving such momentous consequences
authorized by grant of power in the cons-
say and proper for the execution Of the specific powers
granted by the constitution The authority under which
ha. been attempted Justify each of them is derived
fom nferences and constructions OF the constitution
which its letter and its whole object and design do not
warrant Is conceived that such immense powers
would have been left by the trainers OF the constitution to
mere nieences and doubtful constructions Had it been
intended confer them the federal government, it is
but reasonable to conclude that would have been done
by plain and uneq uivocal grants This was done J;
but the whole structure Of which the American SYSTEM
consisted, reared other better foundation than
forced implications and differences OF power which
thor assumed might be deduced by construction from the
constitution
Bat it urged that the national bank which
situated essential branch OF this combined system of
measures was not new measure, and that its consi'u
had been chartered l79l and had received the official
signature of President Washington. A few will show
the weight to which this precedent should be entitled
as bearing upon the question Of constitutonaiity.
Great of opinion upon the subject existed in
Congress- IL is well known that President Washington
terancd serious doubts boz to the consiiutona
and eXpedency OF the measure and while the bill
was before him for his official approval disapproval,
great these doubts that he required he opinion
in whiting" of the members of his cabne, aid him in
arriving decision His cabinet their opinion and
were divided upon The subiect-Ceneral Hamilton being
in favor Of, and Nh jefferson aud Mr.. Randolph being
opposed to the constiuonaty and expedency of the bank
well known. Also that President Washing on retained
the bill from Monday, the fourteenth when it was
sented to him. until Friday the twcnty.fth OF February
being the last moment permitted him Av the constitution
deliberate, when he finally yielded it his reluctant
SENT ana it his signature IL is certain that late
the twenty third of Februarybeing the ninth day after the
bill was presented to him-he had arrived al sasico
conclusions Tor that day he addressed note to
| General Hamilton in which he pforms him that ''ths
bill presented to me by the joint committee of Con
gess II O'Clock Monday, the fourteenth Instant and
he requested his opinion to what precise period by legal
Interpretation of the constitutions the President retain
in his possession before 1t becomes law by the lapse
days If the proper construction was, that the day
which the bill the President, and the day
ed inclusive then the time allowed him. within which il
would be competent for him ii TO the House
which il originated with his objections, would expire on
Thursday, the twenty fourth of February Gen Hamilton
the day returned answer, in which he states
81 1T oplalon that have ten days exclusive
OF that which the bill delivered TO you, and Sun
day will be in time" BY this construction, which the
President adopted he gained another day for deliberations
and until the twenty fifth OF February that he
signed the bill thus aiording conclusive proof that he had
great and almost insuperable difficulty Additional light
has been recently shed the serious doubts which he
had the subject, amounting at time conviction
that his duty Withhold his approval from the bin
This lound among the manuscript papers of Mr. Mad
so authorized be- purchased for the of the govern
by of the last session Congress, and
appears that President Washington, while ne held
the bank bill in his hands actually requested Mr. Madison,