The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-01-09
lFoR THE MASSACHUSETTS spY.l
GOTERNOUR .LgCKSOr

.
GOVERNOUR JACKSON.
Mr. Edltor-Whatever may be due to Gen.
jackson for his great military achievements, it
is very Questionable whether the sword of the
United States could be safely entrusted to his
hand. 1t is less doubtful whether, as JuRIsr
and CIVILIAN, he has not made constructions
IN favour OF his own authority, which are, in
their nature. and tendency, perfectly despot-
ick. lie. observed, in substance, before a
Court in Florida, that more powers had been
committed TO him than acre ecer before q,.ifed
here an one person and he hoped ii acoalld be
among ne first acts Of the neEt session of Con-
gress to GboLish the dangerous example. It's
unfortunate for him, that his assumptions of
power can be traced no where but to that
domineering spirit of which he is so much
suspected ; and it is a hackneyed expedient of
ambition to affect an aversion TO what it coy-
cts. Not shadow Of the underlined and all
expressing authority which be claimed. is con-
tanned in Governour Jackson's commission
from the President. That instrument was is
sued pursuant to an act of Congress for the
Government of the Flordas, authorizing the
President to invest-7lot IN a single iadioidual
but IN such Hpersonsn as he might APP
point, the authorities heretofore exercised. I'M
der Spain, by the Intendant and Captain
General Of Cuba, and the Goy.rnours of the
Floridas. The word g PERsoKs,' in the Act
of Congress, evidently, and with necessary
consonance to our established principles Of
government, contemplated dicision, not
concentration of power. diUision was made
accordingly. The commission to Governor
Jackson clothes him with the authorities
strictly appertaining to the Office of Cover
~.
larged, nor in any manner made more formi-
dable, because, instead of their specification.
they are such as were exercised by an In
tendant and Captain General of one place,
and by two Governors of places in subor-
dination. 1t makes, indeed, a figure in the
commission OF Governour of distant Terri
tory, that he should be invested with the pow
ers OF several other Governours but the
mighty man on paper is, after all, only Gov
ernour, restricted in his commission to a con-
iormity to the laws OF the United States
The commission to Governour Jackson is so
restricted to the powers of such an officer.
The restriction is not merely implied from the
terms of the commission to the GOVERNOR,
but his actual separation from the Judicial
department is specially made by the Presi-
dept, In the appointment to that department
sion to the Judge: And what are his powers?
10 the first of these questions, ! can return no
answer. To the other, an answer springs at
once from the foundation principle of all our
securify-thdt those powerS can neither be en-
Larged nor abridged, altered nor successfully Op-
posed, w1tltoUt binding the Republics in the
ch9e'ts OF despofisaa. Could the absurdity be
made to appear that the lntendant of Cuba,
and fhn r. ~.
exercised Military, Legislative, Executive and
Judicial powers, it would make nothing in
favour OF Governour Jackson's pretensions.-
He is only one of the PERSONS appointed to
participate in the administration of those pow
ers--a Judge comes in co-ordinately with the
GOVERNOR for well-defned share Of we'll
ordered aforementioned both are amenable to
the laws OF the United States. C The con-
centrating," says Mr.. jefferson, s of the
Legislative, Executive and Judicial powers
IN the same hands, is precisely the definition
of despotick government But notwith-
standing the soundness Of this axiom, it was
disregarded in the temporary organization of
Louisiana, in which GOVERNOR Claiborne ap-
pears the exact prototype Of GOVERNOR jack
son. The commission to Claiborne has never
been published but in his Proclamation to
lhV PCoPAc vi LOuiSidud3 he TSClteQ uS puT-
port, and claimed under it the exercise of
6 Military, Civil and Judicial powers.r In
that case, the act Of Congress authorized the
President to invest all powers 6 az such per-
son o. persons" as he might appoint AS the
provisions for the government of the precisely
similarly situated territories OF Louisiana and
the floridas, were, at first, only temporary,
we would not-be severe in our structures; but
it would seem, that principle of such vital
Importance as distribution of power ought
not for a moment to be violated. Political
principles receive the whole illustration of
their efficacy from tseir exhibition in practice.
Tie same hand which has given US a just and
concise definition of despotism, has reminded
US, that " one precedent u, tarortr of po,Cer,
IS stronger hian tacen,y against it,"
That The p,;blick seldom forgive tpice,"
is an aphorism of Lavater. The prompt ex-
perience, by G eneral Jackson, of one forgive
ness, may have given him fatal confidence
that his popularity has an imperative donin-
ion, or he may become all Emperour. Anoth-
er view of his situation, and a reflection on
the fate of numerous favourites of the people,
whose fame gave them, for a time, an exemp-
ton from the laws, may suggest to him a
wholesome admonition and, TO our country,
the Importance of just determinations.
CENTUMVIRI.
o
State Legislat,wes.-The Legislature Of this
State assemble to-day. That of Maine is in
session BENJAMIN Ames is re-elected Sneak