Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-19


4 Tree community, indeed, has need OF presid-
ing officer but it depends no ;ndiv iduai alone
htted for the office; and still more il needs Pre-
sident, not to be its master, but 10 express and
execute IFS own will. This last thought is fun
damsntal and never to be forgotten. Tn, only
law OF free people, is the will of the majority, or
public sentiment, and TO collect, embody, utter,
and execute this, IS the great end ofits civil inst-
tuition eli-governmentis its greatest attribute, lis
supreme distinction, and this gives 10 Office in
Tree state an entirely different character from what
1t possesses in despotic countries The difference,
however, is overlooked among US anh the same
Importance is attached TO Office il it conferred
absolute power.
We repeat il, the supreme law in free state
rs IFS own will, and conse guen,ly, among such
people, the highest power does not .sariiy be-
long TO him, who is clothed with Office, but to.him
who does most, in whatever sphere, to guide and
etermine the public mind Office is seconda-
ry influence, and indeed its most enyiabie dstinc
ton consists in the opportu mites which it affords
Tor s"aying the opinions and purposes of the CON-
munlty.I he nominal Legislator is not always the
al one. lie is often the organ OF superior minds,
and, II The people be truly tree, his chief function
~ 10 give form and efficiency TO the general will.
Even IN monarchies, where free press is enjoy
ed,the power passes more and more from the pub
lie iunctionary TO The master spirits who frame
the nations mind.-Thus the pen OF Burke rival
led the sceptre ofhis sovereign. The progress of
freedom and OF society is marked by this fact,
that Official gives place TO personal, intellectual,
lice is thought the supreme good, and where
people sees in the public tunc,ionary, not an or
gan oil It's own will, but superior being, on whom
lis peace and happiness depend.
We mean not TO deny the necessity of office.
We know that the President fills an iinportan;
place. We know that the community has an in.
terest in his integrity and wisdom, and that il is
disgraced and injured by placing an incompetent
or unprinciped man in the most conspicuous sta
ton. To the President are coDiided important
functions, but not such functions as can be dis
charged only by one or two individuals in the coun-
try, not such as ought to make him an object Of
ido!atry or dread, not such should draw to him
any extraordinary homage not such as to Justify in
tense desire in the candidate, or intense excite
ment in the people. Under institutions, really
iree no office can exist which deserves the s;rHg.
giles oil ambition. D:l our constitution create
such an office, il would prove its authors 10 have
been blind or false TO their countrys dignity and
rights. But that noble charter is open to no such
} reproaeh-Ihe presidency, the highest function
in The state, is exceedingly bounded by The Con-
stitulion, and still more by the spirit of The com
munity. President has been, and may often be,
one OF the least efficient men in the government
We need not go far for proof. In both houses OF
congress there were men, whose influence over
the country was greater than that OF the las.
PRESIDENT. He indeed contributed to keep the
wheel OF government in motion. Bot we ask
= what new impulse did he give il? What single
important measure did he originate? Was there
man in Office more fettered and thwarted? we
, Mr. Adams. We ask, what impressionos them
selves have they let on Legislation and on public
af'sirs! They gave no spring to the public mind.
n popular senator or representative did more to
sway the community. And this is as it should be-
We rejoice that official influence Is so restricted
that TIE people are not mere echoes Of single
voice, that no man can master his fellow citizens
that there is general, al-pcrvadipg intelligence,
"nich modibes, controls, and often neuua.iLes, the
opinion and viii oil the highest public fiinctionary
we have spoken of the presidency as il has ac-
tuaiiy existed, and as it must in great measure
exist whilst we are free; and yet, through deiu-
sion which has come down from pas. ages, this Of
nee, so limited in power, so obstr,c.ed by the leg
isative branches and by public opinion, which il
conferred on the individual at the longest but for
eight years, and from which he retires to Sc
cIuson, where scarcely an eye follows, or a voice
OF appreciation cheers him, this Office, 10 our dis.
grace, is coveted by an insane ambition, as il il
were an hereditary throne, and the people are as
much excited and disturbed, when called 10 fiji it
as II they were choosing master for life az whsse
iee' The country was 10 be laid unproec., VIC
um 10 our shame be il said, for the last Gig h.
years every interest of the nation has been post.
poned TO The comparatively inferior concern OF
choosing President The national legislature
forgetting it's appointment to watch over the gen
eral veal, has wasted and worse than vested i,s
annual sessions in inrigues Tor The advance
ment OF rival Candidates. The most important
measures have been discussed and decided not
with reference to the country, but chiefly accord
ing TO their bearings on what has been called the
presidential election. So sadly have we wanteI
the seli-respect which belongs 10 freeIncnl In
these disgracefCl transactions, in this sllamefu
excitement spread through the conImunity we
see that as people we have not drunk as ieepIy
as we imagine Of the lofty spirit OF liberty In
proportion as people become free, in proportion
as pubic sentiment reign' Office ceases to be
distinction, political ambition expires, the prizes
OF political ambition Withdrawn, The self-res.
pect OF the people preserves il from, bowling TO "a
IN thoc haro r.
despotsrn, that the ruler is every thing and the
people comparatively nothing, the reverse ia the
grand distinction OF free state This distinction
we bave yet to learn; and il cannot be learned too
thoroughly. Unless we are preserved by a lust
seli-respect from dividing into factions for The eIe
walton OF leaders, we shall hold our Union AMI
our rights by very uncertain tenure. Bet.
ter were 1t to choose President by lot from
hundred names TO which each State shall contrib.
ute its fair proporoD,\ than repeat the degrading
struggle thro which we have recently passed.
We close this topic by entreating our citizens TO
remember the great argument in favor OF heredi.
taTy monarchy II may be expressed in a few
words The highest Office in a nation, saws tic
nonarchis, ongbt 10 10 her ediiary, because il Is
an object too dazzling anil exciting 10 be held III,
Tor competition. Such a prize offered TO the aa-
piring, mus, infamo to madness the lust Of power
and engender perpetual sll!e. a people having
such gift to bestow, 'Ytl TO exposed 10 perpetu
| al arts aud mschnatioas. lis PASSIONS viii nevor
be allowed to sleep. Faciious, headed by popul ar
| chiefs AMI exasperated 10y conflict. will AT length
resort to force, ami in the storms which will FOLLOW
the Constitution wiz TO pTcsirs,cd, and the gu.
preme power he the prey u successful usurpcT.
he pcdce and stability OF a nation demand that
the supreme power should be placed above rival
| ry, and beyond the hopes ofambinn and THE can
tonly be done by making il hereditary Such Is
| the grand argument ia favor OF monarchy As
people we have jono too much TO sonfFm it'll