Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-06-26

ments in his hands, to execute the law
according to his will No. Not one ol
these claims is disclaimed by this sup
plement. The truth is, that nothing in
the protest is disclaimed by the supple
ment; nothing. 1t processes, indeed, to
explain away one claim Of power set W
in the Protest; but it does no such thing
il only DISCUSSES that claim by different
form of words, but as really asserts the
claim as the Protest asserted IT.
The Protest claimed for the Execu'
tive the custody Of the public treasure
the supplement disclaims this claim, but
with an exception that covers this clam
entirely. The exception is this-"l dis
claim the custody of the public treasure,
unless, (mark itD unless the trustee o
that treasure be an officer under the
Constitution and law, and be appointed
by me and the Senate; then, in that
case, claim the custody, as claim the
control Of that officer" Now that trus'
tee always has been, and always will be,
such an officer.
All the difference, then, between the
Protest and the supplement is, that the
Protest claims the custody of the public
treasure for the Executive directly, and
the supplement claims the custody OF II
for him indirectly.
1t is probable enough that the Protest
only meant this indirect control, and, SC
far, it may be an explanation, that can
be called an explanation which darkens
the matter to be explained. This docu-
ment, then, is manifesto of despotlsm,
asserting for the Executive all the pow
crs of Government; and the supplement,
instead Of being retraxit oi the claim,
is but the re-assertion of the claim in d
more fraudulent form.
But this document, after all, does no
thing more, repeat, than to embody the
principles, and their necc ssary consc'
quences, on WHICH the present Execu-
tive has all along acted, and to claim
for them the authority Of the Constitu-
ton.
1t would be an afi'ront to the American
underst anding to offer TO show, by de-
tailed process Of argument, that such is
not the American Constitution; that the
powers claimed by the Executive are
not powers conferred upon the Execu-
tive by the Constitutions; IN word, that
the Government, established by the Con-
stitution, is not despotisn.
Yet, there are not wanting those who
contend that the manifesto is a true eX-
position Of the Constitution. 1t is aston
ishing to me that, in this free country,
there should be found men Of intelli-
gence and reflection, to contend, in ef-
feet, that our Constitution-supposed TO
be the freest on earth; the one in which
liberty was the best guarded, had laid
lis foundations in tyranny; that tyranny
was its genuine fruit; and the Executive,
to be true to the Constitution, must be a
despot. And what is still more aston
ishing to me, is the expectation, which
seems to be INDUCED by these gentle
men, that the People, as arbiters Of this
question, will decide in favor of this doc
trine in favor Of this constitutional des-
potism.
There have been in all countries at
times, and in some countries at all times,
apologists and defenders of fdespotism;-
but then it has always been when and
where the physical force of the country,
on the side Of despotsm, has been such,
that the innate desire Of freedom, on the
other, was too powerless to contend with
that force. But when, before, in the
history Of free nations, gift shall be so
now, y have free People, with liberty
on one hand, and despotism on the 9TH
er, set before their eyes for their free
choice Of either, chosen despotism of
preference Chosen slavery Of prefer
ence, and to drink Of its bittor W waters?--'
The annals of all time will be ransacked
in vain, ] venture to say, to find another
instance.
l have only TO add, in conclusion, that
we have one obligation at least, to the
Protest, namely, that disdaining all dis
guises, it openly proposes to the People
of this country despotism for their Co
vernlnent; nakcd--an undIsguised des-
potism.
Without pretending to answer for 9th
ers, / will undertake to answer for the
People Of Rhode-Island, without any
fear Of being dsavowed by them, that
they will not accede to the proposal.