The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-08

The " Financial Agent Economy.

The Financial Agent Economy.
To THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMAN Sir: In
your report of Legislative proceedings no
tice that Il resolution proposing an enquiry
touching the mission Of Joseph Poland was
dismissed in the House. [ am at a loss to de-
tsrmine how such action by tic House should
be interpreted, whether it means an approval
or disapproval of the assumed authority to ap-
point that person to the business he has undcrta-
ken, or whether the House means to stand IN
committed il relation to that matter. If it means
approval or disapproval, the Legislature should
moro explicitly cnuncate its idea than has been
done by the action on Mr.. Dyer's resolution,
and if it means non-committal the Legislature
ought not to adjourn without distinctly ratfy-
ing or disaffirming the usurped authority. Ia
king the g report " Of the self-chrstened
l." financial agent" which was published in
your paper of the 18th inst, for the evidence of
his pro-creation, it appears that he was not de-
puted by Mr.. Fairbanks acting as a private cit
izen, but that the Ex-Governor undertook Off
cially to create an office and invest an incumbent
Herewith. Now, Independent of the character
Of the business contemplated, and Of any eco
nomical considerations, it seems to me this was
an assumption of authority, so dangerous as
a precedent, that the Legislature should take the
earliest opportunity to distinctly repudiatc it.
No such otfce as that assumed, no officer to
,orf>r Il oh
are known to the law ; and any authority to
inaugurate such, the Constitution positively
withholds from the executive, and vests in the
Legislative department. Offices arc created only
by force Of law. One of the three principal
departments, among which the powers of Gov
eminent are distributed, viz the Legislative
branch, makes the law another, the judicial,
interprets it and the third, the executive, sees
that the law thus made and interpreted, is PROV
erly executed.
If the Governor can create, he can by Tie
same authority repeal and make void law, or
give to law judicial Interpretation. If he can
establish an Office and define it's duties, he can
aflix it's salary, and determine its DURATION In
short, he ~ supreme. That the Governor has
such power AZ has been in this instance as-
sumed, none will pretend. Shall the Legislature,
then, passiyely submit to the usurption To
do 80 would be unwise, incxpodicnt, impolitic.
Power is always stealing from the many to the
few, and the possession Of power bcgets Il pas
sion formore. It can only be kept in suhjcc-
ton by untiring vigilance BY arrestins its
first lawless entertainments danger may always
be kept at bay The members of the Lcgisla- j,
tUre are officially the trustees OF the people. |
and hold in their hands an important trust /
their duty is not only to make awp, but they
are set like watchmcn on the citadel to guard /
against any encroachmcnt on the pcoplc rights,
and any assumption by one department Of pow
cr hy the people denied to that, or delegated 10
another. II these civil sentinclss sleep on their
posts, or supinely betray the trust 20 confded
to them what guaranty have the people for
liberty? When we become SO dcmorallzcd tina /
We can placidly look on one defiant assumption
IF power, one bold infraction Of the Constit,-
ton, We shall be prepared to look with a smile
IN the second, and an approving smile on the
third, and yet greater violation of public right. ,