South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-07-30
SATURDAY. JULY SO. 1886.


government into requisition for the
purpose of effecting his favori,e object
These are few,& but few of the cir
cumstanoes which have excited in the
minds Of the most confident feelings Of
apprehension and alarm as 10 the per
manencs of our civil institutions. Can
we undertake TO say that these fears
are not well founded 2 Let reference
to few prominent events of the las,
session OF Congress answer the ques-
ton. We have seen the Congress Of the
U. S. unmindful of the high purposes
for which it was instituted, as the guar
dian of the treasure, & the rights s. the
liberties of the people, prostituting it
self to the vilest purposes OF party.
We have seen the dominant party leg
islating for electioneering purposes a.
lone, and treating every subjec, exclu-
sively with reference to the effect which
it was calculated to produce on its
particular interests !; we have seen pub
lie interests sacrificed, and all the de-
cencies of social intercourse outraged
by the evaporation Of party excite
ment, and the Hall, intended for calm
deliberation and candid discussion
converted Into scene of constant vi
tuperation and almost of personal vic.
lence.
Upon the eve, too, of the presiden.
tiaI election, we have seen the expen-
ditures OF the government, which when
under former administration they had
amounted to thirteen millions of dol
lars, were denounced by the present
dominant party as extrayagant, sud-
denly increased to Forty Millions Of
Dollats All these circumstances por.
tend approaching evil. History ad.
monishes us that they are the invaria-
BILE concomitants of decline in public
morals, and reason should teach us
thatthey are the sure precursors Of
despotism.
In this aspect of public affairs, il,
becomes the sacred duty of all true
patriots to use every exer.ion in their
power to stay the tide Of profigacy
and corruption before ii shsll nave
swept over the land, and overwhelm-
ed in it's course the glorious fabric Of
our free. institutions. The enquiry
then suggests itself, in what manner is
this TO be effscteds This presents a
question Of the deepest interest to hui
manity, and upon its solution, the des-
TIMES Of the republic, in a great mea-
sure, depend. Whilst we are sensible
of the difficulties which encompass the
subject, we would venture 10 suggest
as the most efTsctual means Of accom-.
pIishing our great objsct, radical
change in the administration of the
government. This can only be effect
ed by means of the presidential cleo
ton for under the present state Of
things, and the exaggerated and over
,hadowing importance which that Of
ticer has acquired in the government,
the whole compl EXON of the admins
tration depends materially on the char
acler and qualifications OF the presi-
dent. He is not only regarded as the
chief executive olhcer, and the dispen-
ser of patronage, but by a strange per-
version Of the principles of our govern
mens, the president, and not the peo-
pie, is the source OF all executive pow
er !; and upon this notion of his pre-
roga.,ives, he exercises Unlimited sway
over all subordinate officers. This
fact is Of itself sufficient to render him
almost omaipotent, and all ate mpis to
reform the government which do not
begin at the fountain head, must neces
sarlly prove nugatory.
These considerations lead US natu.
rally to view OF the principles invol
we'd in the approaching presidential e
lection, and Of the character ofthe pro
minent candidates for that exalted sta
ton. The candidates are three in mum.
Der, viz Martin Ven Buren, Of New
York, Hugh L. White of Tennessee
and William ii. Harrison OF Ohio. /
is not our purpose to go into any de-
tailed view Of the relative merits O
these individuals, nor can we permit
ourselves for moment to descend in
to the arena Of controversy for the pur,
pose Of discussing alleged personal de-
merits. We have nothing to do with
them, except in their relation to the
presidency of the United States, and
in that relation we shall endeavor TO
discuss their pretensions fairly, for a
respect to ourselves no less than a due
regard for the high station to which
they aspire, would forbid that they
should be treated with indignisy.
The presensions of the FIRST named
candidate, MIR. Van Buren,, are in our