Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-04-29

the commencement of its last session, that on the
Goth of June next there would be surplus IN inc
Treasury amounting to twenty-nine millions o. Cor
lars; that he had paid off large amount Oh 'he
public debt in advance of its maturity ana tnae no
more of it could be reached and he warned Con-
gresS Of the disastrous effects on the business OF 'e
country which must flow from withdrawing from
the usual channels of trade and business and locking
up in the Treasury vaults large portion Of 'ne
circulating medium. -.
This state of things imposed on Congress douoe
duty: 1st To reduce the revenue. That l cheer'
fully and zealousy co-operated in, Tor since NY
entrance into Congress had never ceased to clam%
for reduction of the tariff Ultimately the reduc'
ton was made, though neither in the manner nut
to the extent that l desired. But such was ~,
anxiety to effect reduction of the revenue Una.
with nv friends voted for bill which, under I'LL.
ferent circumstances, could not have obtained III!
support 3D. To dispose of the surplus already az az
cumulated, and which would not be needed oy '"'
government 49,, u
had been collected from the people in disregard "
the spirit il not the letter of the Constitution W.
Congress is empowered ito lay and collect 'aAes,
imposts and excises to pay the debts ana prc' ,o
for the common defence and general welfare VI Wv
United States" and for no other purpose IL "as
collected for unconstitutional purposes, ana au
sought to apply it to vast variety Oh u''eo na.,s
al OOlectS. Let us cnumeTdtc ie" VI WV c,r
A bill was pending before Congress, pr'v'G'Is f o
the construction of three Railroads to the ram" II
with various feeders in the West amounting j, a..
to about ten Thousand miles, and to cost one 'n0'
sand millions of dollars. liam
Every ocean was marked and dotted on the n' .I
for steamship lines to trade for private gam a. INV
public expense. ,d;no
About one hundred and fifty bills were penan "S
for opening rivers and making harbors in the N0'''
and West, and some in the South. Lilo
Every species of enterprise against the P"omd
Treasury found favor in Congress- Spectators ans
plunderers swarmed in the lobbes and on the noo,v,
and the conviction had got abroad that no scn'"'
or claim would fail if it could afford to pay. od
To cap the climax, three members were COW .hot
of corruption, and painful suspicion eS'seu ,res
not half the iniquity of the peoples represen'a'
had been brought to light. Lain,
The argument in favor OF every pro)ec' VI o over
however monstrous, was that the treasury vas on.
flowing, and the government could AFFORD 10 oe 81.
erous. This specious argument mised many "'"
men, and it was the saturnalia OF rogues g tbe
There is scarcely conceivable violation y, aid
Constitution which some one OF these scien'es
not involve; and to permit Congress to apPIoh ars
the money as it would be appropriated len a to
would lead to unconstitutional precedents e"ou p,tsr
nullify every provision of that instrument o,ow It
far would it be to sink it in the ocean ina" a ro
to poison the very fountains of legislation anu r
lutte the head streams of the executive i." "to
1t is my duty not only to support Out "'''