Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-05-11

ne6t. to any part, is at least do"oiiui "ho w" !
certain the objections obvious, pam anu ;
strong. On the general question: oi slavery,
a great portion OF the community Is s'rohg'y
excited. The subject has not oniy attracted
o,,ention as n question of politics, but has
s,g,,ek a far deeper toned cord. 1t has ar.
rested the religious feelings of the country; (
/. has taken strong hold. on the consc1ences
Of men. lie is n rash man, indeed, little con-
versant with human nature, aud cspe siai'y
has IIe SO very erroneous estimate of the
character Of the people Of this country, VINO
supposes that a feeling Of this KIND Is 10 oe
trifIed with or dcspised. 1t will assurediy
ca,rse itself TO be respected. II may oe rea-
soned with, it may he made willing oeHeEe
il issentirely willing--to fulfil all cN'stins
duties, to uphold dnd defend The cohs'ilu.lon'
Ms it is establish. Il, with whatever regrc's u,
bout some provisions, which IL Goes "e.'"y
contain. But To coerce II INTO she"o.'
sndeayor to restrain its FREQ expreSS'o"-.o
seek To compress and conhne ~ warm 10
and more heated as such ordeavofs would IN
cv;tablv render it-should all this be attempt
.d Iknow nothing, even in the Constitution,
ar in the Union itself, which would not DC en-
danpcred by the explosion which might ioi-
low. 49, .... .;, g..
/ see, therefore, no political necessity Tor
the annexation of Texas to the tnion~-ho
advantages 10 lie derived from lt-and once
tions to it, of a:strong, and III my Juu9"heh''
decisive character. "
tbeleye il will be for the interest and hap !
''pincss Of the whole Union, to remain as IL 49,
without diminution and without addition.
Gentlemen, pass to other subjects. The
rapid advancement, OF the Executive uuthori,
ty is topic which has already been alluded
to.
believe there is serious cause oi danger
from this source | believe the power oi the
executive has increased, IL increasing, ahu
ought now to be brought buck within It's an
cient end constitutional limits. have moth
ing to do with the motives which have led 70
those acts, which believe 10 have transcend,
cd the boundaries ot the constitution. Eood
motives may always be assumed, as bad mo-
tives NAV always be imputed. Good ihteU-
tions will always be pleaded, for every as
sumption Of power; but they cannot justify H.
even if we were sure they existed. IL Is hafo-
ly too strong that the constitution was maze
TO guard the people against good intentions
real or pretended. When bad intentions are
boldly avowed. the people will promptly take
care of themselves.
On the other hand, they will always be
asked, why they should resist or question tha'
exercise of power, which Is so talr IN It's Cd
iect, go plausible and patriotic in appearance
and which has the public good alone COMES
scdly in view? Human beings, we may be
assured, will generally exercise power wheI
they can get IT; and they will exercise II mos
undoubtedly in popular governments, under
pretences Of public safety, or high public III
trrest. 1t may be very possible that good III
tentions do really sometimes exist, when con
s,itutional restraints are disregarded. Iher
nrc men in all ages, who mean 10 eXercis
power usefully; but who mean to exercise II
They mean to govern we'll, but they mean
govern. They promise to be KIND master
but they mean to he masters. They thi'
there need be but little restraint upon theii
selves. Their notion Of public interest Is o.
to be quite closely connected with their ow
exercise Of authority. They may not,inde'
always understand their own motives. III
love Of power may sink too deep IN the
hearts, even for their own scrutiny, ana mi
pgss with themselves for mere patriotism al
benevolence.
A character has been drawn Of very eli
ncnt citizen of Massachusetts, ,ol the last az
, which, though think it does not entirely b
long to him, yet very well describes q ccrta
class of public men. 1t was said OF this di
tinsuished sou of Massachusetts, that III naa
ters of politics and government, he chersh'
the most kind and benevolent feelings town
the whole earth. lie earnestly desired to 81
nlr nations well governed; and to bring nho
this happy result, he wished that the Unit
States might govern the rest OF the wor
that Massachusetts might govern the Unit
States: and that Boston might govern Mass
ch,lsetts; and as for himself, his own huml
ambition would be satisfied, by governing
little town Of Boston.
do not intend, Gentlemen, to commit
unreasonable a trespass Oh your patience,
tn discuss all those cases IN which ! Til
Executive power has been unseasonab'y
tcpled. ! shall only alludr to some OF thu
and as being earliest IN the order oI III
and hardly second to any other III lihportnn
mention the practice Of removal from all
fees, high and low, for opinions sake. land
the avowed ground of giving patronage to
Presidents; that is to say, of giving hlm
power Of influencing mems political oplnio
and political conduct, by hopes, and by feu
addressed directly to their pecnnlary INT
'csts. The great battle on this point, v
fought, and was lost, in the Senate OF the
hited States, in the last session Of Congre
under Mr.. Adams administration. Al
General Jackson was known to be elect
and before his term of Office began, many
portant Offices became vacant, hy the us
ca.ses of death and resignation. MIR.
ans, of cours O. nominated persons to fill til
vacant Offices. But npjprlty of the Sci
was composed of The friends of Gen. Jacks
and instead Of acting on these nomina,,
and filling the vacant offices, with ord''
promptitude, the nominations were postpo
TO day beyond the fourth OF Iarch, Tor
purpose, openly avowed, OF giving The
ronago Of the appointments to the Presid
who was then coming into office. And W