Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-06-04
From The DqnpiHe lYa.l Reporter.

From The DanUi7e (Va.) Reporter.
THE DEMocRAcH OF THE PRESENT DAY
.coNTRAsTED WITH THE REPUBLIcANIsM OF
Mr.. JEFFERsoN.--W frequently hear a
great deal of Jefferson Republicanism
from those who assume to themselves the
name of Democrats, and who set them
selves mp before their fellow men as the
only true republicans in the land. That
our readers may see how far these high
pr, tensions are founded in truth and JUS.
ticc, we will give them brief illustra-
ton of the principles of Mr.. Jefferson
and the Republican party, of which ne
was the acknowledged head, and leave it
to them tosay how far they are opposed
to the practices of these modern preten-
ders. Mr.. Jefferson inculcated on his
followers a high degree of reverence for
the rights of the States, for State institu-
tons and State authorities. He u ged
the importance Of watching with jealoa-
ty, those in authority, particularly the
Federal Executive. He deprecated
extravaganza in the public expenditures,
and the multiplication of federal officers,
and recommended a curtailment of Elk
ecutive patronage. He enjoined sa-
cred care Of the right Of election by the
people, and absolute acquiescence in
the decisions Of the majority, the vital
principles Of republican government"
These were the principles of the apostle
of liberty, and how strongly do they con-
trast with the practices Of those who now
administer the government, and who, TO
deceive the people, lay claim TO the title
of Jefferson Republicans. In the Ian
guage of one, who has had ample oppor-
tynity of knowing the secret springs
which move these wolves in sleeps
clothing:
Democracy now days, if we are to
Judge of it by Impractical expositions of
the modern democratic creed, means a
disparagement of the State governments;
war upon the State Institutions; enlarge
ment of the POWERS and influence of the
Federal Government; extension of Ex-
ecutive patronage multiplication of Off
GERS; augmentation of the public expen-
diture-every thing left to executive dis
cretion, instead of being regulated by
fixed rules of law virtual notification
consequently of the Legislative Depart
ment, the true representative branch of
the Government; the decision of the
majority of the people, as pronounced
in their elections and through the medi-
UNI of their Representatives, wholly dis
regarded by the Executive, and the sa-
cred right of election by the people it
self now openly sought to be smother
ed Ito use the language of Mr.. Jeffer-
SOM by the enormous patronage of the
General Government and by the IL
censed interference of Federal Execu-
tive officers"
In no one thing have these modern de-
mocrats manifested their departure from
repnblicanism, more strongly than in the
ground they have lately assumed, in re-
lation 10 the right and duty of govern
ment officers to interfere with elections.
Mr.. Jefferson, in reply to a letter from
Gov. Mexican, of Pennsylvania, COM
planning of the conduct of certain Off
GERS of the General. Government, in that
State, writes as follows:
lone thing viii say, that as to the
future, interferences with elections,
whether of the State or General Gov
ernment, by officers of the latter, should
be deemed cause Of removal; because
the constitutional remedy by the elective
principles becomes nothing, if it may be
smothered by the enormous patronage
of the General Government"
This letter was written in February,
| 4. L z. L
the duties of the Presidency, and as soon
as he was inaugurated, he caused cir
cular to be addressed by the different
heads of Departments, to all officers un-
der their control, in which we find the
following strong and emphatic language:
THE President of the United States
has seen with dissatisfaction, officers of
the General Government taking on va
rious occasions, active parts in elections
of the public functionaries, whether of
the General or State Governments.
Freedom of elections being essential to
the mutual independence of govern
ments and of the different branches of
the same government, so vitality cherish
ed by most of our constitutions, it is
| deemed improper for officers depending
on the Executive of the Union, to at
tempt to control or influence the free ex.
ercise of the elective right. This, I am
| instructed, Therefore, to notify to all Off
GERS within my department, holding their
appointments under the authority of the
President directly, and to desire them to
notify to all subordinate to them. The
right of any officer to give his vote al
elections as a qualified citizen. is mol
, meant to be restrained, nor, however
given, shall it have any effect to his pre-
! pldice; but, it is expected that he will
, not attempt to influence the votes of 9TH
ers, nor take any part in the business ol
electioneering, that being deemed incon
sistent with the spirit of the Constitution
and his duties to it
This is the true republican doctrine
; What IS the doctrine of the Administra
ton party, as openly advanced in Con
5 gress, and unblushingly practice,
throughout. the whole countrya Il is
5 that the 'intermeddling by ofice-hol
$ ders in elections" and their endeavo
I" to control the voters by persuasion O
: discussion is not only innocent and Law
. full but patriotic and praiseworthy.' . The
c not only allow the things which JefeI
/. son condemned and prohibited, but the,
i enloin them as duty, from which aAei
y partizans +" are not allowed to Withdraw
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