The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-04-17

IA isbot he right and dnfy Of srery freely 10
dsruss and communicsie. both puilcly and privately
such matters he may suppose will advance the pub
he inlereri, or inform hs pubic mind One Of the
most ssluIs aud edeciusI sgen,s promote such ine
rest is enlightened public upInion To eroire snch
spsion and gise Jorm and dirsehoa 10 che general
~ "anonai po,ey. and The future desiinss Of all
every ciiizrn whether fsi,Hsied ruh public c6Ses
nof as ike deep, abiding. and active interest. aud no
citizen Is al Liberty 10 Withdraw himself from this high
responsibility, insepsrably connected with republican
institutions. Que Of the most celebrated lawmakers
OF Of the ancient republics declared every citizen
Infamous WIN refused take par. in The affairs Of his
country and the word idif derived from the language
Of that republic. bears, through all time, this impress Of
their institutions dsnoting who was destitute Of the
spirit intelligence requisite for the discharge OF ths
highest daty of CITIZEN"
Here we are emphaticslly told that il is not merely
the right. hui the duty, Of every citizen, whether in
trusted with public Office not 10 take psn IN "Ihe
sIsirsl,neaninu evidently from the whole context.
the eisefioa Of his county thai I'm citizen. Office holder
or not is at liberty TO withdraw hns. from this high
and. he should do so. he would deserve
10 be declared Infamous, and To be stignsiized
idim If any language can convey stronger iastiga
on the eleciioneerng activity Of office holders than
this confess myself wholly incompetent to imagine
Pretermuing numerous other passages oil conceived
in the spirit. and inculcst'ag the same doclrne
beg leave now call the attention Of the Senate to
one which will be found the fifth page Of the report
Tho object Of The BILL" says The report, rs to
render what is iori aud praiserorfhy and in strict
conformity with both the letter and spirit Of nsu
lions, for all citizens, criminal in parcna, class, who
have been honoed by the confidence OF the People Of
The rhoie Satss II is not to punish crime maium
Sc. but to create new crime ii is not TO punish
bribery and corruption the robbery Of the ballot box
the suppression forging Of returns, usurpaion or
neglect Of official duty in giving effect to the viii Of the
majority IN elections, or the improper use Of Official
NM llyfL s af Lss,fa
termeddhng to control or influence pofsrs, by mtans
that are h,rfd and right az others. Every citizen
ought TO qualify himself, by study, conversation, and
every other Of acquiring knowledge to under
stand the theory and principles Of our institutions, and
to ascertain the best mode Of administering them in
their true spirit promote the greatest good Of
the greatest number and to render himself capable Of
discharging any trust that may be conferred him by
his felow-citizens"
:. Il is well his inherent right his duty to dis
rnss and promulge freely tho measures of any Admin
israton, and the character and conduct of those who
support or oppose IL, as reH 10 central them By the
censorship ~ public opinion to subject them to the
test Of the Constitution. In doing he may win the
confidence Of his feowcilizens by his declared opin
ions. or may become identified with some great prnc-
pie which concaies their support All this is inao
eem and Praiserorthy even If the motive is the acqu-
sl'on OF office, because it promotes the public good.
Can It be wise, lus punish a crime when
citizen aHa,ns Office what patriotic and praise
tp0rfhy while he was seeking 1t 7"
Here. then. find that -. the use Of persuasion or
discussion" Of iniermsddiirg by Office holders" to
control influence voters, declared by the report
be merely innocent and lawful" but patriotic
and praiserorfhy!" As in the former extract the
penalty Of injamv was denounced against those who
should fail 10 perform their duty in iniermeddling"
with elections so IN this, positive rsndyd, the
Of patriotism, is decrced to those who shall come up
boldly and fearessy the great work Of matchmaking
the people by official dctaton. And here csnnot but
remsrk, Mr. President. in what specious and decep
tive gu-e these official advisers Of the people
s,ao'y presented by The report 10 this passage and
throughput the report they are ariuly spoken OF as
honored by the choice and confidence Of the People"
Bnt what. sir. have the People to do with them The
officers whose interference in elections Is objected 10,
officers deriving their appointment from the Erecm
hre alone and wholly dependent The Er,cnprs for
their official existence II is therefore, Unauthorized
and gra'oiious assumption, al raptaadam appeal.
by fact, bat one hsbituslly recurring
through the whole Of this report speak Of the office
holders IN question honored by The choose I'D con-
hdence Of the people !"
BIT to return 10 the Interpretation Of the real
character of the report. As il 10 leave the
shadow OF doubt the intention Of the committee
TO justify aud encourage the interference OF Office
holders IN elections. the following uneqnvocal svo~al
OF their meaning occurs the ninth page Of the re-
port: ..
"rhe committee can perceive no reason for the adop-
Ton ny Congress of any restriction upon any OF what
they deem the inherent and naenable rights OF every
class OF Citizens merely because they hare been honoed
,rnh me confidence Of The people" They kno,c no Oh
jeehoa to reason argument, or even PERSUASION, 6y
rord, message, or rri,ing. at time, from rhomso
may proceed by Whatever motive prompted Nor
do they understand on what just principles can De
maintained that the possession of office simply should
deprive citizen Of the influence arising from character
intelligence, integrity aud the confidence and Influence
which they inspire and Of the use them as others
are left free to theirs"
The committee here expressly declare they "knop no
objection" TO the persuasion" Of voters by word
message, or writing at any time. from rhomsoeper
IL may proceed" office holders Others. This passage
Is referred to- present SIMPLY show the open avow-
al which the committee make in il of their appreciation
Of The interference Of ofice.holders with elections -
The sophjsm by which that interference is attempted TO
be palsed will be hereafter. in the progress Of these
remarks trust, abundan,ly exposed.
But, sir, this is not ALL Otce-holders not only
encouraged aud stimulated, have by this re-
port, TO intermeddie in eecons-they not merely
told that It is both their righ aud their duty to exert
their Influence over voters ut the POLLS but any atsmpt
to restrain them in the exercise Of that influence de-
nounced as tyranny and prescription, aud assmlaed to
the revolving cruelty Of the nqusition The poor pro
scrbed oice-hoders, they called, lkened to
"mutes'--to "oullaws"-to "lepers--to slaves; !"
aud, to cap the climax Of this infamnatory cxaggera
ton, soemnly admonshed the s.h page Of the
report that the people would submit to the
tion OF law which deprives their Office holding " fell
low citizens Of his inherent common, and equal rights"
Now sir, this looks very much like provocaon 80
rouonary pioienee to protect the imputed rights Of
those prescribed Office. holders " and il the strong
federalism of other parts Of the report is sufficient to
spoil the democracy Of its author the undsguised loco
tocosm OF this mast at least bring into question his
pabiieansn Of which the vital principles law, iber
ty and public order.
Its in vain, then, Mr. President to cndeavor to dis
guise the real drift and tendency Of this report The
passages have read to the SeDate--taken sparsim,
from every part Of the rcporprove beyond coproyer
sy, that it is Indictment, throughout Of the office
holders, by every motive which bc addressed to the
reason passions Of man, their utmost activity
and influence the elections and party contests Of the
day. And who these office holders Mr. President,
that are held up by the report the legitimate advisers