Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-08-16

| perpetuating 1t not only violates the spiri
OF the Constitution, but what is infiniel,
worse, itperverts the public sentiment 10 al
acquiescence in that violation. II the peo
pie are disposed TO change The Constitution
let them do it, directly in the mode il ha,
prescribed Letthe propositions be brough
forward, as distinct amendments OF the Con
stltuIion' that the President shall have pow
\ er V, remove every Executive officer 70,
Iopnions sake--that he shall be permitted e
take millions, annually from the Treasury
and cxpend them in the elections, State and
National-lhat he shall be represented by
his ministers in both Houses Of Congress
and that be shall freely bestow spon Their
members for the purpose Of influence, the
Offices and the honors in bis gin. Let this
be done, and we shall have an opportunity
10 make up an issue, fairly and openly on
these great questions. But we shall have
no such propositions. The men in power
dare not bring them forward And vet
what they dare not do, directly they are do
ing indirectly. Every power embraced in
these suggested propositions OF amendment
has been exercised during the last ten wears,
and is still exercised and yet, how many
thousands are blinded by interest 10 the true
nature of these encroachments on the con.
stilulion, and how many other thousands and
tens ofthousands are led by the m ysterious
insidious influence Of party TO an acquesc-
ence in them.
How long will il be, before the constlu-
ton will, under such course of administra.
ton, be practically changed--changed in
The worst possible manner--by encroach.
inent and acquiescence, without fair and
open discussion, and without the direct and
intelligent action Of the people
Who that looks with the eve OF true DO
litical philosophy at this subject, does not
see in the power which is capable of thus
leading the peopleto acquiesce in practical
perversion OF their constitution, ground for
the most serious alarm. The people rose
IN their might forty years ago, and put down
an administration that had only entered on
the threshold of the present abuses OF pow
er. The first manifestation of them was the
signal for an onset which resulted in tri
umph; and yet they have now been fasten-
ed on the country for len years.
DO you ask us, fellow citizens, for solu-
ton Of the mystery Of this change2 1t is at
hand. In the first place, the active Repub.
licans OF '98 are gathered 10 their fathers.
They carried into the contest Of that period
the stern virtue OF the earlier and better DAYS
oftbe Republic. The men who framed the
Constitution then lived, and lived TO some
purpose. They saw, ut glance. the tend
ency OF the advancing power Of the Execu-
tive TO subverslon of the Constitution they
had aided TO establish, and they rallied TO the
rescue. The conflict was short, and the
triumph complete. We need not say
fellow citizens, what would have been the
tate ofthe present Dynasty, il il had opened
It's career Of usurpation and corruption in
face ofthe whole body OF the patriots of &c.
and the Constitutional fathers of 81. Ii
would have been Frustrated and swept away
by an overwhelming tide of popular indig-
nation.
We cannot here forbear referring to sin.
gle example Of the spirit Of the Fathers
touching the subject OF an abuse of Execu-
tive patronage.
Mr.. Madison has been justly .denominat-
ed the father OF the Constitution. In de-
bate in the first Congress, on the subject Of
the Presidents power of removal from Of
flee, his reply to arguments against the ex-
istence oftbe power, drawn from its great H.
ability TO abuse. he said -
" The danger, then, consists merely in
this the President can displace from Of
flee, man whose merits require that he
should be continued in it. What will be the
motives which the President can feel for
such an abuse OF power and the restraints
that operate to prevent it In the first place.
he will be impeachable by this house and
the Senate for such an act of mal-adminis
tration; for contend that the wanton re-
moval of meritorious officers would subject
him TO Impeachment and removal from his
own high trust But what can be his mo-
tive for displacing worthy man ~
Abiding afterwards to the Presidents
dependence upon the popular voice. his Ii
ability to impeachment, and other restraints
connected with his station, Mr.. Madison
said Will he bid defiance to all these con-
sideralions, and wantonly dismiss meri,o-
rious and virtnous oficer2 Such an abuse
OF power exceeds my comprehension
Here is sample ofthe spirit which per-
vaded the country in 1900 and gave to the
Republicans of that so triumphant victo-
ry. Could james Madison now rise from
his tomb and walk into the Presidential
Mansion. how insiinctively would its tenant
fly from the presence OF the man who, in the
simplicity OF revolutionary patriotism and
purity, could ask What can be his motive
for displacing worthy man ? And could
add" Such an abuse of power exceeds my
conception
In further reply TO the inquiry-whence
the difficultv of re.annctino the triumnh ~