The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-03
Rxeout,ve Authority.

70 nc unNOrthy oi Their trust Ihe COnsututiO
makes him the sole judge in the premises; but tn
statute tai away his Jurisdiction, transfers to the
senate, and leaves him nothing but the odous, an
a. met mes imprnt teable duty of becoming prose-
ctor The prOse ution is 10 be conducted before tr
bunal who emen bers are not like him, responsible
tn the WIN people, but 10 separate Constituent ba-
dite ind no may hear his accusation with great die
favor. ~ Sen0teis absolutely without any known
.tandaid cf decision applicable to such a case. Its
udgmtnt cannotbe anticipated, for it Is not governed
by any rule.
The law does not define what shall be deemed good
cause for rmovai IL is impossible even to conjecture
what may may not be 50 cons dered by the Senate
The nature OF the subject forbids clear proof the
charge be incapacty what evidence will support it2
Fidelity TO the Constitution may be understood OF mis-.
understood in thousand different ways: and by violent
party men, in violent party u mes, uniathiuness TO
the Constitution may even come to be considered
mertorious II the officer be accused Of dishonesty
how shall Il be made out7 viii It be inferred from
acts unconnected win public duty, from private his
tory, or from general reputatiOn2 Or must the Prcs
dent await the commission OF an actual msdemeanor
in cef Shall he in the meantime RISK the charac-
ter ard interest Of the nation in the hands of TO
whom he cannot give his cOpfdence2 Must he for
bear his until the mischief is done and cam
not be prevented? IL his zeal in the public service
should impel him to anticipate the overt act, must
he move at the peril OF being tried himself for the of
fense of sandering his subordnates?
In the present circumstances Of the country, some
must be held responsible for official delinquency
that responsibility should be thrown, If 1t be not left
whore has been placed by the Constitutions but all just
men will admit that the President ought TO be entirely
relieved from such responsibility If he cannot meet II
by Of restrictions placed by law upon his
tOn. The unrestricted power or removal from office
is very great to be trusted to magistrate
chosen by the general suffrage OF the whole people,
and accountable directly to them for his acts. II is
undoubtedly liable to abuse and at some periods of
our history, perhaps, has been abused
If it be thought desirable and constitutional that IL
shonld be limited to make the President merely
con inlormer against other public agents, he
should at least be permitted to act in that capacity be-
fore some open tribunal Independent of party p1li-
tics ready to investigate the merits of every case fur
nished with the means Of taking evidence and bound
to decide according to established rules. This would
ro,fno Of hoa H.,
good faith, and at the same time secure the rights OF
the other party speak, of course, with all proper
respect for the present Senate but it does not seem to
me that any legislative body be constituted
to insure its fitness for these functions.
II is not the theory OF this government that public
offices are the property OF those who hold them.
They arc given merely trust for the public bene
fit sometimes for fixed period, sometimes during
good behavior but generally they liable to be ter
minated at the pleasure of the appointing power
which represents the collective majesty and speaks the
will of the people The forced retention in Office OF
single dishonest person may work great injury to the
public interests The danger to the public service
comes not from the power to remove, but from the
power to appoint; therefore, it that the trainers
OF the Constitution left the power of removal unre
stricted, while they gave the Senate right to reject
all appointments which, in its opinion were not fit to
A little reflection on this subject will probably sa-
tisfy all who have the good of the country at heart
that our best course is to take the Constitution for
guide walk in the path marked out by the found
ers OF the Republic and obey the rules made sacred
by the observance of our great predecessors.
Our Finances.
The present condition of our finances and circu-
latiDg medium is one to which your early considera-
ton is invited. The proportion which the currency
of any country should bear to the whole value of the
annual produce circulated by its MEANS is question
Nor it be controlled by legislation, but must be
left TO the rrevocabIe laws which everywhere regulate
commerce and trade. The circulating medium will
ever rresistby flow to those points where it is in
greatest demand.
The law of demand and supplyis unerring as that
which regulates the tides of the ocean; and indeed,
like the tides its eDDS flows through
out the commercial world AT the beginning of the
Rebellion the bank note circulation of the country
amounted to not much more than two hundred mil
lions Of dollars; now the circulation of national bank
notes, and those known legal tenders. is nearly
that this amount should be increased, others ltend
that decided reduction is absolutely essential t. the
best interests of the country.
In view is these diverse opinions it may be well to
certain the real amount Of our paper when COM
pared with a metallic or convertible currency. For
this purpose let us inquire how much gold and silver
could be purchased by the seven hundred millions of
paper money now in circulation: probably not more
than half the amount of the latter Showing that when
paper currency is compared with gold and silver
and fifty millions This striking fact makes 1t the OBJ
vOus duty of the government, early may be
consistent with the principles OF sound political
economy to take such measures as will enable the
holder of its notes and those of the national banks to
convert them without loss into specie or its equya-
ent reduction Of our, paper circulating medium
need not necessarily, follow.
This, however, would depend upon the law of de-
mand and supply though it should be borne in mind
bic into coin or its equivalent, their present specie
value in the hands Of their holders would be enhanced
one hundred per cent. Legislation for the accomplish
ment of result desirable is demanded by the high
est public considerations The Constitution contem-
plates that the circulating medium fthe country shall
be uniform in quality and value At the time Of the
formation of that instrument the country had just
emerged from the war of the Revolution and was suf
iering from the existence of redundant and worth
less currency
Gold and Silver.
The sages of that period anxious to protect
their posterity from the evils which they themselves
had experienced. Hence, in providing circulating
coin money and regulate the value thereof, at the
same time prohibiting the States from making any
thing bnt gold and silver tender in payment OF debts
The anomalous condition of our currency Is in strlk
ing contrast with that which was originally designed.
Our circulation now embraces-frst, notes of the
national banks, which are made receivable Tor all dues
que tne government, excluding imports and by all It's
creditors, excepting payment of interest upon its
ponds and the securities themselves: second, legal
lender notes issned by the United States and which
the law requires shall be received well in payment
OF all debts between citizens of all government
cues, excepting imports; and third gold and silver
com, By the operation of our present system OF
nances, however, the metallic currency when coll
lected, ls reserved only for class of government
creditors, who, holding its bonds semi-annually re-
ceye Their interest in coin from the national Treasury
lhey are thus made to occupy an inyldous position
winch may be used to strengthen the arguments OF
tnose who would bring into disrepute the obligations
o the nation. In the payment of all its debts, the
plighed faith of the government should be inyolaby
maintained, But while 1t acts with justice towards
the Dondholder who loaned his money that the integ
y Oh the Union might be preserved, IL should at the
same time observe good faith with the great masses
ol lhe people who, having rescued the Union from
ne perls or rebellion bear the burdens OF taxa
on thal the government may be able to fulfill its en-
| gagements. There is no reason which will be ac-
| cePted as satisfactory by the people why those
| VINO defend us on the land and protect ns
On On the sea, the pensioner upon the gratitude
ol the nation bearing the and wounds received
IN lts service, the public servants in the various