The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-06-19
The Observation-Disclosures


When President Taylor took upon himself
the discharge Of the Executive duties, he took
at the same time solemn oath calling his God
to witness that he would protect, defend and
pre- serve the constitution.
That instrument proclaims that no money
shall be drawn from the treasury, but in con-
sequence of appropriations made by law yet
yet in the face of this declaration-in defiance
ofthis wise prohibition, and in violation Of his
solemn oath, Zachary Taylor has permitted
the public treasury to be entered and pillaged
with impunity. Worse than this, he has per-
mitted this fragrant outrage to be perpetrated by
his own chosen council, two of whom ut least
were known to be pccuniarily interested in the
peculaton.
And what excuse, what palliative circumstan-
ces have been offered in extenuation of his gross
neglect of duty. No other than that he was ig-
norant Of the whole transaction. And shall ig-
norance be made protective shield for Execu-
tive culpability? Such is not the law, even if
it be the fact fit is really true that the Presi-
dent was ignorant of the nature of the claims
now known as the Galphin-ifi it be really true
that he was ignorant of the provisions of the
constitution which he has sworn to preserve,
does it not follow that he was unfit for the high
duties of defending the chart of our rights and
liberties? does it not follow that he is now inca
pable of dischargng the same important trust !?
Ifhe does not know what the constitution is,
how can he preserve, protect and defend it p
And if he does not protect and defend it, does it
not follow that he is blindy ignorant Of its pro-
visions, or culpably criminal in allowing it to be
stion his friends choose to have him occupy, he
stands before the people of his country, as an un
worthy and faithless, an ignorant and impo
tent public servant. 1.-The be either, he is not
fit, nor should he ever have been chosen for his
present occupation.
The public treasury is the sustenancc Of the
government and its proper and prudent admin
istration is one of the evidences of good states
manshp. Apart from the prohibition in the
constitution, the treasures of the nation should
be watched by the never-sleeping eye of vigil
ance and protected by the strong arm of power.
In the administration of the fiscal affairs of
Zachary Taylor's Government, vigilance has
slept and power has become impotent and nerve
less nay, the watchers have become plumber
ers, and the armed sentinels have protected them
in their guilt.
ssNo money shall be drawn from the treasury,
but in consequence of appropriations made by
law says the constitution. 1t shall be drawn
upon my opinion, says the Attorney General
And 10. with the constitution in one scale, and
the opinion of a man who has sworn to preserve
that constitution in the other, the question is de-
cided-the treasury is opencd-its contents shov-
ellcd out like dross into the Golfers of another
high officer of the Government, 'swithout an ap-
preparation made by law"
And can these things be tolerated, or will they
be allowed to cxist-will they be allowed to con-
tinue-will they be passed by unnoticed? Alas
such is the blndness-such is the influence Of
parry, that we fear they will.
If we may judge the present and future, by the
past history of the world, we fear that the acts
of the present administration will not only be
sustained but defended. Such is the spirit of
party, that the actions of it's chiefs, no matter
how they may conflict with law, reason and right,
will be extolled as above all we'll defined and
long established principles. Here are two plain
one of them affirmed by the consti-
tution the other by the Attorney General, con-
ficting most cvidently -contradicting each 9TH
err most palpably; and yet the opinion of the
man weighs with the Executive-he acts accor-
he is sustained by party-by the
Wing party.
Never was the constitution so glaringly as
till now was of its plain in
elligible propositions made subservient to a base
and rcpulsive meaning.
So far, Galphinism has triumphed, and sho' d
is triumph be permanent, the constitution of the
United States is not worth the parchment upon
which it is written.
We have said that the President is sustained
~ the Wing party. This is true so far as that
party controls individuals within its jurisdictions
out we are happy to find, that many of the intel
gent, influential and patriotic of it's members
condemn in the strongest terms the late public
plumber. But the great majority of the party
have either remained silent or countenanced the
outrage. AS party, the Wings have sustained
the President in his blissful ignorance-sustain-
ed the Cabinet in their legal ophistry-sustain-
ed the plunderers Of the Treasury in their Nero
like effrontery. On that party then be the
consequences of going beyond and above and
in opposition to the charter of our rights, pos
sessions and liberties
Should Cesar Napoleon ever dare to
lay violent hands upon the reins of this govern
ment, and assume, without authority, to make
the public treasure subscrvent to his ambition,
the example of Zachary Taylor and his Cabinet
will form the plausible precedent for the lawless
Of the power. That example is set
that precedent will be followed, and after ages
may look upon our times as we do upon the mis-
called golden ages of Napoleon and Augustus.
In nations, as in men, ''there is tide which Ia
ken at the flood leads on to fortune;' but that
Tide flows and GIBBS and leaves nought behind
but wide, illimitable sandy waste. Such has
been the experience of our predecessors in the