The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-10-11

| divided INTO distinct classes, which, in the
progress Of society, become more and
more strongly marked.
! "But the character thus stamped upon
the frame of society would, of itself, be
OF less Importance, were it not for the
| advantages taken OF it, by the strong over
the weak, the ambitious oyei the depend
ent. In Commonwealth, like that of
the United States, the thousands and tens
ofthousands of Offices, dighities, and
honors, supported and nggrandized by
millions and tens of millions of reyenle,
regularly collected, without failure, from
the people, for that service these NIGH
ty temptations generate and bring forth
countless host of aspirants Of every
grade and character, who devote their
time and faculties to the study ond prac-
tlce Of politics as trade upon their Sue
cess in which, all the best prospects ip
life depend. These form distinct class
or profession, having separate interests,
and being clearly marked and distinguish
ed from the rest of the community, by the
peculiar character Of their occupations,
tho instruments with which they work,
and the value and description OF the pro-
ducts of their skill and labor. And of
these there is always a double set--those
who are in possession Of the posts Of
office, with their connections and ndher-
ents, expecting Offices and favors and
those who are increasingly struggling to
dspossess them.
"This class has never existed in any
country without there being found, in the
opposite extreme, a numerous clsss OF
dependent instruments. And between
these two, and subjected to the oncroach-
ments of both, are the industrious classes
Of The people, by whom the others are
sustained and supported.
"We may shink from tho idea Of
an aristocrucy. But the best historians
inform us that there was never yet u
commonwealth without even its order Of
hereditary nobility. The Federal Con-
stitution has guarded against the intro
duction Of titles Of nobility. So did the
celebrated Tuscan cities, and yet they
had them. And that there is in this coun-
Try, as well as in every other, however
flee, an arstocracy OF office, naturally
{ and unavoidably produced by the power,
patronage and influence inseparable from
the possession Of all the great and minor
offices of government, we must be dull
I indeed not to know. And although n we
have no titles OF nobility, yet, as the re-
public OF Holland had its "High Mighi-
nesses," so have we our Erceitencies, Hon.
oraLies and Worshigfils-titles of which
those who are exalted to them are rs
proud (or vain) as the Dukes and Earles
oil other countries of their titles. They
all feel the same love of power, and dis
: iinc!ions, and emoluments, by whatever
titles they are called.
cit will rot be supposed, we trust, that
our remarks arc intended to apply to any
particular administration, past or present,
or to any particular party or Individual
Different parties may and will advocate
and pursue different political schemes in
which they may all of them be more or
less right or wrong. We have no idea
that in point Of political virtue and patri-
otism, one political party can claim any
preference over another. We speak
solely OF the natural tendency of all re-
publican governments, and Of the natural
propensities and influences which will
inevitably govern all men with few ex-
ceptions) who are in possession OF power
or are in pursuit Of it.
1t is true that the people ought 10 put
! the most liberal constructions upon the
conduct Of their rulers to make every
reasonable allowance for the errors they
may commit and firmly and cilectally
to and and support them in the perform
ancc Of their official duties. But all this
they may do without forgetting that il is
the disposition and tendency Of all gov
ernments to strengthen their own hands
and increase their own powers by en-
croaching upon those of the people. And
that, in short, the best that can be said
Of them is that they are necessary evil.
1t is not true that men in power feel none
but common interest with the body OF
the people. They do, and will ever, feel
a far stronger, personal, individual inter-
est in perpetuating and increasing their
own power and will, most Of them, in
iurtherance Of their private purposes, en-
ploy the additional influence derived from
their Offices, TO Increase the number oI
their adherents and instruments.
ave apprehend that the people gene
4 rlrally are little aware OF the number and
strength of this powerful body, or Of their
almost resistlcss influence and control ov-
er the sufirages and elections. The mum
Der Of men dependent upon the Post Of
flee establishment alone, including post
masters, deputies, clerks, contractors, n
gents, carriers and others, amount to
4 more than thirty thousand. The num-
bers employed under the other depart
mcnts. especially that Of the Treasury,
are also immense; and considering on
the one hand, the willingness Of govern
ment to enlarge the sphere Of their pa
tronage, aud on the other, the greediness
| n ol.,,l,,.I. 10 nh,.;n ,H,ces ovoo tho