Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-06-03

up and destroy. at pleasure. Guld-
ed by the rules and precep.s bequea:hed to
them BY the trainers Of the Constitution.
the Government would be safe in their
hands while it's ultimate destruction will
be rendered certain by a practical substitu- I
ton OF principles and maxims looking only to
party ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and party domination.
And here is the true source Of existing evils.
The remedy will be found when the people
shall break the trammels Of party. and take
the management Of their " affairs into s
their own hands,-conyinced that in the
support Of party leaders they do not always
support their " interests that profession
Of patriotism may cloak the most grasplng
seliishness; and that under the mask Of Dc.
mocracy may be perpetrated all that Is
odious and oppressive in Aristocracy or
Monarchy. 1t is related Of the celebrated
Madam Roland, that as she was passing to
the scaffold under the orders Of Robespierre,
on seeing the emblems OF liberty by which
she was surrounded, she exclaimed, "Oh
liberty, how many crimes are perpetrated
in thy name" A similar apostrophe might
be made to our modern Democracy. upon
a reference to the many acts Of gross injus
tice and Of Aristocratic oppression which
have been committed by its professed vota
ries, while the people are induced to acqui.
esce in them upon the pretence of their
necessity to control the proud Aristocracy,
and the Unsuitable avarice Of Monopolists
who aim at the appropriation to themselves.
of all the sources of Wealth in the commu-
nifty.
We might continue the apostrophe with
a reference not only to the wounds which
have been inflicted on the constitution in
the name of Democracy, but to the numer.
Gus monopoIies which have been created
by those who have been loudest in denun-
Citations of them. As a substitute Tor an
institution located in q corner of Ohio, and
whose vitality was to terminate in less than
two years, another has been chartered OF q
peculiar character, with an extent OF term
and influence far greater. There 10 a con.
slant effort to induce the people to yield
their assent to measures which they do not
approve. under the false prctence that they
are necessessary to effect some acknowl-
edged good, or to avoid some deprecated
evil. There is indeed scarcely a question
, presented to them that is not in some meas
ure disguised by a mingling of totally ex-
t~raneous matter, or decked in colors suited
to the excited party feelings and prejndices
3 which it is the special care Of the leaders
/ to foster. But | have full confidence that
' this state Of things cannot long continue.
) The people are too intelligent to be forever
2 bound in the trammels Of party tactics
= Once freed from them. they will calmly
. and deliberately investigate for themelves /;
and then all will be right. Much Of the
d party violence which has been manifested
t for a few years past, ia, | think, attribu.
I table to the different constitution Of the
!, parties from what was formerly known in
3 this country. II a striking fact, that party
contests which have q clear and Ineligible
j relation to the principles Of government,
8 are usually much less embittered than those
!, which have respect merely to the elevation
. and support Of men. The contests carried
T on for ages between the Patrician and PIE
n biun parties in Rome, seldom produced
d any commotion injurious 10 the state. But
! in the late ages, when the parties were
d arranged under the banners Of individuals,
c all the fierce passions were enlisted in their
e contest. Our own history seems TO war
e rant this distinction. Whatever might hav.
been the case with some individuals, ! am
c satisfied that between the body OF Republic
cans and that Of Federalists, there wero no
feelings Of bitterness.
Unfortunately, however, as | think, for
e the two last Presidencies, the parties have
q taken their designations as "the friends"
or the opponents Of the Administration
Each contains a portion Of the old Federal
party each claims to be Democratic Re.
publican, and each, in its turn, has been
charged with violations of the constitution,
and a wastcful expenditure Of the public
money. Now | have no belief in the ne
] cessity OF an Executive party in the Nation
y al Legislature, either for any public advan.
tage to be derived from il, or for The ease,
'e convenience, or honor Of the executive in
cumbent. The opinion of its necessity
he must have been derived from an improper
assimilation Of our Government to that o.
m Great Britain. There it is necessary; fol
OF without a majority in the Kings favor in
10 Parliament, to vote the supplies for hi
We Army and his Navy, neither could be KEEP
lie up; and the throne would fall with them
e. But in the United States. the Army ant
g. Navy belong 10 the People, and the Presi
p. dent has no greater interest in them thar
,ir any other citizen. Should he be Of opinion
VI that they ought to be increased. he vii
to recommend it but if the other co-ordlna:,
~ branches of the government, to whom i
TO committed the enactment Of the laws, d.
re not agree with him, why should he be az
us grieved at their refusal! So with othe
is recommendations-the increase of the rev
IT. enue, the erection Of Notifications and othe
measures Of preparation for war. To re
nd commend is his duty; it is theirs to judg
to of the expediency of his recommendations
oh and if they disagree, their common masters
,P the people, must determine between them
he As it regards the increase of officers an
be of perquisites, for the purpose Of enablin
to the President to reward partizans, | ca