State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-05-31

~ sr--a'9----s..- 1872.
principles, and, under their Influence, to
adopt measures which have been elsewhere
determined on by party leaders. 1t is thus
that supreme regard to pnrty hiumphs is
made to take the place of enlarged, enight-
enod and liberal views of the public well
fare. by means, artfuly conceived and
vigorously pr secuted, is it attempted TO
raise the popular feeling to II state of such
tcycrisIl excitement as to induce the adop-
ton ofthe ant-rcpublcau opinion, that the
safety and happiness of the country can lie
best secured 10y committing It's affairs to the
uncontrolled management of the leaders of
II dominant party, and sanctionlng all their
suggestions and measures without eXamin-
ation. Now Whatever may he the talents
Hnd patriotism with which the leaders of the
party may be distinguished, such unlimited
confidence is in direct hostility to the fun
damCntal principles of our Government.
Ii las never existed to such an extent at
any previous period of our history; nor has
1t prevailed in any other government, with
ont proving fatal to public liberty.
Our ancestors, who left us the invalua-
bic legacy O1ihc present Constitution, per-
trctly understood the source of the dlssou-
ton ofall former Republics, and endeavorcd
to guard against the danger by cmbodying,
in the structure Of the government, the
great conservative principle, that public
measures should be brought in constant
review before the people. But they couli
90 no farther. With the people rested the
supreme supervisory power-the grand
censorship which could make and unnakc
build up and destroy al pleasure. Guild
cd by the rules and prccepts bequeathed 10
them by the trainers Of the Constitution,
the government would be safe in their
hands while its ultimate destruction will be
rendered certain by II practical substitution
Of principles and mnXims looking only to
party ACKNOWLEDGMENT, g. party domination.
And here is the true SQUIRE ufeXisting evils
The remedy will be found when the people
shall break the trammels of party, and take
the management of their own affairs into
their own hands,-convincc that in the
support Of party leaders they do not always
support thcir own interests; hat professions
of patroli-ln may cloak the most grasping
selh,hmcss; and that, under the mask Of
Dem cracy may be PERFORATED all that is
odous and oppressive in Arstocracy or
Monarchy. 1t is related of the celebrated
Madam Roland, that Us she was passing TO
the scatluld underthc orders ofRObesperre,
on seeing the emhlems of liberty by which
she was surrounded, she exclaimed, g" Oh
liberty, how many crimes are perpctrated
in thy namc.' a similar apostrophe might
be made to our modern Democracy, upon
a reference to the many acts of gross injus-
tee and Of AriStocralic oppression which
have been committed by It's proesSed vota-
RIGS, while the people are induced TO acqui-
esce in them upon the pretence of their
necessity TO controul the proud Aristocracy,
and the Unsuitable avaricc of Monoposts
who aim at the appropriation to them
selves, of all the sources of wealth in the
community.
We might continue the apostrophe with
n reference not only to the wounds which
have been inflicted on the Constitution i'll
the name of Democracy, but to the hume
rous monopoles which have been created
hy those who have been loudcst in denun-
Citations OF them. As substitute for an
institution located in Il corner of Ohio, and
whose vitality was to terminate in less than
TWO years, another has been chartered of Il
peculiar character, with an extent of term
and influence far greater. There is a
constant effort to induce the people
to Weld their assent to measures which
they do not approve, under the false pre-
ltHlt lllul lIltN ult lltCGSSdll W tllCNl SOllG
acknowledged good, or to avoid some de
prccated evil. There is indeed scarcely a
question presented to them, that is not in
some measure disguised by minglng of
totally eXtraueous matter, or decked in col
ors suited TO the excited party feelings
AMI preiudcrs which it is the special care
of the leaders to foster. But have full
confidence that this state of things cannot
lopr cnptinun FrLa ,,aonla nra ton intoIli-
gent To he forever bound in the trammels
of party tactics. Once freed from them,
they will calmly and deliberately investigate
for themselves; and then, all will he right
Much of the party violence which has been
manifested for a few years past, is think,
attributable to the different constitution of
the parties from what was formerly known
in this country. 1t is n striking fact, that
party contests which have clear and in
telligible relation to principles of govern
ment, are, usually, much less embittered
than those which have respect merely TO
the elevation and support of men. The
contests carried on for ages between the
Parcan and Pebian parties in Rome, sell
dom produced any commotion injurious 10
the prosperity of the state. But in the later
ages, when the parties were arranged I'M
der the banners Individuals all the fiercer
passions were enlisted in their contests.
Our own history seems to warrant this dis
tinction. Whatever might have been the
case with some individuals, | am satisfied
that between the body of Republicans and
that of Federalists, there were no feelings
of bitterness.
Unfortunately, however, as | think, for
the two last Presidcncios, the Parties have
taken their designations MS " the friends" or
"the opponents of the Administration"
Each contains portion of the old Federal
party; each claims TO be Democratic Re
publican, and EACH in its turn, has been