State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-22


thus, gradually, TO bring all the operations
of the government within the grasp of EX- |
ecutive cC".rol.
Z. Resolved, That we see in these abu-
ses of power, a manifest departure from the
simplicity and purity of the early admins
traton Of our government and regard
them as the carrying out Though under the
veneRted, but abused names of democracy
and republicanisn) of the very principles
which rendered the administration of the
elder Adams SO Justly obnoxious TO the
Democratic Republicans of '95.
8. ReSolred, That any attempt by a
President of the United States, to Interfere,
in any manner, with the election ofhis sue
ccssor, should he regarded as a manifest
abuse of his personal and official influence,
and dangerous invasion of The freedom
and purity of elections and that when
ever, and by whomsoever made, it should
be met with the stern and indignant rebukc
ofevery freeman in the country.
| 8. ReSolved, That the spirit of innova-
ton which has distinguished the present
administration of the National Government,
! is an impressive commentary on the parting
admoniton of the Father of his Country,
that "the habits of thinking in free coun-
'try should inspire caution in those intrllst-
''ed with its administration, to confnG
themselves within their respective consli-
"tutional spheres" that 'the spirit of en-
"croachmcnt tends to consolidate the pow
Gers of all the Departments in one, and
| "thus to create, whatever the form of gov
"crnmcnt, real despoiism;" and that "any
"changc, by usurpalion, for the avowcd
purpose of remedying evils, though in one
"instancc, it may be the instrument of good,
sis the customary weapon by which free
governments are destroyed"
10. ReSolUcd, That the Executive De-
partment of the Government Of the United
States, in all its branches, was instituted for
the simple, Ineligible, and safe purpose OF
carrying into execution the laws; and that,
therefore, the late sanction, by the Post
Master General, of the violation of the
public mails, on the ground that the public
safety required the suppression and de-
struction of their contents, is a fragrant
violation of the Constitution, inasmuch as
it is manifest substitution of Executive tciH
for the authority Of ,cciI-dgfaed and estab-
HShed ld,C.
II, ReSoluel, That disposition mani
tested by Rulers and People, to stake The
responsibility of throwing off constitutions
al and legal restraints, is among the most
alarming and portentous indications of the
present period; and that we feel ourselves
called on, to cherish with increasing
solicitude, and 10 maintain with unflinching
firmness, the broad and comprehensive
principle applied, with an enlightened and
just discrimination, by the lamentcd Writ
TO the cause of Antimasonry,-tha TIE
LAWS SHOULD BE SUPREME.
! ~. ReSOlUed, That the Just appreciation
of the extent and force of the leading
principles of Antimasonry, which has been
produced in the Antimasons of Vermont
by the discussions upon the masonic ques-
ton, has tended to give decided and con-
sistent character TO their opposition 10 the
abuses of the existing administration of the
National Government; and that the purity
of those principles, and their steady and
intleXible firmncss in maintaining them
furnish the surest guarantee that Vermont
/ will be saved, both from Freemasonrv
and from a predominance of the anti.
, "or"h icon r,~;" ";rl"s ""A nol;ou Of that
! administration.
! l3. ReSOlUed, That it is inconsistent with
the true principle of the freedom of cleo
tons, that the right of any portion Of the
( people to bring forward, and sustain their
/ own candidates for office, should be, in any
manner impugncd; that therefore, the
( assumption by the friends of one of the
candidates Tor the Presidency, that the
efforts to bring out third candidate are
unworthy attempt. to prevent an election
by the people, is wholly unwarrantcd; and
that the censure implied in such assump-
ton may with as much proprety, be ex-
tended to those who make it, as to those
against whom it is directed.
/ IA. ReS0LUed, That we will never suffer
opposition TO MS, or 10 our candidates for of
flee, come from what quarter it may, TO pro-
duce in us the shadow of turning from the
ground, and the ,choie ground, which we
have deliberately taken;--holding as too sa-
cred to be made the sport of resentments,
our devotion to those principles, which, we
firmly believe, involve, essentially, the pres
ent interests, and the final destiny Of our
beloved country.
I