Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-08-10
TIE CONTRAST.

There are two principles of vital Importance in
our government, on which the Wings and Tories
are Numerically opposed. The Wings contend
Tor the republican doctrines, that all the powers Of
the government should be under their poliucaI con.
troll; 1.-THE Tories, by their measures, have slrug.
sed for the concentration of all power in The hands
Of the executive. The Wings contend for the doc.
tr'ne o the constitution, that all the powers of the
government are but trusts to be used for the benefit
OF The people 1.-THE Tories, by their conduct, show
they consider the government as their own, and
that its powers 10 he used for their special ben.
Eft 1t is then the powers of the people against
the consolidation of power in the executive tile
prosperity OF Ihe people against the speca Interest,"
Of tho government. On the one side, we have The
people struggling TO maintain their own rights :-on
the other, The adherents of the administration
cuiching all power and laboring for consonsoida.
ton the people against their despoic rulers. On
the me side, The people are struggling against adj.
versity ION The other, the Gvoriles Of the gov
eminent are rorng in the en- oyment of their fat
offices. 1t is republicansm against despo ism-lhe
oppressed people against arIslocracy in disguise,
II matters little that they are clamorng for the
name of Democrats, while the powers of the people,
one after another, are wrenched away and bound
up in one mass TO be appropriated for The speca !
use of The administration.
Gen. Jackson commenced his administration I'M.
der the most favorable circumstances. The country
| was prosperous, agriculture was tlourishing, The
mechanics and manufacturers had full employment
the commerce of the nation was active. We were
| on The tide Of prosperity, and all smiled in jov and
happiness. But The scene was changed, and the re-
suit is known and felt. Agriculture languished,
| mechanics were out of employment, the shuI lie and
| the loom OF the mandatory were silent, commerce
| died, and bankruptcy spread desolalion over the
cities. Owing TO the prudent management of our
farmers we have suffered less in Vermont Than many
others but need not say that we also have suffer.
ed. Whv was all this Did it happen without
cause There was cause and well do the people
see and understand it and faithfully will the PEG.
pile apply the remedy. The cause had its origin in
the determination of The government 10 withdraw
The power from the people and concentrate it in
themselves. 1t is possible that Gen. Jackson was
not conscious of the extent TO which his ambition
led him, for none are soon blinded as the advo
Gates of power. How else can we account for The
tone of his ordinary language, my government,
my administration, or for his arbitrary conduct
in removing heads ofdeparlmen;s and thousands OF
deserving men for differing with him in opinion
The natural consequence of the arbitrary acts are
seen in the altered condition Of The country. The
natural effect of all despotic rule is to bear hard
upon the people for IN proportion as one class is
pampered the other is depressed. 1t is so the
world over, from the absolute despoism of Turkey
10 the more limited despotsm of England. The
natural effect Of concentration OF power is to make
the favorires wealthy, 10 shower privileges upon
the few, and consequently to depress the many -
The tendency is 10 practical risocracy on the one
side, and to the condition of serfs on the other.
II is painful and il would be useless task 10
point out the acts of the last and present admins
Iraions tending TO consolidation. They have al
had that tendency from The rejection of the land
bill, the resistance to the distribution bill to the
sub treasury bill. We have all seen them and fell
their influence. The administration, though de.
leaed IN their last great measure, The giant power
The sub treasury scheme, have not abandoned it,
1t is said in high places that all iamentation shall
be disregarded, and their Larlizans are now in al
parts Of the district oontending for the od'ous mea
sure. II may be asked what measure OF the ad
minisra,ion does not Tend to consolidation. In.
quire of The first intelligent jackson man you meet
and ask him to poirt out the leading measures Of
the government, and what will be his answer lie
may tell you that Gen. Jackson paid off the ma
lonaI debt But who furnished him the means 3
Under whose administration were The funds pre-
pared lie was the advocate for relrenchmen anC
reform He was the advocate for them but how
did he nut them in practice ! tie reduced The ex
penses from thirteen millions TO hirly-three. and
reformed every independent man out Of the govern
men, and filled their places with your Blairs
Whitneys Kendalls and Woodburys. little more
rerenchment Of this kind will leave nothing TO the
people. But he destroyed the national bank and
reformed the currency. Yes, with vengeance
and the nation has W. hed and groaned under his
reformation of the currency, until their curses, loud
and deep, have shaken The walls OF the capitol.
The remedy for these evils is an obvious one,
even within our reach. The people have only to
reach forth the hand and lay hold Of il. We must
make the government in practice what il in .ha'