The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-10
We extract the following excellent article
from THE World, edited by Russell Jarvis.
POLITICS FOR THE PEOPLE.

under full recollection Of its expressions and OF the
tolls and suferngs and blood through which they had
passed They therefore very naturally jealous Of
every thing bearing the semhance Of ROYALTY or arsoc
racy, and endeavored to establish representative de-
mocracy with the three powers of government so well
defined and equally balanced that each should he an
ef1ectual check TO the other And they did devise
the best system Of government in theory which the
world had Witnessed But the convention which
made the federal constitution and the State conven-
tions which adopted it, consisted Of men remarkable for
sagacy, how came they to overlook the evils which
this extensive patronage Of the executive has led Il
They relied too much upon the honesty Of posterty,
and did not foresee the gigantic increase Of the country
They knew and relied for they had tried each other
IN looking around for men to fill the Presidency.
they saw Washington, Adams Frsnklin, jefferson.
Hancock. Henry, Pendleton Lee and they could not
imagine that such men would abuse exalted,
These their standards for leaders, and they thought
such would always grow up under those institutions
which they had inherited and rescued and those which
they were devsing. They were IN the midst Of
and honest people, whose than Roman virtues
had been thoroughly proved and they did not, could
not believe that under the blessings Of liberty. the pos
terIty of such people would degenerate. They did
not foresee that before the lapse Of half century, three
millions OF people would be sextuped, and that the
whole would be maddened by spirit OF speculation
They made the federal constitution for their gene
ration and posterity like it, and did not contemplate
almost radical change Of character Had they FORE
seen tho present, they would not have armed pres
dency with patronage that renders more formidable
than even a crown.
But the country has changed, Three millions Of
people have grown to eighteen, and few Of.
federal officers are augmented TO tro hundred thousand
every one OF whom receives his appointment directly
indirectly from the President This army Of office
holders, depending upon his will, enable the President
to control the whole legislative power, and render the
government practical monarchy. Let suppose the
House OF Representatives and Senate nearly d.
vided upon partisan grounds render majority Of
ten in the first and five ia the second upon question
Of public interest. If the President can change six
votes in and three 10 the other his views of
tho question become the law Of the land Among these
two hundred thousand Offices, could he find nine
that would suit members Of Congress? Seats in the
cabinet foreign missions, coectorshps Of the principal
ports audtorshps and coectorships in the treasury,
are things desirable members Of Congress, and
will sometimes the obstinate constitution
al and other scruples. Who fail to that with
such means OF influence the President master of the
legislative power But we cannot more forcbly ex-
hbit the dangers Of executive patronage, than in the
language of Mr. Van Buren,, when a Senator in Con-
gress In his report 70 the Senate in the winter of $685.
the celebrated resolution in favor Of "rerenchment
and reform" he says
I'VE must look forward to tho time when the nomi-
nation Of the President carry any through the
Senate, his recommendation carry any measure
through the two Houses Of Congress when the princ-
PIE VI PuoHe dSloH Will pe open hNu dVOWeu 4 nc
President nants my rotc, and rant his patronage;
rrW rote as ne ,rrshes, and he ,ciH gipe The office
,rish for What will this be but the government Of
one man And what is the government Of one man
but a monarchy?
Such was the language Of Mr.. Van Buren,, when
Senator IN Congress, speaking in reference 10 the
Presidency OF Mr.. John Quincy Adams. 1t was
natural for the people 10 suppose that on reaching
an influential station in the federal government,
under the presidency Of General Jackson, and final
" reaching The Presidency the statesman who could
SO clearly and so forciby describe the dangers ef
the executive patronage, would make every possible
exeTtlon TO restrain it, and redeem the legislative
power OF the government from its destructive inhu-
ence But has that expectation been answered Did
Mr.. Van Buren,, when exercising great influence
under the presidency of General Jackson, endeavor
70 prevent the executive patronage from being used
TO prevent the independent action of Congress Let
every Republican remember a written promise to
speaker OF the federal House of Representatives, TO
appoint him to a foreign mission. Has Mr.. Van
buren, since he reached the Presidency, exhibited
10 congress the dangers of executive patronage, or
recommended any measure for restraining it 2 AL
most Twelve years have elapsed since he made this
memorable report 10 the Senate and though for
nearly the whole of this period he has occupied the
stations of Secretary of Slate Vice President and
president, he has done or recommended nothing TO
restrain The evil which he~once SO clearly saw and
,oIcloly described And yet upon his own promises.
he has the power of correction He said that the
recommendation of the president could carry any
measure through the two Houses Of Congress. Mr..
van buren has been President for three years, and
mas not recommended any measure to restrain exc
cut'Ve patronage What is the conclusion The
necessary, irresistible conclusion That Mr.. Van
buren, does not wish to deprive the presidency OF
administration -. .
lens OF thousands of honest men, good patriots,
inhexiole republicans, support MIR. Van Buren, for
the next presidency believing him TO be- like them
selves, pure patriot, and sincere republican. We
ask these men 10 consider Mr.. Van Buren's own
description of the federal government under this
overwhelming influence of the executive He says
II Is the government Of one man, nd that the GO
Verninent OF one man is m0nnrchg! Here, then,
we ind Mr. Van Buren administering govern
nieht "hich ne pronounces monarchy, and mo-
haichv through the very power vested in himself,
without the slightest effort to reform Its monarchia
iealnres. Is Mr. Van Buren, republican, Can
that man be republican who 6eforc he reached the
presidency, pronounced the federal government a
monarchy through certain power in the President,
and now that he has reached the pres;dencv cI;nos
last 10 that power2 Is Mr.. Van Buren, a patrioi1
Tan lhat man be patriot, who, before he reaches
tne presidency, pronounces Ger ain power desruc-
I'VE 10 public liberty, and after he reaches the pre-
sldency, clings fast 10 that power1 we aslr everv
honest man pure patriot, and sincere republ;can IN
the United States, Of whatever PARTISAN 'denomipa
ton, TO consider these questions; 10 mink Of Mem
things. ~ ''~'o
We take no partisan view of political questions
for 10 us all parties Indifferent when considered
merely as parties. We have no partiaies TO graft.
fly, no hopes To fulfil fears assuage in the next
presidential election, beyond the hopes and fears
which every american ought to entertain for his
country. We care not who is President, If The pre-
sidency be honestly and ably filed and therefore we
speak not for any candidate now or likely 10 be in
nomination. We have proclaimed our preference,
but II is not for MIR Van Buren,, or Mr. Clay, or
General Harrison. II Is for one who has moi the
slightest prospect Of nomination for the next presi-
dency. We therefore can speak imparialy and
independently, and we do speak without the least
now divided. We speak for the couatry the mhole
eonMry ana nothing but the country: and we say
.ha according to Mr. Van Buren's own showing,
lne country IS IN imminent danger from executive
publicans, Of whatever partisan denomination. 10