Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-17

anime well the expediency; for, necessity there is
none OF voluntarily venturing on this -" narrow
is,hmus,' of attempting to pass above this ire :
mendous gulph on a cobwe5. What is the great,
The nesinab!e, the distinguishing characteristic OF
our system OF government the palladium of our
liberties-the ark of our political salvation? 1t
is not the mere expression in written constitutions
that rulers are the servants of the people that
they shall not concert, determine, do what Mey
may Judge beneficial or injurious Ia the peop,e or
may wish, or please 20 DO, but shall in all things
execute neither, more less, in their official ca
Pacities, than they are directed To do by the peo-
pie, IN the special written powers OF attorney the
Constitutions of the States and of the Uni, ed States
the highest acts OF sovereign authority: but it is
the solemn, punctual, inflexible and certain en-
iorcement OF this great principle of sei-govern-
ment by the people, who.e only safeguard il taken
away; whose highest act OF sovereignty is set a,
nouShi; whose deliberate will is dsregard,d;
whose rights AMI liberties endangered, when
ever public servant, under any preext whatso-
ever, does either, more less, than is prescribed
for him 10 do.
Take away this enforcing will or power from
Tie people, and where is the limit, where is the
boundary TO those invested with authority Tl.re
would be none. All the minor rechani-m of our
democratic systems OF government-ee elections for
short periods; the separation OF legislative Judi
ciai aud executive duties; the instruction Of re
all restric ions and Limitations, and the sanctions Of
these provisions, have been framed, to guard and
carry INTO effect this iIincip,c, TO prevent, or
punish it's violation.
The greatest political crime ,ha. can be com
United agaist the rights ald liberties of the human
race is lie violation OF this principle. 1t is rape
commit ed by the lust of power on the Goddess of
Liberty. No matter what may be the qualifica-
tons Ola public servant; matter what may lave
been his sefvicesi no msiter what may be his pre-,
tensions TO patriotism; no matter what may be- our
gratitude and confidence in the rectitude OF hi- ia
'entIons; no matter what crowns of civic or mar
tiai glory may wrea he his b. os let no sach iaG,
De trusted. No matter what may be his express
sions OF devotion TO the people; no matter what
cant captandums of '' peoples candidate" or
g administrations candidate political partizans
may attach TO his name, should he commit this
crime, though he should seek shelter beneath the
shield OF Minerva, or under the chariot-wheels of
Mars, they should not protect him from the indig-
nant tiowns of mis- injured country. Should liberty
be less dear 10 us than Lucretia 10 the Romans
Even the Tarquns he'd performed some merilor-
Gus actions, and for these deserved The gratitude of
tome. They had partizans 10 praise then and
good men to support their pretensions, and brave
men to hight for them. But the virluous and pat
riotic spirit OF Brutus fixed The souls OF his coun-
trymen the violat0rs were expelled, and Rome
was Tree was free, I'LL the splendid military at
chievemenIs OF Cesar and he gratitude OF Rome,
bound her again TO the chaiiot- wheels OF War
rlor, who mad deserved well OF his country. The
elder Brutus had ascended in the fiery car of glory
but his spirit, like the mantle OF the prophet des-
cended on the younger Bruus. He also hath been
translated Bat on whom hath descended the man
tie OF his spirit TO - heal the waters!"
shall not condescend to canvass the argument
of beslowing Offices created for the benefit of the
people from sense of gratitude for past services
Let the people, If they WILL relDard the pubic
servant who has deserved well of his country. with
praises and with pensions, if the consciousness OF
having performed his duty, and the enjoyment OF
Its advantages, In common with his felIowmen, are
not enough But let them not offer up their liber-
ties as burnt offering on the altar of gratitude
Let them not lay violent hands ON their poIitical
Isaac, when the ram caught by the horns aid ready
tor the sacrifice, Is pointed out 10 them by a mes
senger from Heaven.
Am told that the authority and the eramDyc
OF the venerated dead sanction the principle OF
gratitude TO the who raises his conntry's glo-
ny TO lis pinnacle. And that greatest military
cbiettain was the first executive officer of these
United States, elevated to the Presidential Chair
both by the deserved gratitude of his countrymen
and his distinguished abilities to discharge its
important duties! No authority but that of rea-
son; no example, but that productive of good
weighed with the mind of the Roman Cato; nor
should they with that OF the virginian. However
strongly has feelings of gratitude, of veneration,
OF admiration, may prompt him to respect the au-
thori,y and example of departed patriots, duty to
his country, devotion to truth, obedience to reason
weigh still more. They compel him to call the
stole frmness of his Roman father to his aid and
solemnly to declare, that man ought to be elect
ed or retained in any office a reward, or for his
own benefit. The principle is wrong. 1t is de-
slIuctive to freedom. The benefit of The peopIe,
by the discharge of DUTY and not an e ,iovme,t ar
reward, ought to be the object, and the only object
Consider Offices. created for the benefit of the peo-
pie, as an enjoyment and not burden, as reward
and not duty. They will be created and CON
Quoted for the benefit of their iHcuinbenls-They
will become he shirt of Nessus on the backs of the
people, which, not even the strength of Hercules
can tear off.
And had our immortal Washington, first in war,
first in peace, fist in the hearts Of his counirymen
when the revolutionary ended, and the
constitution had been formed and ratified by the
sovereign states; when be found that his grateful
and sdmiring countrymen were about TO place him
in the Presidential Chair, said TO them: " The
love OF my country, my devotion to her best in
terests, andt the cause OF liberty, compel me,
on this occasion to disappoint your wishes, now
painful II may be- in order to set before YOU an
example eajoined by my most solemn convictions
OF It's necessity, to the Preservation of those in
estnnable blessings for which we have suffered
and fought and conquered, and which we now en-
Joy. May the example which / shall propose be
followed by all future generations. The history Of
every nation where liberty ever existed teaches
US, that the popularity OF military men, and the
gratitude Of the people, have been the Immediate
or ultimate causes OF the loss of liberty Even the
patriotism and rectitude of those warriors who have
saved their country from foreign domination, and
the horrors OF civil war have not been able to pre-