The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-15
CURRENT LITERATURE.
THE UNITED STATES MAGAZINE AND
DEMOCRATIC REVIEW. Vol Ill. Septem-

lisan
This magazine may be regarded as a sort ofpo-
liticai horoscope indicating the state OF the air
breathed in the party councils OF the ruling dynasty.
As literary Magazine" 1t is in many respects,
highly crediable TO its conductors, and by no means
unworthy Of the society of the best Of It's coempo-
raries. But as Democratic Review" we regard
II as discreditable lumber, mpraclicable, and anti
Republican. The aIistocracy of mobs, the despo-
tism Of French Democratic" anarchy, are the
points Of destiny to which It's doctrines would seem
to lead as Else, why is the flaming sword of popu-
lar fury and rampant reform, pointed by Its index
10 the very frame work Of our Government as fun
damentally defective2 Why is il, else that would
seek to break the tables OF the law, and remove
the checks and balances OF the Constitution To
what end, else, are these filings at constitutional
Senate, constitutional Judiciary, and to those
compacts and checks which only form the Repibli-
can features Of the systsm1 Democracy" il tells
US, must always be restless progressive, reform
ing principle" whose object, we might legtimately
infer should be to extirpate existing institutions and
resolve society into its original elements. For il
must be perpetually engaged in some new reform,
some new simplifcation, the extirpation Of some
element in our institutions of which time has prac
cally developed the evil character and influence"
to wit: the aristocratic Senate the anomalous" Su
preme Court, the connection of the federal Govern
ment with the interests Of the States, charters vested
rights, and other checks and balances"
aNone," continues the Review, I" can be uncon-
scious that our whole scheme of political nstitu-
ons under both the Federal and State CONSTITUTIONS
Is very far from being purely democratic. Though
democracy is their prevalent principle, and their
tuin nal md hac In all iS Lace
combined with so many checks upon its freedom Of
Development and so large an infusion of elements of
an opposite character that they are far indeed from
perfection; and far indeed from producing all those
glorious and benefcen results Of general and social
well-beng towards which the imagination Of the po-
litieal enthusiast earnestly aspires, and of which
he is SO profoundly convinced that in their simple
natural purity, the great principles of his faith do
contain the germs"
Not to speak Of the remarkable perspcuity Of the
above paragraph, we must agree that our "whole
scheme" is far from being purely democratic" and
that there is $50 large infusion of elements of
opposite character, that they E our whole scheme'l
are far indeed from perfection" But insist that
our whole scheme was never intended 10 be purely
democratic" and never can be unless the whole is
disorganised. There is no such thing as pure de-
mocracy in the civilized world and we doubt if
there should be in the present moral condition of
mankind. For we understand pure democracy to
be an aggregate of individuals without head, form,
system restraint or rule, each by himself standing
in his natural free and independent character of an
isolated irresponsible being. Introduce forms,
laws, constitutions, and as necessary consequence
delegations Of power, and it loses the features Of
pure democracy and assumes the characteristics Of
W. admit he
and propriey of lodging the sovereign power in the
body Of the people, we would not demolish those
essential ligaments which bind them together in the
United Brotherhood Of confederated Republic
We are not, therefore, purely democrats nor purely
Republicans, but both in one, glorying in the true
and substantial character Of DEMOCRATIC REpuBII-
CANS. .... ....
The writer of the article under consideration holds
this language The general tendency of the prin-
ciples and policy OF the administration itself is I'M
deniabe at all points, 10 reduce the central action of
our federal sysem; and with it, necessarily, the
Executive activity in similar proportion" If by this
be meant that the "polcy" is 10 restrict the latitude
OF executive action or influence, then we do aver
that never were precept and practice more at va
rance, as the daily history of the administration
parry most inconteslibly proves II is the practice
Of this party by all the means Of latitudinous con-
strucon Of the Constitution, by direct usurpaton,
and BY the perversion of the powers delegated to
extend the sphere Of Executive power and influence.
And SO far has it gone that the original balance
between the three great departments of the Govern
men is nearly destroyed. The Executive has absorb
ed much of the legislative prerogative, and has dared
10 encroach seriously upon the Judiciary power
Can any ingenuity torture the operation of the
Sub-treasury scheme into policy tending "to re-
duce the central action of our federal system, and
with it, necessarily, the Executive activity2" Can
any legerdemain bring Mr.. Senator Wright's adm-
nisraon movement in the Senate, to surrender
into the hands of the Executive the entire unlimited
and underlined control of the whole fiscal revenues of
the Government, thus placing in the same hand the
purse and the sword, within the Reviewers re-
duced central action" and Executive activity in
similar proportion2" As well might the Emperor Of
Russia say TO the other powers of Europe, that in
extending his empire, and his power and resources
he was cndeavoring ito reduce the central ac-
tion" of that division of which he was the head, be-
tween the parties holding the balance Of power
among nations If our knowledge was limited to
the pages of the Democratic Review, we might be
deceived but as we are like all the rest of our world
brought constantly in contact with the acts of the
administration and its party, and having much
more proximae view of their whole operations than
many others, we say there is not one single act to
prove the verify of the Reviewers statement and
proofs are thick throughout the land to fasify his
reasoning. .... ~...
The opening article Of this anomalous periodical
and of which we have been speaking, is headed,
/" How stands the case z" and more imperspicuous
rodomonade than its first part, a more dsingenu-
Gus statement of points pretended to be gained, than
its concluding portion has seldom appeared in
stereotyped form. If the administration intends to
frame and pursue its policy upon the suggestions
claimed as facts in this empty fanfaronade, it will