The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1835-03-21
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NORTHERN STAR.
r. I. SATURDAY. MAR. 81, 1885


I. SATURDAY. MAR. 2i. 1885
An Editor Of any character or talents never feels
so cheap as when he takes up his pen TO notice
some article by one of those unprncipled, brazeu-
coarse, illiterate fellows who will say, do
or print any thing. as mere party tools, Cor tho
suke Of what they call their " bread and butter -
Yet perhaps, the article is representation to
deceive the ignorant and injure the innocent
which ought 10 DO corrected. In sucl case, tho
tbs nriier Mnrsey is not worth answering, h,s
paper may be, solely on account of tho conse-
quence bestowed upon it. 10y his party.
The feelings Of an Editor thus situated are very
similar to ,ho.e oppressed by MIR. Burgess in tic
following portion Of "s reply to Canbrelere.
"It is huniiating-Lut mus, reply to the gen.
ilernan from New York. For my self would lo
him prss. j, is II kind Of Donit.an amusement,
this killing flies with bodin. Gladly would
say with the conu.isseraiion of Uncle Toby, 10
the little buzzng ncon, enence when l haze hin
in NY hand, " Go, poor insect, go the world is
surely wide enough for me and thee 20
+" have some apology for giving som. ai,en-
ton to the speech of the gentleman from New
York. The place, however il may he filled. does
give n kind OF character to what is said or done in
i. No matter how utterly inconsiderable n per-
son may be, whenever a constitutional portion oil
the people, has placed hiu at one Of these desks,
replying TO what he may have said, though it may
not he very creditable, yet nust be excusrlle in
any Yn1nssI q viva LAI.s' ENNrL
SOME CHANGeiN THE CoNsTITcrIof OF
TIE UNITED STATES would seem to be neces-
snry, in that part more particularly which relates
to the office Of The Chief Magistrate. 7 he fear.
Of some Of our best patriots, who were opposed IL
the adoption Of the Constitution because il vestet
loo much power in the President, have been, un-
fortunately for the country, proved to have had toe
much foundation in truth. We cannot fail 10 hon
that instrument in this highly important depart
ment.
II is agreed on all hands, in the FIRST place. l
presume, that the President should hold his office
but for single term, say Of four or six yeafs.-
The temptation TO use the first term to promote an
election for a second is found in Practice to be too
grea, TO be entirely resisted Aud if it be resisted
The charge is easily made that the President is
shaping his measures and comforting his appoint
menls " ,h reference to his future interest IS 10
fasten upon him all the effect Of the truth Of such
an imputation. The Pre-, ldent, when once seated
in the chair, ought to feel himself above all party
inDuences,-a the necessity Of securing the
81.
at full liberty TO call mon to Office because he
thinks them the best qualified, without regard ,e
the advantage that may be derived to himself per-
sonally from the preference Of one man over u
mother. A constantly independent admin istratior
Of the General Government, without even the rp
psaranee Of swerving to the right hand or TO th
left, is what we very much want in this country.
Since the power of removal from office ma.
be used, or rather abused, in manner whicl
never could have been contemplated by the franz
ers Of the Constitution, is it not also desirable ST
to amend it as to require the advice and consent .
the Senate to the removal as well as to the ap
pontment Of public officers Altho' Pres
dent may feel obliged, sometimes against his sens
Of proprety, TO fill all the vucaI cies whicl
occur with his own party friends, yet oush
he to be permitted TO create these vacancies for h
very purpose of introducing partizan successors II
men, who have discharged their duties faithfully
and against whom there is no other complain
than thai they 10 not happen TO ugree with The
reigning politics , Every President, il is true
may not carry this practice Of removals to th'
same extent but if there be nothing in the Con
stution to p, event such abuse. ought il not tS
be SO amended as TO prevent a recurrence
| Far,her,-l think there can he little doub
that in practice the Executive Department Of ou
Government is vastly stronger than was ever ex
pected or intended by the framers Of the Consu'
ton. Among the ant-federalists, who resisted
the adoption of it, was Patrick Henry this il
lustrious orator and patriot foresaw that the Chic
Magistrate would be armed with powers but lit
inferior TO those Of the monarch Of England, al
though for a shorter tine and Notwithstanding
his exaggerated, or groundess fears, as they wer
then considered by his intelligent opponents, ex
! perience has a,tested the truth and wisdom Of tn
F, foresight which gave rise to them. The principa
advocates Of the Constitution were apprehensiy
that the centrifugal influence in our system wouI
prove too strong for the centripetal in othe
words, that the State Governments would in prae
tice be too likely to draw away to themselves iron
the General Government its own proper. legti
mate powers. and that there was danger Of an
archy from this tendency. We have witnessed.
is true, deposition, in a few instances, ON th
part Of particular States, to interfere with and 4
supercede the execution Of Treaties, and to con
travene the legislation Of Congress but on tn
whole, thus FAR, the balance Of powers has no
been materially disturbed and in tho case Of trea
lies the National Executive itself has not been al