The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-04-07

lamely defended by such able champions
|aeThs samso gentlemen urge that'it is
necessarysto vesrthe powerof appr6.
priationsa In the CanaIs Fund Commits
sionsrs, , because, 'as the y say the Az
semblyn not being in session except in
the winter months, ;bfeaches might oc-
Ecurin the summer which would be- On.
provided for, and thos, az they supp pose,
the navigation would suffer intefr0p1
tion! . Nothing but the ardor and xsaI
'wi,hHwhicha this argument is urged,
could convince the committee of tie
gentIemen's : serioosness. How do 9th.
er states manage their expenditures
Have they a small conventicle to hold
the public purse, and openit in dnde-
sArved bounties and Iargesses 10 their
creatures and relainers? Have ocsher
States yielded up ihepower ofthe purse
to aclose conclave acting withoat prac-
Itical responsibility? if the peoples
Assembly were restored 10 its consti-
tutional functions, its first efforts would
no doubt be 30 directed as to bring Or
der out OF our financial chaos 1t would
introduce frugality and economy into
our public appropriations for all pur-
poses. Does any man doubt ths!-
Speak out, history Of the las, quarter OF
a century! Has no, our civillistunder
the immediate superintendence Of the
General Assembly, been the most mea-
gre and parsimonious that ever suffi
ced for the good government Of two
millions Of people' Have not the ex.
penditures directed by the inferior ca
bias, by whatever name designated,
been lavish and profigate TO the last
degree' But this is digression. The
experience of one year would soon in
struct the "A ssembly as to the probable
amounts necessary to be appropriated
for the next; andit would be an obsi-
ous expedient to granta small and mod
crate sum us a provision against con,
tingencies. Moreover the bill which is
committed to US, does not declare that
no work shall be done for the public
until il shall have been paid for II
only reaffirms and teammates the con-
stitution. which declares that no mon.
ey shall be dra wn from the treasury ex-
rept in consequence ofoappropriatioas
made by iaw.s@ Notwithstanding an the
care Of the peoples representatives, il
is probable that appropriations would.
Tor a few sessions, be too liberal, but
experience would soon correct the evil,
and the local knowledge. and even
the partizan propensities Of members
would be powerful checks upon abuses.
1t is in vain for gentlemen to bring to
our notice the turbulence Of popular as
ssmbies, their parlizan contentious,
their violent agitations, their inconve-
nient scruples, their unwelcome discus
sa ansand their stormy debates. These
things are the price which we have to
pay for liberty. Despotism is still
more costly. We may repose under
its shadow. but we may rest assured
lha. it is always accompanied by
reckless disregard Of our dearest. inter-
es,s. ll''The trappings of ID monarchy
would support u republic," said the
immortal Milton, and all experience
proves him correct. tai u 81 sei
The committee is animated bv no
10 our public works. Those
works are a fixed fact. mo man wishes
to undo them. whatever he may think
Of the wisdom which projected sons
Of ,hem. They ought:o beImadeg as
productive as possible, IN order hto re
lieee the .axpayerof part 0of his bur
dens. But thsinterests Of the 'taxpay-
ers demand that they should be put
under "a regimentot frugality and econ
omy as speedily as possible. u 'od 4
lsitis also urged, with the usual elo-
quence and ability of'gentlemen, THAT
when our public BITS were contracted,
this ONE MAN power of Itaxanon was
as the machinery by which
the interest, and finally the principal
was to be paid. Senators. therefore,
that these most odious and in
vidious institutions shhveIEbecome part
Of the contract with our creditors, par.
take Of it's saci edness, and are not to
be touched IA, ,If the General Assembly |
was con stiiutionalIy capable Of making
.his'important delegation Of the taxing
power, the discussion is at an end, for
they have unquestIonabIy done so.--
But IL their actisu unauthorized by that
sacred instrument. it requires aabold
man to contend that the Assembly
could repealythe constitution by con-
tract, could barter away the Peoples
charter ofiiberties by bargain and sale
Wealook outside Of The compact with
the public Hcreditors in Ordlefl,o defer.