State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-10-25

HHI]OTtdIt CTIsIS
And here we say, at once-lle is not,
and cannot he, the man who has been " The
Father ofMe obnoxious measures ofthe pres
ent ADMINISTRATION and pledged himself to
"perject whdt Gen. Jackson has begun" To
the leading measures OF this administration,
whether acting as Antiuasons," or under
the distinctive appcllation of Wings" we
have been uniformly opposed. Our oppo-
sition Inns been based upon principles which
do not change with the winds, or ebb and
flow with the tides. Time and usnge pos
scss, with us, no power TO sanctity cor
ruption. The policy which was disclosed
by the administration seven years ago,
whereby the vast Executive power of the
government was perverted from its Consti
tutional exercise, to the purpose Of building
up great Executive Party, is just as much
ut war with our principles, aud just ms abb
horrcnt to our feelings, now, as wien its
deiormity was first revealed. We were
shocked, and so were the great body of our
fellow citizens in this state at the gross in
consistency between the professions Of Gen.
jackson, in his first Inaugural address, and
the practice which Immediately followed it.
"Thc recent demonstrations of pubic scnt-
ment"- said the President in that address
"inscribcs Oh the list OF executive duties, in
"characters too legible to be overlooked, the
"iask of reform, which requires particularly,
"tlle correction Of those abuses that have
"brOught the patronage Of the Federal
"Govcrnment into conflict with the free
dom Of elections" Thus spake Gen. Jack
son to the assembled Representatives of the
people, on the 4th of March, 1899; end yet,
from that moment to the present, as you,
fellow citizens, well know, it has been the
unceasing effort of his administration TO
iasten on the country, us a part of its settled
policy, The rcly abuses which j, was thus
pretended had been discovered, and thus
promised should be reformed. Professions
of retrenchmcnt and economy have been
followed by the addition of hundreds to the
number of Executive officers, and millions
to the amount of national expenditure;
while the vast array of officers have been
citlIcr siIenced 10y the fear of removal, or
rendered boisterous partzans by the be-
stowmcut Of Executive favor. There is
not State or County in thcwhole compass
Of this t'niou, in which "Me patronage Of
the Federal GOrernmfH,' which was 10 be
restrained, in obedience 10 the pretended
demonstration Of puJlic sentiment" is not,
nj this moment, brought into direct "co!fict
wiM The freedom Of elections" for the pur-
pose Of eIevaiins the Presidents favOrite
to the Presidents Chair. There is not an
election to either branch of Congress, nor a
prominent measure presented for deilbera-
lion in either, which docs not feel the pow
er of this influence. Nor is his ALL 1t is
not enough that tho immense patronage OF
the government should he thus welded to
control the popular will. The President
MmseV- -yes--the Chif Magistrate Of this
great nation, openly enters the lists, and
stands forth the undiSgutSed champion Of
.ucrtin an Buren, fDr The SucceSSiOnm
This is the man, fellow citizens, whom
V II are urged TO support for The highest of
nee i'll the peoples gill; and this is the
man whom we solemn y declare to you, we
cannot, and will not, support. We have
seen him suddenly change from the violent
opponent, to the ardent supporter, and full
some flatlerer of Gen. Jackson. We have
seen him worming his way into his conf
dencc- breaking up his Cabinets proscrib-
ing his early and honest fricnds--lntrodu-
cling TO his confidence corps of mercena-
ries, and Obtaining possession, through these
means, of his immense influence and power,
to aid in the consuninlatlon of his design OF
reaching the great object Of his addition.
u.
been the mere result of his own inpetuous
passions, and habitual love of power, we
could have better horne it. We should
have had, Mt least, the consolation that il
spruu.,, from spirit which had "dOne the
state some SERVICE" and might have been
conceived in an honest purpose, though cX-
ecutcd in dctrment to the public welfare.
But we are compelled TO regard it in fur
II, II,
rumspcction which found lis way into his
Cabinet, in the person Of .Hr. Nnn Buren,,
and which should have found means TO
control the veterans strong passions, give
lhcm snlu'ury direction, and guide them
to safe results, was, employed IN ministering
TO his love OF prj,ise-in declaring that il
was "Su0icicnt glory to scrre under such a
Chiei"-uuh in moulding his whole admin
istralion with view to accomplish the ends
Of selfish ambition.
The calculating and corrupt policy which
deliberately dictated this perverSion of the
executive power we would fiiin sec defeat
ed md consigned 10 public cXecration.
To give it thc popular sanction, by elevat-
ing lis author TO the station he has sought
TO attain by il, would be virtually the form
ing Of Il new Constitution, founded in cor
rupliOn, and destined, sooner or laler 10 DC
the grave OF public liberty.
But snpposng the country should consent
to sanction this coulse OF administration,
and submit TO he ruled by the Executive
branch of the government, have the peo-
pie any reason to hope that it will give them
n s,stcn Of wise and beneficial laws, us
compensation for their virtual surrender of
the privilege of governing themselves? We
earnestly press this question upon the at
tenlion oftho people Of Vermont, in refer
cnce to the interests which they specially |
desire To sustain and cherish. WhIt. ofl
n l.. T. N "a. d.. I