Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-03-07

INST PdtSu pure as sue came from the hand God
was overcome by this seductive power let not imi
tate her fatal rahness, by seeking temptation when
Is IN our power TO avoid IT. Let not vainly confde
IN our own lntalhoihty We are liable TO be corru,t-
ed To an ambitious man, honorable office will an
pear beautiful and fascinating the apple of Para
disc.
admit, sir, that ambition is passion a, once tho
most pow erul and the most useful. Without IT, bp,n,
affairs would become stapuant pool Nv ,nc,,s
of ms patronage, the President addresses himself m tho
most irresistible manner TO this the noblest and strong
est of our passions All that the imagination can de-
s'rc-hoor, power wealth, ease held out as the temp
tattoo. S'r, man was not made resist such te,npa
lions Is inpossioie To conceive Satan himself could
not devise system which would nfalliby intro
duce corruption and death into our political Eden Sir
the Angels fell from Heaven with less tom otatio,
hat cannot then, be wise political organization
that elures us 10 resist Temptations strong either
for men Angels.
The political truths have advanced will ba G,,l
tanned by the authority ofhstory. Look bacI- air into
inc vast aud dreary solitude of past ages and read tho
cpitaphs which impartial history has ascrbed ON the
tonos OF fallen republics What is the ra,pcboly
lesson they teach US? That no free Govern,nont ~
been overcome by force, but all by corruption. If VIZ
ever lose oar liberties WI ich Cod forbid this will be the
eutnanas'" oi Tie Nepublic While the extent of our
territory cXepts us from the extinction of our liberties
by popular violence IL increases the only othpr r,osr
Phe 10 which we can DE exposed the concentration Of
power IN the Executive.
There is Instance in history, Of = Chief Cw,o,
Magistrate elected by small body of men, where the
most gross and undsgnscd corruption has not cnsued
we nave seen the hardy Virtues of Rome sink under
tne experiment La ie same city in which the first
prutuS s~orc by The rocking blood of the violated In
crea, to exter'nnatc every vcstee of MONARCHY fro
rome, we have seen infamous band of P,;ntori,n
Cohers rush TO the rampars proclaim that the Eo,
pre- OF The world would be sold at auction far ,none,,
England is prolific in political OK pcr;ence ~ ~.
Cn'ea oa'es Than any other country, because there is
CLOSER analogy in Governments: and hec,psc ,,,
are descended from England our primitive stock.
human nature is the same there as it is here n ;s
the best stock OF modern times
AS we nave not descended from Gods nor Greeks
~ i'o."dns, he thanked God that we english
l" 'iiat patton of sturdy virtue which compccJ lie
monarch 10 grant magma charta he would refer for his
examples During the reign of the Stuarts what was
Tue character OF the conflict Ii privilege against
preFoga''e. Prerogative was then given up and in
luence substituted The crown ceased TO central and
began to bind the Parliament; and The effect has bc
That The influence of the King upon ParIiamen; cont
ucs' under tins disguise, 20 be the controlling Dow,r
Since the celebrated resolutions of MIR Dooo,o t,,
ne power oil the crown had increased was ,ncreasnr
and ought 10 be diminished" Air. AIcD said tbcco has
been no open attempt at corruption
Snce mat inc' 1t has been the influence Of an in
te'ilgent Executive, which has corruDted tbc prI,
n'eht. 81 Robert Walpolc gave il as his de!ib,r,fe
crhion that every political had his price There
Is no douot that, with few exceptions this ia true lf
- aiF'' {" III proper way, 1T vii! be found suGi
ciehtiy accurate This great man said there were bt
three men IN the British Paeliament who had moi te
price III whatever way power obtained its effects
arc me same tnan who disdans to steal pen knife
a Pat ty Lar
cenN briggs acknowledgement frauds on the peorIe ~
duco honor. Inc tyrant scaters splendor over his
e i'ies' ana corruption sheds indemnity its victims
such IS the fascination which exists in power 70 c,ro
every "hhg wlth which Is comes in contact He couid
not however, consider il but as felony to como 10
power by any other than ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS He is =
'eioh convict who obtains it by other MEANS and the
monuments are around him which testify AGAINST him
Are we exempt Are the statesmen of Tho IJr,;,od
states more pure? No The People for the reasons
"ch ne haI gwen the peculiar structure of society
are superior 10 the People of England But tbe,r ;e
10 country where office has attraction than in The
United States He had felt more. modification ~, nc
1upIec' Than on any other during his political If.
"o''c 'hen mere are as tond of patronage as 10 any
otaer country.
lie did not say tins i'll censu-e orin praise I;n,n
tife is the same every where. We are howe; -. SOM
what worse than in England. member of Parliarnen,
would cIsdan TO accept petty Office at the hands f
King. member in Congress- ,yil acco,, 80 a, wy
Pitt the elder. threw his commission in the face of ms
when he found his principles would no lon
ger prevail IN the cabinet.
we see all prnc'Piesall the colors o. the rainbow
In our cabnet-a sacrifice of principle AZ ;n, sIn
power Bufke's celebrated description of tho n,o,i
administration OF England would exactly suit u.s. Me,
oers oil congress, like all other men when expoeed e.,
o''uP''vD' are a'"ays conquered. What gives TO pa
"olage his great pOVc? Every man is fo1d ofds,.I
weak and corruptible as others "
We have never vet been ernoeed ., . -; - n.
cicni!y distinct 10 prove ourselves We con rio ~
Juoshent ~ events IN which arc ourselves actos
l'"to me men Of the Revolution have pro sided over
US. ! neir hardy virtues were ncorrmptible But the
scep~e mas passed into the hands Of new cenerafion
a, D y .earea me mantle Of purity had passed viii,
II. y" are not Of The same hardy race-we POSSESS
none OF the virtues of the field We are not 70 n1o
because me fathers Of the Revolution haze not been
he'e'ore' The present race will be corrupt
IL had been suggested to him by gentleman of anoIL
mat tins Government would not hold together
@ II mao not sufficient patronage to cement IT,
Loon forward 10 the next fifty years; the popDIstor 81
. . on'lea states will then be fifty millions When
We nave t"ice the POPULATION Of England what must be
I'VE t>'e'. Of on. Executive patronage 1t is GROWING
up around u.s. and must grow in proportion TO the nnm
tipIoato m'" of Of the population With the mu
crease patronage will be irresistible if brought TO bea
on small body. ''s ~ " oea'
, % 'uo Pa'' OF wise men to resist, in their ncipeDt
se'' nose political evils which, if not resisted nov
nrer can De- He would say, The authority Of his
NO na'io9 ever fell into degencracy-corruptio1
e. "oN n"'d on People-and rcirorrade move
or " N'ieOAeu at Hrsl
ne peculiar danger to De apprehended is cl,anro
VI public opinion. What IS the principle of bod;t