State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-11-01

| rather OF the 0bn0TiOuS measures ~ ule pres
ent administration" and pledged himself to
"perfect ,Chdt Gen. Jackson has begun To
tile leading measures of this administration,
whether acting Ms " AntinasUns," or under
tho distinctive appellation of Wings" we
have been uniformly opposed. Our oppo-
stion has been based upon principles which
do not change with the winds, or ebb and
flow with the tides. Time and usage pos
sess, with us, no power to sauctity cor
ruption. The policy which was disclosed
by the administration seven years ago,
whereby the vast Executive power of the
government was perverted from lis Consti-
tutlOnal exercise, to the purpose of building
up great Executive Party, is just as much
at war with our principles, and just as alb
horrent to our feelings, now, as when its
detornity 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, aud
the practice which Immediately followed it.
"The recent demonstration of pubic senti-
ment"- said the President IN that address
"inscribes on the list Of executive duties in
characters too legible TO be overlooked, the
'task ofretorm, which requires, particularly,
'the correction of those abuses that have
"bronght the patronage of the Federal
"Government 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, 1929; end yet,
from that moment to the present, as you,
fellow citizens, well know, it has been the
unceasing effort of his administration to
fasten Oh the country, us part of its settled
policy, the reyy abuses which it was thus
pretended had been discovered, and thus
promised should be reformed. Professions
OF retrcnchment and economy have been
followed by the addition of hundrcdsto the
number Of Executive officers, and millions
to the amount of national expenditure;
while the vast array of officers have been
eithcr silenccd by the fear Of removal, or
rendered bolsterous partizans by the be-
stowment Of Executive favor. There is
not State or County in thewhole compass
of lils Uuiou, in which "he PATRONAGE of
The Federal Government,' which was to be
restrained, in obedience TO the pretended
demonstration, Of public SENTIMENT" is NOT,
a, this moment, brought into direct "confict
pih The freedom IF etcctiOns," for the pur-
pose Of clevating the Presidents favorite
to the Presidents Chair. There is not an
election to either branch of Congress, nor
prominent measure presented for delibera-
ton in either, which does not feel the pow
or Of Ibis influence. Nor is this all. 1t is
not enough that the immense patronage OF
the government should he thus welded to
control the popular will. The President
htmSeD- -yes--ths Chief .lIag,strate OF his
rrc,.s nation, openly enters the lists, and !
stands ;,9;:h The undisguiscd champion Of
Martin Fan B,GTn for The successionH
This is the man, fellow citizens, whom .
you are urged 10 support for the highest of
ice in the peoples Gift; and this is the
man whom we solemny declare to YOU, we
cannot, and will not, support. We have
seen him suddenly change from the violent
opponent, IN lie ardent supporter, and full
some fiaiterer of Gen. Jackson. We have
seen him worning his way into his conf
up his Cabinets proscrib-
ing his early and honest iriends-ntrodu-
cling to his confidence corps OF mcrcena-
rics, and obtaining possession, through these
means, of his immense influence and power,
to aid in the contamination of his design OF
reaching the great object of his ambition.
ii Gen. Jackson's ma-adminisiration had
been the mere result of his own impctuous
passions, and habitual love Of power, we
could have better borne it. We should
have had, at least, the consolation that it
sprung, from a spirit which had "done the
state some SERVICE" and might have been
conceived III an honest purpose, though eX-
ecuted in detriment to the public welfare.
But we are compelled TO regard il in IL far
different light than this. The cautions cir
which found lis way into his I
Cabinet, in the person of .Mr. Van Buren,,
md which should have found means to
control the veterans strong passions, give
hem snIutary direction, and guide them
10 safe results, was employed in ministerng
10 his love OF praisc-ln declaring that il
was "su6icient glory 10 Seree under such a
in moulding his whole admin
with view to accomplish the ends
Of IL selfish ambition.
The calculating and corrupt policy which
deliberately dictated Ibis perversion Of the
executive power, we would fam see defeat
I'd and consigned 10 public oxecration.
To give it the popular sanction, by elevat-
ny its author TO the station he has sought
o attain by it, would be virtually the form
ny Of u new Constitution, founded in cor
upton, and destined, sooner or later TO be
he grave OF public liberty.
Ent snpposing the country should consent
o sanction this course of administration,
md submit to be ruled by the Executive
ranch of the government, have the peo-
lie any reason to hope that it will give them
system of wise and beneficial laws, ms
for their virtual surrender of
he privilege of governing themselves? We
arnestly press this question upon the at
nnlion of the people Of Vermont, in refer.
nee TO the interests which they specially {
eslre 10 sustain and cherish. Uhieh III 5
lem ,oiA be safe in he hands Of a Fan Bu- c
en- administration $
Among these Interests, n leading one is, ;
nd Inns inn,, Lao, lLo,,r.t.cts,,, cc,,o,,, ~ 4