Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-07-24
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22. 1929.
THE UNION


THE UNION.
Correspondence betsceem John Quincy Ad-
ans, Esquire, President of the Gnited
States, and Several Citizens of lNassa.
chusettS, concerning tile Charge of De-
Sign to DtSSolve the Union aUcdeed to
haze existed IN that State.
CONCLUDED.
we repeat 1t, the supreme law, i'm free
state Is Its own will, and consequently, a.
mong such a people, the highest power
does not necessarily belong to him who is
clothed with office, but to him who does
most, in whatever sphere, to guide and de-
termine the public mind Office is a Sc
condary influence, and indeed its most en-
viable distinction consists in the opportu-
nifty which it affords for swaying the opin-
IONS and purposes of the community The
nominal legislator is not always the real
one. lie is often the organ of superior
minds, and, If the people be truly free, his
chief function is, to give form and eff
cheney to the general will Even in mon
arches where free press is enjoyed, the
power passes more and more from the
Pu"iic t:nctlonary to the master spirits
VINO frame the nations mind,-Tbus tho
pen OF Burke rivaIled tie sceptre Of his
sovereign. The Progress of freedom and
y! society is marked by this fact, that Off
Ga, gives place to personal, intellectual,
dno FLORAL dignity. 1t is bad omen.
Were office is thought the supreme good
and where the people sees in the public
functionaries not an organ of its own will.
but superior being, on whom its peace
and happiness depend
We mean not to deny the necessity OF
office. We know that the President fills
an important place. We know that the
community has an interest i'm his integrity
and wisdom, and that is disgraced and in
Jured by placing an incompetent, or un.
principled man in the most conspicuous
station. To the President are confided
important functions as can be DISCHARGED
only by one or two individuals in the coun-
try, not as ought to make him an object
or idolatry or dread, not such as should
draw TO him any extraordinary homage
not such as should justify intense desire i'm
the candidate. or intense excitement in the
people. Under institutions really free, no
Office can exist which deserves the strug-
giles OF ambition. Did our constitution
create such an office, it would prove its
authors to have been blind or false to their
country's dignity and rights. But that
noble charter is open to no such reproach
The presidency. the highest function in
the state, is exceedingly bounded by the
Constitution, and still more by the spiri,
OF the community. A president has been
and may often be, one of the least efficient
men IN the government. We need not &c
lar for proof In both houses Of Congress.
there were men whose influence over the
country was greater than the last president
tie indeed contributed to keep the whee
oil government in motion. But we ask
what new impulse did he give it? VIVA
single important measure did he originate
was there man in office more iettereo
and thwarted? We talk of the admiDi,tra
tons of Mr.. Monroe and Adams We
ask, what impression of themselves have
they left on legislation and on public affairs
They gave no spring to the public mind
popular senator or representative die
more to sway the community. And thu
is as itishouId be. We rejoice that officia
influence is so restricted, that the peopl,
are not mere echoes Of single voice
that no man can master his fellow-citjzeDs
that tEere is general, an all-pervadlDg in
tehigence, which modifies, controls, ant
often neutrallzes, the opinion and will o
the higest public functionary.
We have spoken Of the presidency a
1t actually existed, and as it must in
great measure exist, whilst we are free
and yet through deusion which ha
come down from past ages, this office, S,
limited in power, so Instructed by legis!a
tive branches and by public opinion, which
IS conferred upon the individual at tn
longest but for eight years, and from which
ne retires to a secluslon, where scarcel
an eye follows, or voice OF appreciation
cheers him, this office, to cur disgrace, i
coveted by an insane ambition, as if j
were hereditary throne, and the peopl
are as much excited e. disturbed when the
are called upon to fill it, as if they wer
choosing master for life at whose fee
the country was to be laid an unprotecte,