The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-10-17

those then in 4 minority to share IN The admins
traton of the Government. This counsel gained
for him the support OF large number OF that class
of citizens and the People of the United States of
all denominations. weaTied with dsSenton and dis
cord. approved the sentiment as magnanmous and
But on his accession to power, he be-
came himself the head of party, the most ntoler-
art and proscriptive ever known in the country.
And not only this but all who refuse to fall into it
and support his administration, not merely de-
nounced BY his presses, but denounced by the
name of that party to which he had spc Ken in the
language of Cancellation. We aCcordi ngly not on
y behold the whole strength of the Administration
press put forth TO revive distinction of parties
against which the President had protested, while
such protest was of service to him but in order
10 give him personally the benefit of this uncan-
did procedure, we see men eminent as democrats
(whIlc that division of parties existed J now de-
nounced as iederalists and leading federasts sup
ported as democrats, merely because they happen
TO be opposers supporters of this Administration
1t had been the main objection TO the last Presi-
dent, that having been selected from the three
highest candidates by the House of Representatives
he had placed in his cabinet distinguished MEM
Der of that body, who had voted for him. Notwith-
standing the unquestioned fitness of Mr.. CLAW for
the Office Of Secretary Of State and the nreason-
ableness not to say impoSsibility of holding every
man DISTINGUISHED for office who NAV have contrib
uted 10 any degree to promote the election of a
President, the friends of the present incumbent
deemed this appointment SO dangerous attempt
on the purity of Congress, 10 be itself sufficient
ground OF opposition to tic administration of .lr.
Adams. Gen Jackson himself considered the dam
ger so imminent, that he pressed upon Congress.
IN his first message, an anne ndment Of the Consti-
tuition, disquaIfying members of Congress for all
appointments except the judicial. But notwith-
standing this his own declared opinion OF the i'm
proprety OF these appointments, very large pro-
portion of the valuable offices in his gift have
hae n( 10
House of Representatives and some of them on
no conceivable grounds, bu: that of superior dill
gcnce and activity in promoting his own election
II was warmly but most unjustly urged against
the last Administration, that 1t abused its patron
age to effect its own continuance in power; and in
his inaugural address, the present chief magistrate
thought proper expressly to charge his predecessor
with bringing " the patronage of the federal gov
eminent into conflict " It'll the freedom OF electons"
In violation of his pledge to pursue an opposite
course. the present Chief magistrate has removed
great number of officers for other cause, than
that of having been opposed to himself and he has
appointed very many for other reason, but hav
ing supported him. And in addition to this, it is
fact too well known to be disputed, that at Pc
riod since the organization OF the federal govern
ment has there existed even an approach towards
the systematic. intense, all pervading operation Of
federal patronage the freedom of election.
1t is well known that. it was objected to the
late President that he had not received plurality
OF popular votes; it was charged upon him, that
there was a tendency in the assures OF his ad
minstration against popular principles. No facts
were or could be quoted to prove such tendency :;
but the very vagueness and generality ofthe charge
made il a convenient topic Of popular Exclamation
In the present incumbent the People were promis-
ed that they should have a President who would
rather repel than arrogate power. and an admins
tratlon conducted purely republican principles
In his inaugural message he himself expressed the
hope that he should have the 4" instruction y as well
as - the cooperation" of the coordinate branches
OF the government inc contrast Of the measures
of his administration with these professions is of
the most glaring and painful kind The people
have been treated with the most marked indlgnty
IN the only way in which that can he done in the
action of the Executive Government we mean in
the person OF their representatives. The accredit-
ed organs of the press have made it one leading OBJ
ject to yilify the two houses of Congress and the
most disrespectfu insinuations against their mem
bers have been automatically traced to the Pres-
dent himself. The power of the Veto. designed
tor the EXTREMIST cases, n monarchical feature of
the British Constitution engrafted with question:
able proprlety on ours. has been exercised more
frequently by him in three sessions of Congress
than by all his predecessors for forty years So far
from seeking :" instruction" of the coordinate
branches OF the government, he has in his Veto
Message on the Bank declared, that " the opinion
OF the Judges has no more authority over Congress
lHdh tNe opinion 0l congress over the Judges and
on that point, the President is independent of both
In the same message, he assigns as one reason for
rejecting the bill for re-charterlng the Bank that
! the Executive was " not called upon to furnish the
project of such an institution"
1 This Convention, although they propose to them
selves in this Address, to abstain from argument
and confine themselves to facts of ndsputabe no.
toriety cannot but pause a moment to remark up
on the doctrines Just cited, at war they are with
tho letter, and still more at with the spirit of
] the constitution. II is of course, unnecessary to
say, that the Opinion of Congress" has no au-
thOrty al all, except expressed in joint rule,
! relative to the form of business between the two
/ Houses. Beyond this an opinion of Congress-" as
f'r as legal authority g es, is entity. On the
contrary. the opinion of the Court, all matters
duly brought before them, is legally binding on all
concerned. The constitution provides that " the
Judcial polcer Of the United States shall be vested
| IN one Supreme Court, anc in such inferior Courts
as the Congress may ordain and establish" and
that Judicial power is TO be exercised through the
channel of the official opinions of the Court
Those opinions bind the President and Congress-
who may change the law, but while it is the law,
may not disobey it. Any process of reasoning to
shew that the opinions Of the Court have bind
ing authority over the President and Congress,
would show the same of every subordinate officer
and every citizen; that is, that the Court has no
authority at all. This Convention believe that
such doctrine was never before avowed under any
government of laws. Most assuredly. Language like
this was never before addressed to the American
People.
The last administration was accused of extrava-
gance. and among the most efficient instruments in
putting 1t down, was the far-amed Committee of
ReTencdment. Its notorious fact that except in
the year 1929, for which the appropriations were
made under Mr.. Adams, the expenses of the gov
eminent have gone on increasing every year For
1929 they were &I2 669 49u for 1880 Gi3 229, 533
Tor lG3I GA Dol md fol 1870 . 10 Jafn
preparations rise TO Sl6657 500, with a large
amount not ascertained. So notorious was .he
abandonment by the friends OF the administration,
when they came into power, Of the principles pro-
iessed by them on this point while in opposition,
that the retrenchment Committee and its report
were denounced as an imposition, on the floor of
congress, at the last session, by gentleman sec
ond to no other among the opponents Of the late
administration
Finally, general process of reformation was
vaguely promised among the benefits to be
effected by ovetturning the former administration.
In the inaugural message this greatly abused ex-
preston was adopted, and it was declared, that
= the task 81 reform was inscribed by the recent
demonstration of public sentiment on the list of
executive duties" How that task was performed
IN reference to the only thing specified in the mes
sage, the abusive interference of the general gov.
erh;ncht IN elections, we have already seen. The
word was soon explained, by the executive prac-
hce, to mean, remoring political opponents from
Office. Although Congress was advised by the
President, for grounds stated by him. 10 limit the
duration Of all Offices to four years his own among
The rest he has perceived the application of these
reasons neither TO his own case nor that ofany Of
his trends; and the UOrd "Reform," aud the |
hing which il has been made To mean have at
asst become the jest and scorn of the People
In this way have the promises, under which the |
present administration came into power. been full
lied Nor is it less notorious that those anticipa
ions Of danger and evil formed and expressed BY
he friends OF the last administration, have been
more than realized