Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-09-04
For the Waterman B Journal.
MODERN DEMOCRACY.

unWary; you printed IL unwcary'' Eein"Ps
unweary would be right, il you intended by 1t
tho poor fellows who are yet an'oedry OF the
age Of humbug. Permit me now TO draw the
attention of my fellow citizens 10 subject oil
deep interest. In the inaugural address Of JEFF
fersop he counts the following as one Of TIE
principles forming "the bright constellation
which has gone before us, and guided our steps
through an ago Of revolution and reformation"
Mark il;
absolute ACQUIESENCEii lin the
decisions of the MAJORITY tislthe ritdl prin-
eiple Of republics from trhich there is no appeal
spt 10 force the vital principle and immediate
parent Of dsspofism."
This was a constituent part Of Jeffersonian
democracy indeed it i, the only purely DEM
ocratc feature in our system Of government
for where is democracy, if the voice Of the peo-
pie is to be tn rarted by one man, or'by minor
iiy Of the people1 But how compares modern
democracy with this test Look at every sim
gle important measure defeated for the last
eight yenrs, and answer
A maj ority Of tho representatives of the
people in Congress, in 1889, rechOr;ered The
u s. Bank-the President vetoed it.
A majority Of the representatives Of the peo-
pie in Congress, in 1888, passed the Land bill,
dividing the revenue from the lands (precisely
us recommended by President Jackson in
1880 y among the several states-the Presi-
dent vetoed 1t.
A majority Of tho representatives Of the
people in Congress passed an Internal I'm
provemcnt bl-the President retoed 1t.
A majority of the representatives. Of the peo-
Pile in Congress, resolved that the public de-
posts were safe in tho U. S. Rank--ihe Pres
ident declared this false, and in 80 days remo-
red them from where the lac had put them, 10
pet banks, where the lap never had put them.
majority OF the representatives Of the peo-
pie in Congress were against the Treasury Or
der-but in six days after Congress had ad
journcd, and shortly after the Senate, with
only one dissenting voice, had expressed its
opinion, the President, through his Secretary,
issued the Treasury Order.
And finally, more than tlcO thirds Of the rep
rosentaiiycs OF the people in Congress passed
a bill repeating the Treasury Order and the
President Vhhheid his assent and aerer return-
cd the bill.
Democrats OF the old schoul how do the 90
things tally with the Jofersonian doctrfao Of
absolute acquiessnce in the dtcisions Of tie
najority2" Has not the will OF ONE MAN
thwarted the will Of the majority Is this JEFF
fcrsonian democracy-o or is il DESPOTISM 2
Remember, too, that in every instance, the
President set up his will against mot an oppo.
stron Congress) Congress composed OF q
majority of his own political friends, and cleo
Ted by his own party Remember too, tina
This persistence Of single man in his owr
will, has landed the country in the vortex o
distress and ruin. Whata commentary is lhi
upon modern democracy how different from
the course of the illustrous Madison how
strongly does it prove that our only safety il
TO 60 back 10 the old ground, ard require "ac
quescence in the decisions Of the majority"
Democrats OF the cd school, -fIeemen o
every name,-iovcrs of liberty,-let me nov
contrast the above extract from the inaugura
of Thomas JeGerson, with an extract from tn
inaugural address of Martin Yam Bursn:
There must be, says JEFFERSON, "absolnte &C
quissence in the decisions Of the majority );
what says Martin Van Buren, ? Read
UNJUST GO INTO THE PRESIDEN
TIAL CHAIR THE INFLEXlBLE AM
UNCOMPROMISING OPPONENT O.
EVERY ATTEMPT, ON THE PART o.
CONGRESS, TO ABOLISH SLAVERl
IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A
GAINST THE WISHES OF TIL
SLAVE HOLDING STATES; AND AL
so WITH A DETERMINATION +
QUALLY DECIDED TO RESIST TIL
SLIGHTEST INTERFERENCE WITT
1T IN THE STATES WHERE 1T EX
lists. 1T NOW ONLY REMAINS T,
WITH THESE VIEWS CAN EVER RE
CElVE MY CONSTITUTIONAL Sane
TION"l--.Martin Yam Buren's Inaugural AZ
drsss.
Yes-he is pledged to veto every bill on Il
subject Of slavery in the District, if that bill |
against the wishes of the slarehoiding state.
Do the slaveholding states comprise majol
ty in Congress NO! Do they comprise
majority in population NO! Do they cor
prise majority in electoral votes1 NO !.
They are MINORITY OF THE NJ
TON. Martin Van Buren,, then, Pledg
himself in Advance TO give his power and su
jecl his will TO tho MINORITY! Is the
an excuse for this outraged Does he err on d
side Of humanity MOI His error goes
bind sepen thousand human beings In bon,ioo