Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-07-19
PENNSYLVANIA.
fro BE CoNTINUED.1

The newspapers of Philadelphia are filled
with the proceedings Of the Administration
Meeting held in that city on the 4'h of July.
The meeting was addressed by Mr.. Sergeant,
Mr.. Hopknson, Mr.. Ingersoll, and several
other gentlemen. Mr. Sergeant remarked:
"Undcr our republican constitution, the men
who make the laws. aud the men who admin
ister them, are the representatives. Of the people
of all the pcople-of those who made them
what they are, and entrusted them with au
thority for the benefit Of their constituents. II
is the public voice which such representa-
speaks. 1t is the public will which determines
his tenure of Office, according to his conduct.
The President Of the United States is the rep
resentative of the people. He does not stand
alone, nor by his own strength, but he stands
upon the Foundation Of the Constitution. lie
cannot, no ought not to have feeling, wish
or an interest separate from that Of the people,
whose organ he IS.
"Why, then, do we want military Prosi-
dent Is this military people, or is il a peace
full and industrious people! Why do we want
in President. military qualifications or the
talent for commando And, especially, how
can it be necessary, or consistent with pru-
dence, to select for the highest civil oihce ore
VINO has nOtnlng 10 put
mcnts as qualifications for filling Il
"The duties of the President are all OF a
civil nature. 1t is true that by the Constitu-
ton, he is commander in chief of the army
But, he is commander and chief OF the navy
too and he is commander in chief Of the MI
iitia Of the several States, when called into
the service of the United States. Will 1t be
asserted that he is 10 be qualified for each,
and, in person, actually 10 command them all,
the fleets as well as the armies No. The
meaning of the constitution is far different from
this. 1t is an application Of the great maxim,
Of civil liberty which pervados all oar consii-
tutions, that the military shall he subordinate
to the civil authority. The first civil magls-
traie of the Republic is placed above the fleets
and armies. They are made subordinate to
the civil authority. The sword OF the soldier
is re ceived from the hands OF the civil magis-
trate and with it. the Injunction that remcm-
bering the source from which his Office is de-
rived, he is TO be always obeIcnt to the con-
stitution and laws, mindful of the rights of the
citizen, and respectful to the civil institutions
of the country. He is TO know, that il he
offend, there is an appeal where civ'i sympathy
is felt.
"Away, then" he said. "with the notion
that military qualifications are ne ccssaty IN
chief ma agistrate. On the contrary, such an
opinion was destructive OF our peace-loving
constitution, destructive o! the happiness and
security of the citizen, and calculated 20 bring
back the days Of fcudal ignorance and martial
oppression.
% We had been told, also," he said, that
in one section Of the country, the military can
didate ought to be supported, because he was
"a Southern man with Southern feelings. =
And what Is the converse Of this "A North
"a ". al. a., . ht<-ls
at once be pronounced TO be unreasonable,
factious and tseason to the constitution. Were
we to talk this way, and insist upon il that We
would have a Northern man, or an Eastern
man, with sectional feelings and interests
one in whom preponderating local feelings,
should oveibea duo regard for the whole
what would our Southern friends say to US Z =
But never, since the Constitution was framed,
has so absurd claim been thought of IL Is
not now set up. We do not support North
crn man with Northern feelings we support a
a Northern man with National feelings. THIS
is the ground Of the Constitution = ono who
surveys the interests Of the whole pro-
notes equally, as far as in him lies. the pros
perity OF all-who regards all the great inter
ests Of every part Of the Union, and gives them
their due importance.
He did not know" he said, "what pre-
cisely was mearr by Southern feelings:
Were they to be learned from the cry We had
lately heard from the South lie would aus
wer il by saying, we want no sectional OF Iocai
feelings. Any man with National feelings We
ask not whether he is from the North, the
South, the East. or the West. But Of this we
must be assurcd-If wo are 10 be pressed with
sectional feelings. instead Of enlarged and
statesman like ,icws-G one portion Of the
Union is to be indulscd with continued as
tendency. tba, another p,ay be depressed, or
il STRIFE lke this is 10 be allowed, what in