Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-01-08

The country. Its evils have been already = yorely
teli aud must, If not arrested speedily nrecip,,p,e
tho greatest calamity which can bef,ll a free neo
pie The distribution and regulation ofexccullye
power ana patronage was among the most impor.
ant and difficult que sions IN the structure md or
eahzailon otonf government. The experience of
phst ages aests that species of political author
ly has more direct tendency To endanger tho very
existence of constitutional hbery; and 20 fully nd.
mon"h LOT this truth were the wise aud vlrtllous
individuals who participated in the formation of the
'ederd constitution, that, after the most anxious
elaboration upon thls branch Of their arlnous and
complicated lnbors, the executive powers wcre cir
eonser'bed and restricted by numerous conSt,tu-
lonal provisions, TO the utmost extent cop,paliblc
VIII an energetic and harmonious administration
of the government. The association of a branch
OF the legislative department us u restraint ON the
executive, the tenure of Office, and The liability Ia
impeachment. are so many evidences Of tho lcn-
ousY winch was fclt, and the olluris which wrrc
naue TO resifoih The executive IN proper limits md
IN secure the country against the natural tendencies
OF lhls department 10 usutp authority. But these
precautions seem, from the history of the last few
years, 10 have been Of luto nvall. The eoncuIren,
power OF The Senate IN confirming or rejecting nom.
nations to office, has atealy dcgeneraled into an
IDLE formula, by the coniemptuous disregard with
which the present Chief Magistrate has treated #.
decisions; and, by the appointment of officers IN
ls recess even after II had once explicitly md de
cidcdly rejected them, the President has vrlunllv
annulled direct constitutional provision and sub
stiluted his own discretion as the sole measure of
executive pferogatiyo. The frequency of elections
so highly exlolledb by the Panegyrlsts Of our system
is constituting The best safeguard OF constitutional
loc'y is already become larec, IT, by the prosll-
tuition oil executive patronage Gas now nllempled)
one incumbent can insure the election of success
sor deslgnatelhy himself And the popularity and
influence of an executive officer who Gun bestow
millions on his reth,ners aud fivorlles, az the re-
ward OF suhscrvence 10 his interests aud obedience
to his commands, and the intrigue, corruption and
vennllty thus generated aud loslored IN the admin
isirat'on OF the government, greatly diminish, il
they do not absolutely destroy, lhe liability Of the
President 10 impeachment and conviction.
In lhc comparatively short space Of time which
has elapsed since the federal government went into
operation the frequent recurrence Of agltallng qucs
uons which involve ITS cardinal principles. have
contributed 10 II general diffusion Of know dsc us
TO the evils inherent IN, and perhaps ln>eparnbe
liom II. This information has convinced every in
lellgen aud impartial mind that more danger is to
be apprehendcd to its existence from the fearful in.
crease OF executive power and patronage than Gom
any or oil other causes combined A review oil
past history, AID a just estimate OF the human
character, which oscrlbes to It's natural Gailty a
Pfonencss 10 acquire and enlarge power, tecognl.
yes THIS as an evil which cannot be restrained but
by active vigilance on the part of the governed
In the complete system Of government under which
VIC 1--we, the legislatures of the several distinct So
vcregnes winch united IN the grant of fe1ctnl
powers are naturally and almost necessarily The on.
Nv plcItut guardians tho lIberttes of
The relations snbslst,ng between them as the rep
reseniaIlvcs of the gfnntors aud tho government Of
The Union as the recipient OF political powers
have had tendency to ensrnler mutual and sal
niury dlslrnst between them. THIS dlstrust has
been manifested by the latter, ~ rs repeated ut
temPs TO enlarge auhorI' y-and by the former
IN their cores fondng cll1r's % restrict II within
It's prescribed hints. So long they are enabled
TO accomplish tins object md procct do rcsd-
narY mass of rghts' from the encroaeamenfs Of
lie federal agents, 50 Ion have the people OF the
states stable qua hntee for the continuance Of
their free nslin ions, and liberty IS proyid with
an lnPcnetable 9gls against the abuse Of exccu.
ave- legislative and judicial authority. But when
the exercise of undccga'cd power, by either OF
these departments /, ncquIcsecd IN or tolerated by
the sovereign parties 10 the constitutional compuct,
The Latent evils of the system BEGIN to cxhbtthcm
selves IN the rapid and loevrtobc concentration Of
all power, legitimate aud uslfpeJ, INTO the hands
oi the executive branch of the government. THIS
IS The mnelsroo n, whose astonishing powcrs or at.
traction must eventually draw into its centre all
The authority Of the Coordinate departments, and
eventually thar reserved eto the States respective
~, to the people,
TINS 90 al 'cndcncy In tho federal Government
nj all lines cvi1snt, seems to your memor,alis,s
have been more strongly manifested IN the history
OF rs acts during The last few years. Within tins
period principles have been asserted, and powers
assumed, calculated ~ nn eminent degree To we =
Ken the popular affections for, and 10 stbgger the
rntic conn Ience IN, the stability OF our institutions
The lntcrcs's and honor OF the people appear 10
have been utterly dlsrcgarded all constitutional
restraints 60 tamned land measures adopted IN the
mere wantonness of power, or for the qualification
OF private feelings, whlch have carried grief AMI
dcsoGton IN the home oflhe industrious and peace
iul citizen. The cnurc powers Of government seen,
to have been welded for the mere purposes OF par
~ and the boldness OF It's professions has been on
ly cqualltd by the audacty OF its acts. The pat =
ron &c Of the executive department has been pos
reted to the purpose Of establishing and sustain
a system oil rewards and punlshments, which has
had the most demofaIizfng Misunderstanding the
public Offices with rcinincts aud parasites and the
lam "''' 'f'''''''' p'p to''pi'' "HiitI On
every SIDE the Indications are daily becoming more
manifest, that, dlsrcgnrdng the restraints OF the
constitution, and enrroaehIng upon the reserved
rights Of the people and the Statcs, The government
IS rapidly advancing to the fatal goal which has
hitherto marked the termination Of oil Republics
1t wocd be- tedious 10 cnumcrate the powers now
claimed, and, IN many instances, exercised by n
single department of the federal government. A
brief recital of some Of the most prominent acts of
q he present Chief Mag strate Will exhibit the more
than monatchIcal extent Of his usurpe1 authority.