State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-09

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tions, is i not prcposisrods 81 it va. nc
cessary for Congress TO ado1 = S'isure, and yet
not necessary for the PrS ecommend it
WHY should we S thus Of all our %o
from his Just responsibility Why should there be
nothing but grant, and trust, and confidence, on our
side, and nothing but discretion and power, on his
Sir, ifthere be any philosophy in history If hui
man blood still runs in human veins, if man still
conforms to the identity Of his nature, the institutions
which secure constitutional liberty can never stand
long against this excessive personal confidence,
against this devotion TO men-in utter disregard both
of principle and of experience, which seems to me
to be strongly characteristic OF our tines This vote
came TO us, sir from the popular bracnh Of the Leg
slature and that such vote should come from such
a branch Of the Legislature, among the circum-
stances which excited in me the greatest surprise
and the deepest concern. Certainly, sir, certainly
was not on that account, the more inclined to con-
cur 1t was no argument with me that others SEEM
ed TO be rushing with such Needless headong trust
such mpetuosity OF confidence into the arms Tx
ecutive power. held back the stronger, and would
hold back the longer / see or think ! see, ii is
either a true vision Of the future revealed by the
history of the past, or lift be illusion, it il
fusion which appears to me in all the brightness and
sung of broad noon, that it is in this Of
personal confidence along this beaten track Of man-
uorship Marked every iurlong, by the fragments Of
other free Governments, that our own system is
making progress TO its close. A personal popular
ity honoraby earned, at first by military achieve
mcnts, and sustained now by party, by patronage,
and by an enthusiasm which looks for no ILL., because
il means no i'll ITSELF seems TO render men willing TO
CRAFTY power, even before its demands are made,
and to surfei Executive discretion even in anticpa-
ton offs own appetite. Sir if on the Sd Of March
last it had been the purpose cf both Houses Of Con-
gress to create n military DICTATOR what formula had
been better suited TO their purpose than this vote
of the House? 1t is true, we might ha - given
CNyp ha1 hoI n UiVp mir
have cmpued the Treasury but as 10 the form of
the gilt, we could not have bettered it. Rome has
no better models. When we give Cur money for
any military purpose uhdieur, what remains to be
done five leave it with one man TO decide, not
only whether the military of the country shall
be used at all, but how they shall be used, and TO
what extent they shall be employ ed what remains
either for Congress or the People but TO sit STILL and
see how this dicatoral power will be exercised?
On the Sd OF March, sir | had not forgotten-it
was impossible that | should have forgoiten--the
recommendation in the message, at the opening of
that session, that power should be vested in the
President to issue letters Of marque and reprisal
against France, at his discretion, i'll the recess of
Congress. Happily this power was not granted.
But suppose it had been, what would then have
been the true condition of this Government! Why,
sir this condition is very shortly described. The
whole war power would have been in the hands OF
the President for no man can doubt moment that
reprisas would bring on immediate war; and the
all ordinary appropriations would have been at his
absolute disposal also. And all this in time OF
peace. beseech sober men, sir Of all parties-I
bcseech all true lovers Of constitutional liberty Ia
contemplate this state of things and tell me whether
such be true republican administration oithis Gov
eminent Whether particular consequences had
cnsued or not, is such an accumulation Of power in
the hands of the Executive according to the spirit
| Of our system? Is it either wise or safe Has il
any warrant in the practice of former times Or are
gentlemen ready TO establish the Practice as an ex-
anpe Tor the benefit of those who are TO come after
I us .
| But sir, if the power to make reprisals and this
| money from the Treasury, had both been granted
is there not great reason TO believe that we should
have been now up to our ears in hot war think
there is great reason to believe this. 1t will be
said, know, that if we had armed the President
with this power Of war and supplied him with this
grant of money, France would have taken this for
such proof Of spirit on our part and that she would
have paid the indemnity without further delav.-
This is the old story, and the old plea. Every ono
who desires more power than he Constitution OF
the Laws give him. always SAYS, that if he had more
powe err, he could do more good. Power is ALWAYS
claimed for the good of the People and dictators
are always made, when made at ALL for the good Of
the People. For nv part, sir, | was content, and
am content, to show to France that we are prepared
TO maintain our Just rights against her, by the exer-
ton of our power, when need be, according 10 the
forms ofour own Constitution that, if we make war
will make II constitutonally and five vote mon
ey, we will appropriate it conslitutionay; and thai
we will trust all our interests, both in peace and in
war, to what the intelligence and strength Of The
country may do for them without breaking down OF
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