Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-08-16
To the Frcemcm of Vermont.
Fellow CITIZENS :


'lons involved in the approaching state cleo.
ton' and selected candidates TO be presented
for your sufrages, deem the occasion appro.
priate to address you.
1t is, fellow citizens, a noble privilege
which we enjoy, Of selecting by our free SUI.
frages the men who shall make our laws
and administer our government. The mag
nitude OF the trust committed to us, and the
vast and varied interests involved in its dis
charge, demand a frequent and careful re-
view Of our principles of political action. -
That action is, at this time, limited to our
state election; but the State is part of a
great coniederated Republic, the principles of
whose administration are necessarily affec-
ted directly, or indirectly by those OF each Of
It's constituent soyereignties. We never act
in our political capacity without acting for
the whole nation, and under responsibilities
vast as its great interests, its various relations
and its momentous destiny can make them
Ii we act from wrong principles, or adopt
ing right ones, fail to carry them out, we
put at hazard the liberties OF a great people,
aud betray the interests OF the human race
Our connexion with the other members of
the contederacy, and the influence which we
exert upon its government, always OF high
moment, are rendered more important by
considerations peculiar to the present crisis
While the Federal Government retained its
just constitutional balance, each department
moving IN It's appropriate sphere and cxer-
ting lis appropriate powers, to promote the
country's welfare, there was less need of Sc
licitude, and less call for Jealousy. While
the government was in the hands ofthe foun.
ders of the Republic, we were safe. There
was security against an abuse of power.
either by the whole government, or any
branch of it, of far higher character than
the force Of mere parchment provisions. IL
was in the stern vistue, and unbending in
tegri,y OF men who had periled every thing
for liberty, and who knew, and seemed capa-
BILE of knowing, no other ambition but that of
serving the country, from whose soil they
had driven the oppsessor and whose insti-
tutons they had laid on the broad basis OF
the equal rights Of man.
Half a century has elapsed, and great
and porteutous change has come over the
country. We have extricated ourselves from
the embarrassmenls which followed our
Revolutionary Struggle increased our pop
uiation, augmented our wealth. and become
great, prosperous and powerful nation.
But the Revolutionary and Constitutional
Fathers are gone Our governments have
ceased TO be administered by them The
transition has been one of fearful trial to our
institutions and 10 none more than to the
constitution Of the United States That con-
siitution was designed TO secure a govern
ment ofthe People in the true spirit OF Dem.
ocratic Republicanism. Its foundation rest
ed upon their intelligence and virtue, and its
integrity was guarded by their jealousy OF
power. The great and prominent business
oil making laws was conided to Senate and
House Of Representatives. subject to quail
fled check in an executive veto The mem
bers Of these bodies were the Representa-
tives OF the States and the people The
President was the executive of the laws
made by them. The idea that either of the
Legislative branches Of the government was
to be- in any manner, affected, either in their
constitution or Legislative action, by the
President. never entered the conceptions Of
the trainers of the constitution, The Presi-
dent was to execute the laws-superintend
the foreign relations--wilh the advice of the
Senate TO make treaties. and with their adj
vice and consent, TO appoint executive Off
GERS. But in the performance Of these du-
ties he was supposed TO be effectually re-
strained from an abuse of power The exc
cution of the laws made by Congress, was
supposed to carry in the very nature of the
duty restraints and limitations, of no. incon-
siderable efficacy; while the advice and con-
sent OF the Senate was deemed sufficient
guard against an abuse of the appointing
power. To these supposed checks was adj
ded that OF constitutional liability of the
President TO impeachment by the House of
Representatives, and trial by the Senate for
malyersation in his office.
A trial Of fifty years has shown the prac-
tical workings Of this constitution and in
no part oft have the expectations of its foun-
ders been more signally disappointed than
in tina. which relates to the power Of the ex-
ecutive. From the nature of their constitu-
ton and duties. neither branch of Congress
have been found capable of abusing power.
No motives Of ambition could operate on eli
Their of them, in their corporate capacity /;
and the individual. ambition in either, could
find in the ordinary discharge of their du-
ties, no means of qualification. Not so has
II been with the executive. As soon as the
Office came TO be filled by men who felt the
movngs Of selfish ambition, and were rest
less under the restraints Of the constitution,
means were not wanting TO crafty the one
and set at defiance the other. Constitution
al restraints have, under Observation-Disclosures
OF such men, been found vain and ineffectu-
ai' The power, for example. OF removal