Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-02-23


,.nly, sr ocrisiniy ~ts oct. On that secocni, 'ls
s,uss inclined 20 concur. II ~ss no sfrumsni WI
o,s thai others seemed "a rssbieT. with sseh tced
a.. he.sionr trrss .socb iap,ioe,iiy ofeenae,uee.
iu,o the arms Of Executive power. he'd bach
ibe ,iraarcr anl would hold back the longer. ]
.sc. ~ ihink zee 1t - either = true VISION OF
,he faiufe revealed by tho history Of the 2asi, or
n IL be en- ilu.ion. Il ~ an Illusion which appears
20 M, IN al ,he brightness and sunlight 81 broad
noon that II 10 in ihs of personal confidence
along tAis hca,en ;rtck q trorsAp, marked,
every furlong. BY the fragments OF other Tree Gov
vrn,ncnis that cur own system is making progress
10 its c.ose. A pcrsunsl popularity. honorsby
earned al Ore: by military achievements. and sus-
tanned nov BY party. BY patronage, aud by an Gu.
thusiasm which looks for ~. because 1t means
90 III itself seem. TO render aen willing to graft,
power even before tie densuds are maze, and 10
.urfci Executive discretion, even 10 an,icpntions
of ito osn sppete. SIR, u. on the 81 of March
last II bad been the purpose Of both Houses OF
Congress TO create niiitlry dictator what Tor.
r,uia had beea better suited TO their parposs than
,bss vote Of tie House. It's trpe No might have
given more money, II VIC had 1t 10 give. We
me b, have cmp;ed the Treasury; but as to the
yofm e the gan We could mol have Se,,cred it,
Rome has no better modes. Whom We give our
money for aay military pprposas ThGiscrer, what
remains to be done II We leave II with one man
to decide not only whether the military means Of
the county shall be ured a; ALL but how they shall
be used, and to what extent they shall be employ.
ed wba, remains either for Congress or the People
bot TO Vi, still and see how this dc'a'oral power
will be cxcercisedl
On the Sd Of March, cir, had not forgotten
II was impossible that should have forgo,tep--jhe
,Ia,,o in tha tho ,i
that session, that power should be vested in the
President to issue letters Of murque and reprisal
against France at his discretion, in.ihe recess of
Congress- Happily this power was not granted.
But suppose II had been, what would then have been
the true condition Of this Government Why, sir,
this condition is very shortly described. The whole
war poweYwould have been in the hands Of the
President for doubt momen that
reprisas would bring on immediate war; and the
Treasury, TO the amount of this vote, in addition
TO all ordinary appropriations would have been al
his absolute disposal also. And all this in the
time Of peace. ] beseecb sober men, of all parties
II beseech all true lovers Of constitutional liberty
tn contemplate this state of things aud tell me
whether such be a true republican administration
of this Government. Whether particular conse-
qucnces bad ensued or not is such an accumulation
of power in the hands Of the Executive according
to the spirit Of our system' Is it either wise or
safe Has it any warrant in the practice of for
'ner times Or are gentlemen ready to estab-
Iish the practice as an example for the benefit of
those who to come after us
But. sir II the power to make reprisas. and this
money from the Treasury. had both been granted
is there not great reason to believe that should
have been now up to our ears in hot war; l
think there is reason to believe this. 1t will be
tpn. hat hal h.
with this power of war, and supplied him with this
grant OF money, France would have taken this for
such proof OF spirit on our part, and that she
would have paid the indemnity without further de-
lay. This is the old story and the old Plea
Every one who desires more power than the Con
stitutIon or the Laws give him, always says, that
if he had more power, he could do more good.
Power is always claimed for the good ofthe People,
lnd diciators are always made, when made at all
for the good of the People. For my part, sir
was content, and am content, to show to France
tina, we are prepared 10 maintain our Just rights,
against her, by the exerton of our power when
need be, according to the forms of our own Con-
stitution; that II we make war, We will make it
and If we vote money, we will!
appropriate it constitu,ionay; and that we will
trust all our interests. both in peace aud in warto
what the intelligence and strength Of the country
may do for them, without breaking down or en-
dangerng the fabric free institutions.
Mr. President, it is the misfortune of the Senate
to have differed from the Prendent on many great
questions during the last four or five years. i
have regretted this state Of things deeply, both on
personal and on public account; but it has been
unavoidable. 1t is no pleasing empIoy meut. it is
no holiday business, TO maintain opposition against
power and against inajories, and TO contend for |
stern aud sturdy principles, against personal popu.
anty. against roshing aud overwhelming cou6. |
fence, that, by wave upon wave, and cataract after
-aiaraet, seems to be bearing away and DESTROYING
y whatsoever would withstand il. How much long
~ We may be able TO support this opposition in
my degree, or whether we can possibly hold out
al the public intelligence and the public patriotism
hail be awakened to due sense Of the public dan
ger, 1t Is not Tor ne TO forsee or - forte shall
io' despair 10 the last. IT, 10 the mean time We be
rue to our own principles. lfthere be a sieadfsst
idherenco to those principles both here md olse.
where II ore and all they continue the role of M,
'oadoc' IN the senae,a the ralyinc pon, octbose
Who think with us and support us out of the Son.
le am contest 10 hope on, aud TO struoole an
" hile 1t remains contes; for the preservation or
nc constitution Tor the security OF the public lin.
fty, for The ASCENDING NJ urinr,nla -