Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-28


wheimed the liberties of all other Republics II
results from the very nature OF our scheme of 90.
vernment, that, in proportion as the power of the
iunc'ionary Is increased should be the ,lirec,ness
ana eincIency OF his responsibility to the People
responsibility and power are the antagonist prnci-
pies oil the SYSTEM ands perfection consists in their
equipoise. Without this equipose, the eccentric
movements OF power will newt ably DESTROY our
Tree system OF Government, as the suspension OF
Inc centrifugal or centrpe,a power in the planetary
system, would destroy the equilibrium of ,Leuni-
verse. 1t we will aitentively consider the nature
and tendency of Executive power, we shall be
sausied, that, OF all the kinds of power that enter
INTO Inc system oil government, none requires so
decidedly the restraining influence of the princpe
OF responsibility. There is no power more active,
encroaching, and dangerous, operating as il does,
through the influence of its patronage, upon the
hopes and fears OF a large portion of the commit
n'ty. But by rendering the President directly re-
sponsible to the People, we shall solve the great
problem, never before fully realized of uniting in
The government of so extensive a country the ele-
ments OF liberty and power. All the essential
powers oil sovereignty may be safely entrusted to a
government emanating directly from the People
upon whom II is to operate. In this particular,
ours Is distinguished from most of the free govern
ments that have been known TO history Every
attempt to secure liberty by withholding those
powers which are necessary for the defence and
security OF the nation must speedily end in the
loss OF that liberty. They have always ended So
NO generous and heh-minded People can long
tolerate the existence of government, that is moi
capable OF defending them Such govcrnme emf is
inevitably destined TO pass from rickey state of
eeoieness and distraction, through anarchy, to
de-potism. Hence the Importance of that peculiar
organization, which enables US 10 clothe the Pres-
dent with such extensive powers, and without en-
dangering public liberty.
What ale the powers actually vested in the
President? We can hardly realize the fact. though
1t Is unquestionaby true, that he possesses very
nearly as extensive powers The King of England
In distributing power to the different departments
oil the government, the trainers Of the Constitu-
ton have very specifically defined the powers of
Congress, but given an almost unlimited charter to
the President. Where is the limitation OF his pow
er? The grant is oil 's all Executive power,''
which amounts to neither more nor less than that
he shall have power to do whatever any other
Executive on earth may do, unless restricted ex-
pressiy, or by the necessary implication growing
out OF the grants TO the other Departments. The
President cannot declare wa, because that power
is expressly delegated 10 Congress; and this is the
only material power possessed by the King OF
England, that is not vested in the President Nor
Will this be regarded as very considerable prac-
teal difference, when it is considered that the
VI
sured the Parliament will sustain the measure
Sir, our own experience will exclusively demon
strate how delusive il would be to RELY for the
security OF our liberty, upon restrictions on the
Executive power. When we pass law, by the
concurrence Of all the branches of the legislative
power, tor the internal Improvement of the Coun-
try, told that we have transcribed the
limits OF the Constitution, to the imminent ieopar-
dy OF public fl eedom; but when the President by
virtue of the treaty-making power, buys an Empire
to the West and adds it TO the Republic, we are
told that there is no limit to the ueaty-makine
power but the discretion Of the Executive, and
that treaty is the supreme law of the land.
II is obvious, therefore, from this view of the
underlined and illimtable nature of Executive
power, that all barriers restrictive Of that power
would be utterly nugatory and contemplate, with
out well connected system OF responsibility. 1t
has not been my object, in pointing out the char
acier and extent OF Executive power, TO hold it
up as an object OF alarm. am far from egarding
power as, IN itself, an evil. On The contrary, |
view it the indispensable means of comforting The
greatest National blessings. What dread is the
abuse of power Show me political power 80
efectualy guarded, that it~vill certainly be exer
ted from the promotion of the welfare Of the Re-
public, and will love and iolize it, According
to these views it is my object TO nfuse into the
Executive government that salutary energy which
can only be derived from the confidence Of the
People. Without that confidence, President
cannot do much good; with il, he can scarcely do
much evil.
While discussing the connection between liberty
and power, il is a consolation to reflect in tile
present militant state OF fee principles in the
civilized world that liberty is essential 10 power
as power is 10 liberty In fact, the sentiment
contained in the message of the President at the
opening OF the session, that '' liberty is power
IS strictly and philosophcalIy true. In the i'm
proved state OF the art OF ia modern times the
power OF Nation is measured by its financial ca
pacity. This capacity OF course depends upon
the wealth OF the Nation, and that again upon the
stimulus applied 10 industry by the security 10
property derived from free institutions. On The
contrary, the precsrious tenure OF property, and
every other blessing in despotic governments
paralizes individual industry, and results in Ma
tional poverty. Power itself becomes thus the
principle Of liberty. Despolic rulers finding their
military power sinking through their finances,
will be driven TO the alternative of giving freedom
to their subjects, falling before the superior pow
er offree States. The extraordinary power which
England has exered In the affairs of modern En-
rope, is at once the illustration and the proof of
these remarks.
Having shown the efficacy OF the principle of
elective responsibility, in harmonzing the action
ofliberty and power, shall proceed TO take brief
view OF the principles OF freedom that have cha
racterizcd other fee governments, and their COM
parative efficiency.
The only two forms in which freedom was known
TO the ancenis, were absolute democracy, and
bat0nee Of orders. From it's very nature, sim
pie democracy is destined TO a turbulent and lem
porsry existence and violent death. The assefa-
blage OF the great mass Of political community,
to deliberate and decide upon affairs of the deepest
moment, must unavoiJably give rise 10 scenes Of
fffsxtt, 1fstf,sa 49,.
patible with the idea Of regulated and permanent
lrcelnrn- ANlilc re recnnnize In ilIn f.an 81