Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-07-10
From the New York Evening Star.

Defiance Of the Popular Wtll-Thc
Sab Treasury. We live under a govern
ment purpoting to be q government of the
people. It is the philosophy Of our insti-
tutlons that the will ofthe people, constitu-
tionally expressed, should give law
The party in possession of the Govern
ment profess to be the especial advocates
of the most liberal development of this
principle. They claim to be the exclusive
Democrats. In the PALMER days of the
party, and when the results of the ballot
box justified such an appeal, Mr.. Senator
BENTON was wont to favor the people
with an occasional explanation of the term
Democracy. sits derivation," he would
say, sis from the Greek-being compos-
ed of two Greek words, Demos, the peo-
pie, and Krate, Power, meaning in their
combination, the power of the people,"
1t was then Mr.. BENToN's understanding
Of our Government, that the power of
the people should be paramount. Fur
Their than this he uniformly maintained
that all legslation-that the very con.
stitutional organization Of the Government
should yield to the passing popular i'm
pulse; that the representative should obey
implicitly the will of his constituents or
resign his position. Hence the daily IT,
rades which we heard in Congress, against
the Wing Senators who represented Tory
States; and the daily bulletins issued by
the official organ of the Government, I'M
der the direct patronage Of General JACK
SON, assailing the Senate, denouncing it as
an aristocratic body, and hurting at it the
accommodating thunders of the most afro
cious Jacobinism and the most insolent
Executive defiance. And the President
ofthe United States himself-in an Off
cial docu ent-presented to the Senate
dared to arraign members of that body,
as misrepresenting the opinions of their
constituencies, and thus subverting the
fundamental axioms Of a Democratic Go.
vernment.
Suchtoo has always been the language
of Mr.. VAN buren,. Never was a can.
dida.e more impressed vita the necessity
of an implicit Difference to the popular
will. Never did the Roman forum exhibit
a more humble supplicant for the swee
I voices Of the people. '''The supremacy
Of the popular will, said Mr.. VAN BUREN
: in his celebrated letter to SHERRoD VII.
LIAMs-" is the foundation Of our Govern
Y ment. If we allow it to be Frustrated, Ell
t Their by corruption or fraud the republican
principle, which gives life and characte
$ to our system will be broken down.
: is only by rigidly and manfully upholdin|
that supremacy on all occasions, that W
n can hope to resist the perpetual efforts Q
:, a spirit which is inherent in all societies
which has never ceased to maintain
e powerful foothold in these States, an
" which is ever at work to subvert those fea
lures Of our system, which place the pol
. teal rights of the people upon an, equa
footing. This letter. his inaugural &C
dress, and his two messages to Congress
are full Of similar expressions Of a sing
ie desire to give efficacy to the Popular VIII
! and to render our government in truth
Z Democratic Republic.
2 In express reference to this very subleC
IS after full developement Of his views Q
J. the Sub Treasury he concluded his con
q ments in the following emphatic Language
Of These are my views upon this inportaI
8 subject, formed after careful reflection
q and with no desire but to arrive at wh;
i is most likely to promote the public intef
Il est. They are now as they were befor
e submitted with unfsigned Difference Jc
as the opinions Of others. TWAS hardly
g be hoped, that changes 50 important on
9 subject SO interesting, could be made wit
! out producing a serious diversity 81 op
q Mon; but so long as these conflicting view
IN are kept above the influence Of individu
ay of local interests; 81 long as they plirsl
only the general good. and de discuss,
n with moderation and candor, such dive
q sitv IS a benefit, not al inioIg fam
4 iority of Congress see the public Welfa
Tin different light, and mora especially
feR sh0iEl1 b satisfied t6ff Tie te1SB