Litchfield enquirer., 1836-04-14

dopted ny the Legislature Of Illinois inslruc-
ting their Senators in Congress to vote l"I
BrntOD's expurging resolutions, should be
read by all who would not have our giOriOu.
constitution iramPled on by Dictator! 1t i,
the FIRST instance within our recollection where
the Governor of State has been called on Il
perform duty so repugnaOt 10 his OwO feel
ings-sO entirely in "pp"siti"O 10 the wishes
Of large maturity Of the people.
VANDALIA, Dec. 90, 1885.
Dear Sir: Yon will see by the enclosed
Resolutions Of the Legislature, :nstructing
you TO vote for expunging the e Resolution
of the United States Senate Of the S8tn
March. 1884, declaring that the President o.
the United States in his late Executive pro,
ceedings in relation to the public revenue Ia"
assumed upon himself an authority a"u
er not conferred by the constitution an" '""'
but in derogatiOn of bO:h"-ihat tn'J ""e
made II nv dutv TO furnish 20" WIN c"ly
of Them. while I acknowledge the Oh''sa-
ton of every Representative IN OUT govern
ment to obrv the Instructions OF ms cOnstitu-
rnts. or resign, and by no means desiring that
rn,, should do otherwise in this case; yet, be-
ievjog, as do. that the independence Of
Congress, and more especially Of the Senate.
which is made by the Constitution - check
upon executive patronage, which has been the
lever, or chief power in the hands Of all gov
crnmenls to overthrow the liberties Of the peo-
pie, and which is now threatening the peace
and safety Of our own, I should be fahlrss 10
my country. and recreant 10 the people who
have placed me among the guardians 0f their
rights, if J. were, by silently transmitting, or
10 any other way to give the slightest sanction
~ the principles these resolutions contain, or
the objects they appear TO have been design
I'd by the agitation Of them, ultimately to &C.
cumplish-which is to censure and degrade
this department Of our government.
Destroy public confidence in the Senate
Itl the Legislature rebuke them for warning
the people, that new. dangerous and uncon-
stitn,ional power had been asserted by CO.
ordinate and powerful branch Of government
let the right be- fully established that any
power or person, except the immediate con-
sti'uents Of each separate member Of Con.
gross. shall have authority to call their acts in
question-or that man at the head Of our
government, at whose command six thousand
bayone's will bristle in an instant, surrounded
Immediately or remotely, by one hundred
thousand organized Office holders and numer-
Gus partisan office seekers. ready to obey his
wiII-shaH have authority to protest against,
interrupt or question any Of the acts of the
peoples Representatives. who are sitting in
the presence of this mighty power. unarmed
and unprotected. and who should look alnne
to the appreciation of their constituents and
the ballot box for all favor and rebukes in a
word, let the Senate Of the u. s. lose it's 10.
dependence by the loss Of public confidence
the cOrrupting practice Of members Of the
Senate asking and receiving favors from the
executive In employing its patronage 10 secure
their reelection by the appointment of their
partisans and relations to Office, or placing
over it a master, and you must perceive that
all power will soon be conferred in one man
and that our march to despotsm is inevitable.
This contest between the President and the
Senate as a party measure, to my mind, is
assuming the most alarming aspect. The one
possessing all power, the fountain of all hon.
or. the dispenser Of all favors, holding the alb.
snlute power over one hundred dppcndants-
whose patronage makes him the idol If all the
ambitious, hungry Office. seekers Of the land :
the others having no benefits TO bpstOw, no
mercenary dependents welding the press or
the bIudgeun in their defence, and are requir.
ed by the Constitution TO perform :he odi0us
duty Of re- ecting bad men from office, and re-
ss,ing executive encroachments. In such a
contest. unless the people rally to the defence
OF the Senate, who can doubt trat the result
will he its total prostration? When we view
the attacks now making Ivy the party upon
the Supreme Court, as well as The Senate,
and their attempts to bestow such power IN
on the executive, it is impossible to doubt.
whatever may be the design, that their sue.
cess must end in despo,isn. That anv I'M.
pre;udiced man who ever read our Cons,ilu
ton, or thought one moment about the char.
acter Of our government, doubts that il was
both the right and duty Of the Senate to pass
the resolution in question is more than can
believe. SilQnPR the warming v.,ica - Al; -.
branch Of the Legislature, and especially the
Senate which is bound I" know the public as
well as secret action Of Government, and who
does not see every barrier to arbitrary govern
mrnt laid low? The 6msy pretext Tor this
attack upon the Senate, that it is clo,hed with
judicial as well as Legislative power. is a s,ri-
king evidence Of the contempt that those who
urge II. have for the safety rs well as for the
intelligence Of the people. Does not any one
see that no criminal intention was charged up,
ON the President? He had been guilty of an
assumption Of power (for good purposes. Il
you please,) that was unauthorized by law
IN violation Of the Constitution, and against
the genius and spirit Of all limited govern.
ments; and which power when the present
patriotic hut misguided incumbent shall have
shed ms mantle upon successor, if he be an
amh't'0ns. bad man, might. and if sustained
now ny the people. will, 10 my opinion. sooner
or later overthrow the liberties of our country.
Wishing that every man honored Ly seat
10 tie distinguished and responsible BODY. IF
(Which sou are member, justly 10 arnrrcia,e
the blessings Of our free institutions. I viii
close this communication. which assure Won