Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-10-25

ing the ways and means; and to what
hands, also, would be entrusted the es-
peciaI duty of guarding the constitution
and the laws against violation. 1t is
true, these gentlemen, and others Of their
particular party, feel sufficiently slight
respect for the President. He very well
knows this. But still they hold these
important places, with his presumed con-
currence; and it is of little importance
to the country, whether all this be the
result of fear, or of party arrangements or
of secret liking Of the doctrines of null
liication. The undeniable truth is, that
these doctrines find no check, no rebukc
no discountenanCe even from the Presi-
dent of the United States. Indeed, how
should they' How should any project
of disorganization, or dissolution Of Cow
ernment, meet reprimand from him,
who, himself, claims right of dispensing
with the obligation of statutes, and set
ting at naught the decisions Of the con-
stitutional tribunals? The union of the
States is in serious danger. The present
Administration is not true to that Union.
1t loves, or it fears, its enemies. 1t
tampers with the spirit of disorganization,
if it do not rather, itself, approve and
cherish it. AT the very moment when
the most essential powers of the Govern
ment of the United States, as a Govern
ment, are surrendered, cried down, and
secuted, even by the President, and his
party, his own pretensons to power are
most cxtravagant and incredible. They
are such as are absolutely incompatible
with alb constitutional liberty, or consti-
tutional restraint.
1t may be thought, that these senti-
ments respecting the President and his
Administration are stated strongly. They
are so. ii is intended they should be-
They are sincerely and religiously be-
lieved by those who express them, and
who think they have no higher duty to
perform, than to lay them fully and sim
cerely before the People. The Presi-
dent has nega,ivcd the Bank Bill. This
will occasion severe distress to some
parts Of the country, and produce, every
where, arrangement and embarrassment.
Yet :he act of refusal is infinitely less re-
prehensibe, and less alarming, than the
grounds on which he undertakes to justi-
fy it. lie has refused assent to certain
acts of Congress-; yet he has approved
other acts, precisely the same in princi-
pie; and he claims the prerogative of ex-
ecuting as much as he chooses ofthe one
or the other, and Of refusing to execute
the rest. From the first, he has reatcd
the Union rather as province, subjuga-
ted by his power, than as free country,
calling him to its head He has dlspos-
sessed all whom he thought his oppo-
nents, Of all Offices in his power, and has
filed them with his own partizans. lie
acts on the principle avowed for him, that
a public office is but a spoil belonging to
the victor. He tolerales 10 difference
Of opinion, and knows no other standard
Of merit, than devotion to himself. lie
is not only known to have spoken ofmem-
bers'of Congress whom he dislikes, in
the harshest terms, but he is believed,
not without reason, to have appro, ed OF
assaults on their persons. Every man is
his enemy who will not consent to wear
his livery; and the official press, near hi.
person, established by his efforts, ant
maintained by his patronage, perform.
no other daily duty than to stigmatize
with every apProbrious epithet, all the
public men IN the country who have the
independence to think and act for them
selves. Intimidation and SANDER from {
profigate and pensioncd press, are evi
IDENTITY among the means relied on tc
overawe and repress the expression o.
public sentiment.
| 1t must be confessed, it is greatly hu.
initiating to feel obliged to ascribe thi,
character to the head of the Government
: and to the measures and the tendency o
his Administration. If any thing could
have prevailed over regard 10 truth, ant
the convictions of duty, the picture hat
not here been drawn.
II But the important question is, can any
thing be done? Is there any hope, or j!
the Constitution inevitably destined tt
early destruction? Does party attach
ment letter the minds Of men so much be
yond the power Of brass and of iron t,
bind their limbs; does party blindness 81
shut their eyes to the dangers which be
6 set the Government oftheir country, tha
it has ceased to be duty to make an eff
for, for the public safety, by appealing t,
the People? Certainly not; certainl,
not. In the first place, all good men vii
do their duty, with or without encourage
ment. A real patriot needs no omen, il
: his country's cause. That cause itself i
his best omen, and his surest pledge.
we arc convinced that the constitution
will not long survive, what then? d.
we wish to survive it, carrying with u
the consciousness IS that we have not don
our utmost to prevent the catnstrophe !