Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-07-30

by the Senate for malvcrsa,ion in his Office.
A trial OF fifty years has shown the prac-
itcul workings of this constitution aud in
/ no part oft have the expectations Of its
+ founders been more signally disappointed
than IN that which relates 10 the power of
( the executive. From the nature of their
constitution and duties, neither branch of
! Congress have been found capable Of abus-
ing power. No motives of ambition could
operate on either of them, IN their corporate
capacity and the individual ambition i'm
either could find, in the ordinary discharge
of their duties, no means OF gratfcniion.-
} Not SO has II been with the executive Az
soon as the office came To be filed by men
who felt the movings of selfish ambition.
and were restless under the restraints of The
constitution, means were not wanting 10
gratlit the one and set at defiance tho other.
Constitutional restraints have, under the nd
mInstratons of such men. been found vain
and Intellectual. The power, for example.
of removal from office, which the frnmers
of the constitution did not deem il ncccssa-
~ 10 restrain which they seemed in fact 10
regard as almost incapable of abuse, and
for the exercise Of which for sinister purpo-
scs, the father OF the Constitution, (Mr. Mad
ison) declared the President would be liable
TO impeachment, has been openly abused
for the worst OF purposes. The appoint
ment of subordinate executive officers,
which was, IN the contemplation OF the fra
mers of the constitution, high and deli
cate ttust TO be executed for the SINGLE
purpose ofa faithful execution of the laws.
has been converted into an instrument of
executive ambition. The check Of the Sen
ate has been rendered almost nugatoTy by
/ the power which the President has been
able to exert over that body by his influ-
ence, brought to bear upon the election Of
It's members, and upon themselves person.
ally, after their election. The subordinate
exec utiye officers, multiplied to vast extent
and located in every State and Territory,
and IN almost every town and village of the
Union. have, by the avowcd principle of
their appointment and liability to removal,
been brought into a state ofsuch complete
dependence on the executive, as to attach
them most strongly to his interests, in OPP
position 10 the other branches of the gov
eminent. Thousands of officers have been
removed because they would not become
/ the paftizans OF the executive, and thou
sands put in their places because they would.
| The spirit OF executive partizanship has
been thus infused into the whole CORPS of
executive officers. and been armed with
their whole influence TO aid in giving the
executive control over the popular mind
The President has, in fact, an agent, faitli-
full TO his interests in almost every town and
village in the Union. In the fearful en-
largement of his power, the character of his
high Office has been changed from that Of
an upright unambitious republican Chief
Magistrate, to the mere head Of a party
He Yields patronage OF millions /; and that
patronage has been found to give TO men in
his service, an activity, an energy and
perseverance which patriotism would be
powerless TO impart.
1t is by such means that there has come
to be Presidents Parry in the United
States, and that it is distinguished above
all other parties in the country Tor its unity
Of purpose, the completeness Of its organi-
cation, and the vIgor and efficiency Of its
operations.
1t is against this party, fellow citizens,
that we are contending. We are fighting
the battle OF the constitution against the
daring encroachments OF power.
II were compare lively, an easy task 10
maintain the true principles of the Consii-
tuition i'm their conflict with abstract error.
If ii stood only in its own strength, there
f would be little to fear from il. But when
other means than that ofargument are used
TO sustain il when patronage comes in,
with lis appeal to the selfish passions, and
It's long train Of sinister influences truth
struggles with fearful odds. Let the par
" against which We are conieDdiDg,
.. stripped of its executive amor let I'll
power of making and onmaking .housfw
ofekecutive officers, be placed in hA
. where il shall cease to have coute3
! with pary-where it can have no poll
influence, and find no motives Of snbik
10 stimulate II 10 encroachment, and
work as party will be accompiishedt
Our very name will cease TO have prs
teal signiicancy. If the unrghteous
sumptions Of power by British King y
been seasonsbly abandoned, and our n
{ luiionary fathers been permitted the G.
ment Of their just rights. the name q
p would never have been consecfattT
seven years struggle fcr liberty. 81