Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-08-16
IRIS FOR CIIIrTENDEN COUi
JOSEPH CLARK,
JOSEPH MARSH.
TO THE FREEMEN OF VERMONT.


TO THE FREEMEN OF VERMONT.
1t may be rccolccted by those who at
tended the Woodstock Convention that q
committee was charged with the duty Of
addressing their fellow citizens Oil the sub
ject Of the coming election.
Every election is important as it is the
highes, exercise Of freeman's power, but
the coming election s peculiarly so from
the fact that parties are taking more active
means for he selection of,her candidates
for The presidency. and the election Of that
officer is made TO turn upon principles Of
vital importance to the wcll.being Of the
Union, findeed they do not involve the
continued existence of the government.
The only way in which the freemen Of
this state can carry out their principles is
through the ballot box. and the character
of those principles is to be learned by the
political character Of the persons selec'e ed
There are two questions that every man
should answer for himself. what are the
principles that form his political creed-is
it matter Of duty that he should oct upon
his principles.
1t will not be expected that the committee
should give detailed view of the princi-
pies of the wings, ard they will content
themselves by stating some few of them
We hold that a men are created equal,
that all political power proceeds from the
people and is 10 be exercised solely TO pro-
mote their prosperity and happiness. that
government is nm ordination of him who
formed the nature Of man. required for the
existence of that society of which man is
member, aud in connexlon with which man
has any'righ's, that every people have the
right of choosing their own form ofgovern'
ment, but bound to choose that which they
believe will produce the greatest happiness
Of the whce body.
We believe, that our own form of gov.
eminent is beyond comparison the best
that human wisdom can devise for the
American people, but We sha not so under,
rate the intelligence Of our countrymen "a
10 think it necessary to set on, the grounds
Of this preference. TO preserve this form
OF government in its purity, and render 1t
productive of all the good Of which it is
capable, there are some points which should
be more distinctly stated, the defence Of
which is thrown upon the wings.
l. 1t 10 the decided opinion of the
wbips that there should be an indepen.
den, judiciary. This is point of great
importance, but one that is in danger of
being overlooked. The judiciary does rot
ordinarily attract attention. !, is only
when passions are inhamed, when the
advocates for lawless power would break
through the constitution, that the conser-
va,ive mower of the judiciary is perceived.
But the judiciary can hardly be too much
appreciated. Ina government of opinion
founded on written constitutions and laws
the judiciary ia the ark of our saic'y aud
how nobly has j, discharged its high Office
amids, The angry collisions of states. AS
a coordinate branch Of the government,
the wings cherish the Judiciary with lively
interest and cannot see but with pain the
attacks open and covert, that are continual.
Nv made upon it and the constant efforts to
destroy ,s Influence and bring it into
dsrepu,e.
2. We believe that a separation Of the
powers of the government is necessary,
and hat the independent action of Congress
10 indispensable to the full and free expires.
sion Of the peoples WILL Gen. Jackson
has the distinction Of first attempting to
control the action Of Congress, and was
peculiarly fitted by nature for this daring
exercise. Probably no other man living
would have dared to put on act Of Congress
in his pocket and thus defy their power
But The example once set and weaker men
may follow in his footsteps, and multiplied
instances OF this control are found in the
appointment of members of Congress to
office. in the control of public opinion, in
the exercise Of presidential patronage, in
the interference at elections, in the shame-
less vetong Of bills in advance, and in the
open attempts OF the President to encour
age psrlizan Efforts in the PRONUNCIATION o.
par,izon doctrines.
3 We believe that the action of Tho