Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-08-17

according to our theory is vested in the
peope, would lead TO the humiliation of
all power in the people. The people ond the
uovernm't cannot become antagonists IN the
Tirh,fu! exercise of political authority, and
whenever this is the case a revolution has
already commenced which must end in the
destruction of one or the other. unless The
evil be timely removed. IL matters little
whether the power be important or not, the
question is US to the right to exercise II.
On this principle the tea tax was resisted,
and on this principle we should act now.
II sin the nature of power that 1t should
be stealing from the many to the few
Hence in q government like ours power
naturally tends TO concentration in the exc
cu,ive. and e,etnel vigilance is required to
orotect it IN its purity in the hands OF the
rioh,(ul owners. During the early admln-
isira,ions it was supposed the people were
the source of danger, that the power OF the
Evccutive was not sufficient 10 Withstand
them. and that it was necessary to strength
on his hands. This formed the great point
of con,es, between the parties ofthose days,
bu, this doctrine was exploded IN the as
cendancy of Mr.. Jefferson. Since his day
the oneslion has assumed new shape ana
the urea, desideralum now is to guard the
rights of the people from the assaults OF
the Executive and prevent the consolida'
lion of power IN the head Of the government,
This is the rock on which all previous gov.
ernmep,s called free have been broken. and
tho ono nm which ours will be dashed when
ruin comes.
The enquiry for us 10 make is whether
tho ncople and the Executive maintain the
relative position warranted by the conslltu
,iou. and if not, which is IN danger, and
what is the source OF the danger. Expe-
rience has demonstrated tina, the Executive
is not. and with the patronage in his hands
never can be in the least possible danger.
The two Houses OF Congress may oppose
his views aud refuse their assent to his
plans but in all offensive operations they are
powerless. SO also is the judiciary, and so
are the people. If then danger ever arises
il will be in the advance of the Executive
10 movers not delegated. Without inqulrng
as to the past, how is it probable that Exec.
u,ive usurpalon would show itself, not IN
omen assaults upon the other branches. for
this would be seen and resisl ed no, in direct
attacks upon the people. but by gaming an
ascendency over the people and by using
the other branches of government as lnstru-
men,s IN his hands. The people have no
object in becoming the instruments OF Ex'
ecu,ive usurpa,ion, but the history OF the
world shows that it has been done again
and again. 1t was thus in the ancient re-
publcs, it was thus in Cromwell's time, IN
the French revolution, 1t has been thus ~
all governments before Us, and the example
ough, not to be lost upon us. Their fate
should teach us that improper confidence Is
dangerous, that jealousy is a republican
virtue, and that any exercise OF authority
beyond the defined limits OF the constitution
is despo,sm This is the charge that the
Wings bring against the admni>tra'lon,and
the history of The last nine years the evl-
dence on which they rely. 1t is not so
much, that any particular act of the gov
eminent, amounts to usurpatlon, as that
the general course tends to consolidation.
Our government, as all know Is dIVlded
into three branches, and any attempt on
the part of one to limit the authority OF
either of the others is nsurpauon. Now
lie, us suppose that the judiciary attempt TO
make law, and the Indignation OF the PEG.
pie would be appalling. But an attempt on
the part of the judiciary is no more TO be
condemned than that of the Executive, and
vet we know tina, Mr.. Van Buren, in his
first public message attempted to control
the free action of the legislative department.
His notice that he would veto certain
bills, was either to ntimldale Congress or
to show that he disregardcd their authority
and wished to degrade them before the ma
ton. This act has not received the repro
baton it deserved, 1t was an attempt on
the part of one branch of the government
to become independent of The others. 1t
was virtual declaration that the co-ordn
ute branches of government should be dis
regarded, and this is usurpatlon. git matters
not that no definite evil has followed this
declaration. of this we cannot certainly
Judge, it is the principle on which the dec
laration was made that is Objectionable, the
assertion of q power not delegated by the
constitution.
TO form correct idea of the charac,e,
ofthe administration we are not so mucl
to examine particular acts, as to group the
whole together and learn the result OF thei
combined action. And what is the resul
to which the measures OF the last NM
wears have conducted us. TO more lin
tied prosperity, and to comparative bank
ruptcy Our agriculture has not been les
productive, for the smiles of provldenc
have not been withheld, but the market
have been destroyed. Some have the woo
of three years now on hand, and all hav
sold at reduced prices. Commerce ha
been reduced so that many goodly sbl
lies rottng at the wharf. The mcchanl
end the manufacturer have suffered wit
the rest, thousands being ont of employ
ment. THIS is not an accidental state G
things. nor is it owing TO any provIden,a
calamity. We have been at peace wit
the world, always excepting a wan,on wa
upon the miscalled savagcs. No,wih