Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-24
CLOSING REFLECTIONS.

1.-THE Country claims our active AID;
I" That let US roam.
sand where we find spark Of public virtue,
"Blow it into fame"
During the ensuing month. aud before some OF
our subscribers can this sheet, the People VIII
pass judgment on the Candidates tor the fresi'
dency, and in doing SO will perhaps hx the rate
Of the Republic.
So momentous consequence has never be-
fore been involved in any election in this country
we NAV saw, in any country: for the future
fortunes Of our institutions are not more closely
interviewer with the result Of the contest, than
they are with the cause of human liberty all over
the globe. Let the American People, BY false
step, forfeit the bess,nes which they have aeqair
ed by the blood of their brave and the councils OF
their wise. and where then can oppressed freedom
in othse climes find encOuragements WHITTIER
can Philanthropy turn her eyes for model and
a lessoul
To urge OH our fellow citizens the solemnity
of the crisis; 10 place broadly and clearly before
them the facts which ought to influence their
| judoment; and TO invoke their attention to the
pregnant responsibilities Of their decis,on:-these
have long been the task Of patriotic tongues and
pens far ADLER than ours, Having often and
zealously contributed in our humble manner to
this object, We could add but little to the stock
of public information, even 1t time enough re-
NAMED for further labor to be eficacious. But
our feelings render it impossible that we should
suffer the interesting moments proceeding the
struggle to pass. without briefly Invoking our
countrymen to look we'll to the precipice on which
stand their institutions, their liberties, and the
best hopes Of man.
Without traversing again the wide field which
our readers have so often gone over, we must
press single consideration on their attentions
consideration OF ensrossng predominant conse.
uuence. No candid and intelligent observer OF
public affairs since the accession of General Jack
son to the Presidency. can deny that their ten
dency is to subject this country to the DOMINION
| of ONE MANA heresy in our system more p0r-
teDtous than the bitterest denouncer Of coNsoLr-
pATIoN had ever supposed possible
The present Chief Magistrate, after straining
| the affirmative powers of the Executive to point
dangerous to our free system; after asserting an
independence Of the Senate which, in substance,
went to nullify that coordinate branch Of the Ex
ecutive; after applying the negative powers Of the
Executive over bills and to objects for which 1t
never was designed. and with avishness as far
beyond precedent as it exceeded the conception
of the trainers Of the Constitution; after pervert
ing the public offices Of the nation TO the purpose
Of cementng this usurping system; after all these
strides to absolute power. the present Chief Ma.
gistrate, say, has openly and formally pretend.
cd to the power Of ORIGINATING bills, IN add-
ton 10 that which he had exercised, Of Uiy,aty
rejecting them; and has PROCLAIMED HIMSELF IN.
DEPENDENT BOTH OF CONGRESS AND THE JUDIoI.
AIRY. Fur the first pretenson, he had before sui.
firiently prepared the public. The second is. in
substance. a claim to be ABOVE ALL LAW Nay
more-after completing, BY his signature, the en-
actment of a law, he has refused to execute it,
Not only so, but he has given to this pretension
retrospective power, by refusingto execute the
Indian Intercourse law. passed III the year 1902;
and has thus put forward principle, it that term
can oe so applied, which places the whole statute
book at his mercy. According to him. no mat.
ter how long law may have been passed, or how
ever strongly it may be fortified BY judicial decl-
sons or public reverence, if he chooses to con-
lecture that it is not constitutional. he is not
bound to execute 1t. One would think that 10
refuse, according to his pleasure, his approba-
ton of bills presented by Congress tor his sigma.
ture, would be sufficient stretch OF power with
out asserting the monstrous power OF nul'f'lng
and rendering dead letters all the laws Of his pre-.
decessors from the beginning Of the Government.
What IS the amount Of this assumption, but a
claim on the part OF the President OF this Rcpnbllc
to DISPENSING POWER over the laws OF the land?
Such pretension has not been exercised with
| impunity, even in the British monarchy, except
in its despotic times. After more regular notions
of liberty began to prevail in England, it cost in
connection with other congenisl usurpat'ons. one
of her Kings his crown. and another his head.
| To waste argument in proving that the system
we have glanced at must, il sanctioned by the
People, convert this Republic into despotism.
by whatever title its Chief Magistrate may be
called, would be insulting to their understand
ing. Sufficient proof is furnished by the system
itself. and the course of the President. his fol-
lowers, and his official organs. Both Houses OF
Congress have been denounced; proposition
has been suggested of amending the Constitution
SO as to punish the Senate Tor their contumacy;
he has-and we are well aware Of the serious ma
ture Of the charge-he has approved OF. and BY
his language encouraged the application Of club
law to refractory Representatives; his most che.
rished counsellor has exhorted Congress to adj
journ and 60 home, and learn their duty TO the
/ II ..Gk