Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1867-12-11

~ ASSIGNED to him of seeing the laws faithfully
ed euI that it disabes MIN most especially from
frcing that rigid accountability which is necessary
TO the execution of the Revenue Laws, The Const
tuition invests the President with authority 20 decide
whether removal should be made in any given
case The act of Congress declares, IN substance,
that he shalt cny such as he supposes TO be
unworthy of their trust, The Constitution makes
him sole Judge in the premises, but the statute takes
away his jurisdiction, transfers it to the Senate and
leaves him morning but the odious and sometimes
mpractcahle duty Of becoming prosecutor. Pros
ecution is TO be conducted before n trbun ii whose
members are not like him, responsible to the whole
people but to separate constituent bodies, and who
may hear his accusation with great dstavor. Tbs
Senate is absolutely without aay known STANFORD OF
decision APP licable to such a Its Judgment
cannot be anticipated for il is not governed BY any
rule. The law docs define what shall be deemed
good cause for removal 1t is impossible even To
conjecture what may or may not be considered by
the Serate. The of the subject forbids clear
proof. If the charge be ineapacity what evidence
will support il Fidelity to the Constitution may
be understood or misunderstood in thousand diff.
fereut ways and by vioeRt party in violent par
T. times unfaiihuness to the Constitution may
,ome to be considered meritOrious. If an officer be
accused Of dishonesty how shall il be made out =
Will it he Inferred from acts unconnect, with pub
lie duty, from private hsOty, from general Iepu
tatfon must the President await the commission
Of an actual misdemeanor Office Shall he ia
the meantime, risk the character and interest of the
his confidence? Must be forbear his complaint until
the mischief is done and cannot be prevented! Ii
his zeal in the public service should mpel him to
anticipate the overt act must he move at the peril
cf being tried himself for the offence OF slanderlng
his subordinate? ? In the present circumstances OF
the country, some must be held responsible for
official delinquency of every kind II rs extremely
difficult say where that responsibility should be
thrown if it lie not left where 1t has been pl1ced oy
the Constitution But all just men will admit that
the President ought TO be entirely relieved from
such responsibty if be cannot meet il by reason Of
restri ctions placed by law upon his action Cnre-
stricted power of removal from office is very great
one to be trusted TO Magistrate chosen by the
general suffrage of the whole people and aeenuntab BILE
directly to them for his acts. 1t is undoubtedly liza
bic to abuse and at some periods Of history per
haps has been abused. If it be thought desirable
and constitutional that II should be limited as to
make the President merely a infOrmer
against other public agents, he should at least be
permitted TO act in that capacity before open
tribunal, independent Of party politics. ready to in
ycStgate the merits of every case: furnished with
the means Of taking evidence, and bound to decide
according to established rules. This would guaTan-
tee the safety Of the accuser when he acts IN good
faith and at the same time secure the rights OF the
other party | speak, Of course with all proper
spect for the present Senate but it does not 10
Ine that any legislative body can be so constituted
as to insure III fitness fer these functions 1t is not
the theory Of this Government that the public offices
ore the property OF those who hold them. They are
a
times for fixed period sometimes during good be
hayior; but ge eneray they liable to be teTmi-
mated at the pleasure of the appointing power hich
represents the collective majesty and speaks the
will OF the people. The forced retention in office OF
single dishonest person may work great INJURY 10
the public interest. Danger TO the public service
not from the power to remove but from the
power to appoint therefore it was that the trainers
Of the Constitution left the power Of removal unre-
strcted while they gave the Senate the right to re-
iept an which in itS OIluIOn not
tit to be made. A little reflection this subject
will probably satisfy all who have the good Of the
country at heart that best is to take the
Constitution for guide, walk in the path marked
out by the founders OF the Republic, AMI obey the
rules made sacred by the observance Of our great
predecessors.
FINANCIAL MATTERS.
The present condition of our finances and crculat-
ing medium is one 70 which your early consideration
is invited. The proportion which the currency of
any country should bear 10 the whole value of the
annual produce circulated by its means is aquestion
upon Which political economists have not agreed; ;
nor can il be controlled by legislation but be
left to those irrevocabe laws which everywhere reg
ulate commerce and trade. The circulating medi-
um will irresistibly fGw TO those points where
it is in the greatest demand. The law Of demand
and supply is as uncrring as that which regulates
the tides Of the ocean, and, indeed, currency, like
the tides has its ebbs aud flows throughout the
nercial world. At the beginning of the rebellion
the bank note circulation Of the country amounted to
not much more than $500 000,O00. Now the eircu-
lation of the National Bank notes, and those known
rs legal tenders, is nearly S7O0 00J, 0G0. While it
is urged by some that this amount should be in
creased Others contend that decided reduction is
absolutely essential to the best interests of the cOun
try, in view Of these diverse opinions, it may be
well TO ascertain the real value Of our paper issues
when compared with metallic or convertible cur
repcy. For this purpose let Us inquire how much
gold and silver could be purchased by thu S70o00O
600 of paper money now in circulation. Probably y
not more than half the amount OF the latter, show
ing that when paper currency is compared with
gold and silver its commercial value is compressed
into S350,OQp 600. This striking fact makes it the
obvious duty CT the Government, early rs may be
consistent with the principles Of sound political econ
omy, TO take such will enable the hold
of its notes and those of the National Banks to
them without loss into specie or its equiva-
lent A reduction Of our paper circulating medi-
need not necessarily follow. This, however
would depend ulon the law of demand and supply !;
though it shoud be borne in mind thet by king
legal tender anl bank notes convertible into coin or
Its equivalent, their present specie value in the
hands of their holders would be enhanced one hun n
dred per cent. Legislation for the accomplishment
Of result desirable Is demanded by the highest
public considerations The Constitution coutem-
plates that the circulating medium of the country
shall be uniform in quality and value. At the time
of the formation of that instrument the country had
Just emerged fIon the Of the revolution and
was suffering from the effects Of redundant and
worthless paper currency The shges Of that period
we're anxious to protect their postery from the evils
Ehich they themselves had experienced. Hence in
i'll providing circulating naalium they conferred
upOn Congress the power to coin money and regulate
the EaLae thereof at the same time prohibiting the
States from making anything but gold and silver
tender in payment of debts The anomalous condi-
tion of currency in striking contrast with that
which was originally signed. Our circulation now
embraces, first, the notes Of the National Bank,
which are made receivable for al! dues to Govern
ment excluding imposts, and by all It's credors ex-
cepting il payment of interest upon IFS bonds and
securities themselves; second egatender notes, is
sued by the United States, and which the law re-
aures shall be received weh in payment of all
dekts between citizens, of all Government dues,
excepting impOsts and third. gold aud silver coin
BY the operation Of our present system OF finance,
however the metallic currency when collected is
served only for class Of Government creditors,
who holding its bonds sem-arnually receive their
interest in coin from the National Treasury. They
are thIs sde TO occupy an nvidiOuS position, which
may be used to strengthen the arguments of those
who would bring into disrepute the Obligations of
the nation In the payment of all its debts the
plighted faith of the Government should be inyiola-
bIv maiutained but while II acts with fidelity TO-