epartment has become dangerous， but by the use which it appears may be made of the appointing power to bring under its control the whole revenues of the country. the constitution has declared it to be the duty of the president to see that the laws are executed， and it makes him the commander in chief of the armies and navy of the united states. if the opinion of the most approved writers upon that species of mixed government which in modern europe is termed monarchy in contradistinction to despotism is correct， there was wanting no other addition to the powers of our chief magistrate to stamp a monarchical character on our government but the control of the public finances； and to me it appears strange indeed that anyone should doubt that the entire control which the president possesses over the officers who have the custody of the public money， by the power of removal with or without cause， does， for all mischievous purposes at least， virtually subject the treasure also to his disposal. the first roman emperor， in his attempt to seize the sacred treasure， silenced the opposition of the officer to whose charge it had been committed by a significant allusion to his sword. by a selection of political instruments for the care of the public money a reference to their commissions by a president would be quite as effectual an argument as that of caesar to the roman knight. i am not insensible of the great difficulty that exists in drawing a proper plan for the safe- keeping and disb
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