Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-07-30
From the Boston Atlas

of Mr.. Van Buren, to the Presidency?-
Arc those reasons sufficiently strong to-
induce them to vigorous and efficient
action9 Is there power enough in the
opposition to defeat the election of Mr..
Van Bureni What is the distinctive
difference in principle of tho administra-
ton and opposition parties?
Let US look at these questions dispas-
sionately--on broad, public, political
grounds; without reference to the local
and personal chickering's, that are too Of
ten introduced into discussions of this
nature. We will not say that Mr.. Van
Buren, is a selfish politician-a heartess
intriguer-a treacherous friend-nn in
sidious enemy-a calculator of chances,
without reference to Princi ples-the au-
thor Of the spoils policy--or the builder
of those mammoth monopolics which
form the dynasty Of the Empire State
BE oil this as it may-what are the PRiN-
CIPLEs OH which he and tho men about
him sustain his nomination-and which
they will bring into the administration of
the Government?
They are the very principles against
which the true Democracy of this coun-
try have been contending, since the for
nation Of the Constitutions; which have
been examined, and exposed, and bat
tied against, with all tho zeal, and lgor,
and success, which freemen have uni
formly brought to the defence Of free
neutrality-suspicious. which the DOM
inant leaders are pushing to their ex-
treme--and which efectually merge all
popular power in an Executive despot-
ism. There never was name applied
to party, more completely designating
its character, than the appellation of To-
ry desi ignates tho leading men Of the ad-
mnlsti alton.
The first principle Of the TORIES, is
that Of STRENGTHENING THE EXECUTIvE.
This Is the leading article Of their creed.
/ Take as much power as possible, from
the representatives Of the Poople-and
concentrate as much us possible in the
hands Of the Executive. The Govern
ment, say they, should be strong enough
to sustain itself against any popular in
surrection: strong enough to put down
faction, to quell disturbances, to allay
!, agitation, to PROSTATE sectional hostili-
ties. To certain extent, this is true -
Tho Government ought to be sufficient
ly strong TO sustain itself in all good
measures---in all doubtful measures-but
it should not be sufficiently strong to
maintain itself in security in BAD NEA-
,suREs-in oppressive measures-in ar
bitrary sel(-perpetuation. The Execu-
tive ought not TO possess 80 much power,
as will enable it--by itself, without re-
ference to the will of the people, con-
stitutionally expressed by its representa-
itives--to tasten on the people such a
! sys stem and such rulers, rs the sovereign
will and pleasure Of the Executive, may
dictate.
The present amount Of PATRONAGE in
the hands Of the Executive officer, is
sufficient to give him a paramount con-
troll Of our elections. This patronage
must provo The ruin Of our republican
system, unless it is in u great measure
curtailed. An HUNDRED THOUSAND in
dividuals, dependent on the Executive,
moved and governed by the Executive
spending their time and money in the
support Of tho Executive--with the
means, influence, and patronage, which
they in their turn, disburse TO other de-
pendents--such corps, disciplined,
marshalled, and brought to the polls, are
strong enough to carry any election, to
/ sustain any measure which the President
and his advisers direct. This power
must be iormidable--subversive-evcn
IN tho hands Of Il man free from the Or
binary aselfishness, and ambition of our
nature; but in the hands Of bad man,
disposed to use it for bad purposes, and
= VIII at is our security?
4 1t il on this contingcncy--on the
n chance Of good or bad rulers, and on
this alone, that the pcrmanence Of our
Constitution, the perpetuity of our politi-
cal freedom, under the present system,
depend; and disposition to trust such a
contingency was well described by Pa
trick Henry, as distracted folly."--
"Show me-" says that high-minded pa.
triot, and foresceing ST sman, to the re.
cords Of whose eloquent wisdom, repub-
licans cannot too often rcvert-"Show
me that age and country where the
rights and liberties of the people were
placed on the sole chance Of their rulers
being good men, withom a consequent
loss Of liberty" Now II must be OBJ
vious to any one who has reflected at all
on the subject, that the present is the
time TO batter down the bulwarks OF
Executive power; they are too strong
frowning-impregnabIe-and if once oc-
cupied by men resolved to retain them
I you could no more shake their position,
! than you could subvert the battlemen.s