Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-07-19

below the Address Of the late Wing Con-
venion 10 the freemen of Vermont. This
address was reported by committee ap.
pointed by the Convention, and was drawn
.up by Hon. WIN. Slade, at the soicita-
ton Of the State Committee. The St.
Johnsbury Caledoninn says oft
"The address Of Mr.. Slade was open. frank, and
laden with truth, as are all the productions Of his
| uprgh, and honest mind"
We believe the address will be read with
interest and profit; its length should not
prevent its having a careful perusal.
TO THE FREEMEN OF VERMONT.
Feilow CitiSens.
Your Delegates, assembled in State
Convention, having deliberateJ upon the
questions involved in the approac ching state
election, and selected candidates to be
presented for your SURFACES, deem the
occasion appropriate to address you.
II is, fellow citizens, a noble privilege
which we enjoy, Of selecting by our free
SURFACES, the men who shal make our Ia ws
aud administer our government. The
magnitude Of the trust committed to Us.
and the vast and vnrled interests invOlv ed
in lis discharge, demand a frequent and
careful review Of our principles OF poIitlca
action. That action Is. at this time. hmi
ted to our State election; but The State is
part Of great confedera,ed Republic, the
principles of whose administration are ne.
cessary affected, directly or Indirectly. BY
| those Of each of it's constituent sovereign.
ties. We never act in our political capa
c ty without acting for the whole nation.
and under responsibilities vast as ts great
interests, its various relations, and it's mo.
mentuous destiny can make them. If We
act from wrong principles, or, adopting
right ones, fail to carry them out, we pu,
at hazard the Liberties OF great people
and betray the interests Of the human race
| Our connection with the other members
of the confederacy, and the influence which
we exert upon its government. always Of
high moment. are rendered more important
by considerations peculiar to the presen,
crisis. While the Federal Government,
retained lis just constitutional balance,
each department moving in It's appropriate
sphere, and exerlng its appropriate power.
to promote the couniry's welfare. there
was less need of sollcltude, and less call foI
jealousy. While the government was in
the hands Of the founders of the Republic
we were safe. There was a security
against an abuse Of power. either by The
whole government, or any branch Of it. Of
a far higher character than the force o.
mere parchment provisions. I, was in The
stern v,rtue. and unbend,ng integrity n
men who had perIlled every thing for lb' r.
", and who knew, and seemed capable oil
knowing, no other ambition but that of ser
wing he country, from whose soil they had
driven the oppressor and whose institutions
they had laid on the broad basis of the
equal rights Of man.
Half century has elapsed, and a grea,
and portentous change has come over the
country. We have extricated curse Ives
from the embarrassments which followed
our Revolutionary struggle, increased OUT
population, augmented our wealth, and
become great. powerful and prosperous
nation.
But the Revolutionary and Constitution,
al Fathers are gone! Our governments
have ceased to be administered by them
The transition has been one Of fearful tria
to our institutions; and to none more thar
to the constitution of the United States
That constitution was designed 70 secure
a government Of the People. in the true
splrlt Of Democratic Republ;canism. 1t,
foundations rested upon their intelligence
and virtue, and its integrity was guarded
by their jealousy of power The grea
and prominent business of making law.
was confded 10 a Senate and House o
Representatives. subject to qualified
check in an executive veto. The member,
Of these bodies were the Representative
of the States and The people. The Presi
dent was the executive of the laws made
by them. The idea that either of the
Legislative branches Of the government
was to be. in any manner, effected, either
in their constitution or legislative action
by the President. never entered the concep
tons Of the trainers OF the constitution
The President was to execute the laws
superin'end the foreign relatons-w
the advice Of the Senate to make treaties
and with their advice and consent, to ap.
point executive officers. But in the perior
nance of these duties he was supposed t.
be effectualIy restrained from an abuse o
power. The execution OF the laws made
by Congress. was supposed to carry in the
very nature Of the duty, restraints and lin
iialions, of no inconsiderabe efficacy
while the advice and consent ofthe Senat,
was deemed sufficien, guard against 81
abuse OF The appointing power. To these
supposed checks was added that Of con
s,itu,,onal liability Of the President to i'm
peschment by the House Of Represents
lives, and TRIAL by the Senate for malversa
ton in his Office.
+ A trial Of fifty years has shown the prac
teal workings Of this constitutions; and il
no part Of it have the expectations OF it,
founders been more signaIly dlsnppointe'
{ than in that which relates to the power o
the executive From the nature of theI