Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-30
CLOSING REFLECTIONS.

"Tho Country claims our active aid;
-'That let roam,
"And where we find spark Of public virtue,
elbow it into fame"
During the ensuing month, ard before some of
our subscribers this sheet, thu People will
pass judgment on the candidates for the Presden-
Cyl and in doing, viii perhaps fix the fate of the
Republic
So momentous a consequence has never before
been involved in any election in this countiy-we
may say, in any country: for the future fortunes
OF our institutions are not moro closely interviewer
with the result of the contest, than they are with
the cause OF human liberty all the globe. Let
the American People, by false step, forfeit the
blessings which they have acquired by the blood of
their brave and the councils Of their wise. and
where then con oppressed freedom in other chimes
md encouragement Whithor can philanthropy
turn her eyes for model and iesson7
To urge on our follow citizens the solemnty Of
the crisis; to place broadly and clearly before them
the facts which ought to Influence their Judgment
and to invoke their attention to the pregnant re-
sPonsibities of their decision:-thcse have long
been the task Of patriotic tongues and pens far
ADLER than ours Having often and zealously con-.
tributed in our humble manner to this object we
could add but little to tho stock of public nforma
ton, even If time enough remained for further la
Dor to be efficacious. But our feelings render il
imposslbs that should suffer the interesting
moments preceding the struggle TO pass, without
priehy invoking our countrymcn to look well to
the prccipice which stand their their
liberties, and the best hopes of man.
Without traversing again the wide field which on r
readers have so often gone over, we must press a
single consideration on their attention. consi-
deration of eDgrossing, predominant consequence
No candid and intelligent observer of public af
fairs since the accession of Gen. Jackson to The
Presidency, can deny their tendency is to subject
this country to the DsHIHIoN of ONE MANI hercsy
in system more poftentous than the bitterest
donouncer of CONSOLIDATION had ever supposed
possible.
Tho present Chief Magistrate after straining
the affirmative powers Of the Executive TO point
dangerous to free system; after asserting an
independence o. the Senate which, in substance,
went to nulify that coordinate branch of the Elk
9cutiVe; after applying the negative powers of the
Executive over bills and to objects for which il
never was designed and with a layishness az far
beyond precedent 1t exceeded the conception
OF the trainers Of the Constitution: after pervertinp
the public othcies of the nation to the purpose
OF cementng this usurping system after oil these
strlocs 10 absolute power, the present Chief Ma.
glstrate, we say, has openly and formally pretend
co W inc power OF oEIGINATIHo bills in add
ton to that which he had exercised of ,,;Jf,,I,
Teiceting them and has PRocLAtsrn p,xsr,y ,x
DEPENDgNT BOTH. CoNGREss Asn rue J,n,c,
AIRY. For the first protension he had before emf
hcientIy prepared tho public. The second ;s i
substance, claim TO DO ABOVE ALL Law Ne,
more-sfteT completing by his signature. the en-
actment OF a law, he has refused to execute ii =
Not only so, but he has given TO this pretension =
retrospective power by refusing to execute the In
dian intercourse law passed in tho wear 1902; apc
has thus put forward principle, IL that term car
he 20 applied which places the whole statute bool
at his mercy. According to him. no matter how
long law may have been passed, or however