The Placer herald., 1864-01-02
UNRESTRICTED FINANCIAL POWERS

UNRESTRICTED FINANCIAL POWERS.
Eastern dispatches say, that Mr.. Chase,
the Secretary of Treasury, in his annual re,
port on the Federal finances, recommends
repeal OF the provision Of an act directing
him to affect loans running from ten to forty
years, and that be be empowered instead to
negotiate loans on such terms as in bis dis
cretion he deems for the public interest. The
dispatches further say the authority asked
for will undoubtedly be given.
The time has been in the history of the
country, when a proposition from a public
officer to conduct the affairs Of his office in
his own discretion, would have been received
with astonishmens and indignation, or as the
prompiings Of unacy. But the practice is
different now-and instead Of the business of
the nation being administered according TO
established rules and laws, We too frequently
have the most sacred rights and interests
held bject 20 the discretion of officials.
Citizens have been arrested, imprisoned
without xamination-held for weeks and
months, and finally discharged without trial,
all within the discretion of MIR. Secretary
Of War. Stanton. The people Of the States
Of Maryland and Delaware have been de-
prived of free ballot, and forbidden an op,
portunly 10 exercise the rights Of citizens,
as guaranteed to them BY Federal and State
Constitutions and laws, because Mr. Liucoln
chose TO so exercise bis discretion. olga
tons of law and duty are set aside when.
ever, in the discretion Of abolition fanatics,
they stand as obstacles TO their schemes for
ruling the nation according to thei; own era
" theories; and earnest remonstrance against
such infractions are met only with nditfer-
ence or r;dcue. So accustomed have the
people become TO enoroachmen,s upon their
legal rights that they begin to look upon
their continuance as matters Of course, and
therein are encouraging usurpations 10 the
certain destruction of our civil liberty
The proposition Of Mr.. Chase, which we
are so positively assured will be accepted, is
but another Of the marked tendencies Of the
times to transfer the powers Of tho Govern
ment from the many to the few. That such
proposition should in seriousness be made
is alarming. A power is here asked, that if
granted, would place the whole financial and
commercial interests Of the country in the
control of one man. And that power wholly
unrestricted by defined laws and regulations,
to secure efficiency and integrity, would be
lef. entirely to his discretion and his con-
science. Whoever heard before Of demand
made and acceded to like this, in country
OF written laws' What ruler Of civilized
peoples would WELD their destiny SO com>
pletely as would Mr.. Chase that of the peo-
pie of the United States, if he obtain this
recommendation of his report? lie will he
tho autocrat to whose slightest word the
whole financial and industrial interests Of
the nation will be subject
There is no man iving-no matter how
great his capacity, how pure his character,
or singleness or purpose-to whose hands
such mighty interests should thus lightly be
intrusted. There is no presumed condition
Of the country that would ever warrant it
not in the days when official mafeasance
was the direst disagreement now, when Off
cial dishonesty and corruption enjoys almost
entire immunity from punishment or rebuke
GEN. WRIGHr IN DANGER.-An official
advertisement, headed "By Authority" and
signed by "R. c. Drum, Adjutant General
BY order of Brigadier General Wright" has
appeared in that sterling Democratic paper
the Marysvlle Express, and straightway the
Abolition press have commenced howl as
elamorous as though the last bone had beer
taken from the pack. Their virtuous souls
are frozen with terror least a single dollar
from the public purse should escape theil
avarce and rapacity, and find its way to
the pockets of an honest Democrat They
see in this premium offered for rebellion
a stab at the life of "the best Government
under the SUM-" and repression, by high of
fetal, of the self styled patriotism Of Caiior
MIA A boilionsts.
They declare if such things are to be they
will soon be dead skunks instead Of live ones
and unable to void their fetidness to the con
tamnation and destruction of oil socia
organization Yea, they will carry their
grievances to the Executive mansion, even
unto the feet Of Uncle Abraham, and have
any mans head laid upon the block fol