Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-25

:. cut down." will be bound down; aud comman,
ding the Army aud the Navy, and holding o.,
places Of trust to be party property wna' VIII
then be left, Sir, for Constitutional reliance.
Sir. we have been accustomed 10 venerate Tue
Judiciary. and to repose hopes Of safety on that
branch of the Governments But let Us not de.
ceiye ourselves. The Judicial power cannot
stand, for long time, against the Executive
power The Judges. il is true, hold their places
by an independent tenure; but they are moran.
That, which is the common lot OF Humanity. must
make il necessary TO renew the benches OF JUS
tice. And how will they be 6lede Doubtless,
Sir, they will be filled BY incumbents, agreeing
with the President, in his constitutional opinions.
If the Court 10 felt as an obstacle, doubtless the
first opportunity will be embraced, to give it less
and less the character Of an obstacle Sir,
without pursuing these suggestions, ! only say
that the country mus, prepare itself tor any
change in the judicial Department. such as 1t
shall deliberately sanction, in other departments
But, sir, what is the prospect OF change! Is
there any hupe. that the national sentiment Will
recover ITS accustomed tone, and restore to the
government just and efficient administration!
Sir, if there be something Of doubt, on this
point, there is also something. perhaps much, OF
hope. The popularity of the present Chit Mag
istrate. springing from causes not connected with
his administration OF the government has been
great. Public gratitude for military service has
stood fast to hun. in defiance OF many things, in
his civil administration, calculated to weaken its
hold At length, there are indications. not to
be denied, Of new sentiments. aud new impress
sions At length, "a conviction OF danger to
important interests, and to the security Of the
government, has made its Judgment IN the pub
lie mind At length, pubic sentiment begins to
hau itsf fro. and tn prnducp itS iusf Of.
tects fully believe, sir, that great majority
of the nation desire a change in the admnistra-
ton; and that it will be difficult for party organ
ization. or party deuunciation to snppress the
effective urtsrance of that general wish. There
are unhappy differences. it is true about the fit
person to be successor to the present in, umbent.
in the Chief Nagistracy. And 1t IS possible.
that this disunion, may, in the end, defeat the
will Of the majority. But 50 far as we agree to-
.ether, let US act together; wherever our sen.
timeuts concur, let our hands cooperate. II we
cannot, at present, agree, who should be PresI'
dent, We are at least agreed who ought not to be.
fully believe, sir, that gratifying intelligence
rs already on the wing. While we are yet tie.
liberating. in Massachusetts. Pennsylvania is
voting. To-day. she elects members 10 the next
Congress. doubt not, the result OF that cleo.
ton will shew an important change in pubic
sentiment, in that State. caunot doubt that
the grea, States adjoining her. holding similar
constitutional principles, and having similar
interests. viii ,e, the impulse Of the same eau
ses which affect her. The people of the Uni
ted States, by a vast and countless majority,
are attached to the Constitution. II they shall
be convinced that it is in Danger, they will come
to its rescue and will save it. 1t cannot be de-
stroyed, even now, If they will undertake its
guardianship and protection.
But suppose, sir, there was less hope than there
is, would that consideration weaken the force of
our oblisationss Are we at post which we are
at liberty to abandon, when il becomes dill ult
to hold it! May we fy'a at the approach OF dan.
GET! Does our fidelity to the constitution re-
quire no more OF US than to enjoy its blessings,
to bask in the prosperity which il has shed around
US, and our fathers, and are we at liberty to
abandon it, in the hour of its peril, Ur to make
tor it but faint and heartess struggle, for the
want of encouragement, and the want of hope?-
Sir, il no State to our succor, If elsewhere
the contest should be given up. here let 1t be pro-
tracted, to the last moment. Here, where the
first blood Of Revolution was shed, let the last
effort, for that which is the greatest blessing OBJ
tanned by it, free and united Government, be
made Sir. in our endeavOrs to maintain our ex.
listing forms OF Government, we are acting not
for ourselves alone, but for the great cause Of
Constitutional liberty all over the globe. We
are trustees, holding a sacred treasure, in which
all the lovers Of freedum have stake. Not on.
" in RevolutionzeL France, where there are no
longer subjects, where the monarch can no long.
er say, he is The State, not only in returned En-
gland. where our principles. our institutions, our
practice OF free government are now daily quot.
ed and commended; but 10 the depths of Gerrna.
ny. and among the desolated fields, and the still
smoking ashes Of Poland, prayers are uttered for
the preservation Of our Union AID happiness.
We are surrounded, sir, by a c,oud Of witness
es The gaze Of the sons Of libert.. every where.
is upon US, anxously, intently, upon us. 1t may
see US fall in the struggle for our Constitution
aud Government, but Heaven forbid that il
should see Us recant
At least, sir, let the Star Of Massachusetts be
the last which shall be seen to fall from heaven,
aud TO plunge into the utter darkness of disuni.
on. Let her shrink back. let her hold others
back, If she can, at any rate let her keep herself
back, from this gulf full, at once, OF fire, and of
blackness; yes, sir. as far as human foresight
can scan, or human imagination fathom. full Of
the fire, and the blood of civil war and of tho