The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-17

chcei urect and INDIRECT OF the the
been SO little felt in the conduct Of our national affairs
nor have the powers Of the Federal Government ever
before been strained to high point il we may iudpe
OF these powers, by the practice OF the late and present
Administrations Never before were the mass OF the
community so powerless OF late, they have substsn
Tally nothing to do having neither part lot in the az
ias OF The Government Of the country, but to follow
ohnaiy, and give their sanction, when called upon for
hat purpose to whatever schemes and Of pub
lac policy The heads of the party, three four
men AZ most, are pleased to dictate TO them Such is
ahd mas been the power of party discipne--such the
aespolic principle of party association for years, that
,e mass Oh the community have rather stood IN the
iauon Oh subjects to be governed than the controlling
elements OF power How this has been brought about
Dy what artiul means-by what powers OF intimidation
on 'he one hand and Of seduction on the other the
mass Oh The People have had little actual influence
IN the affairs OF Government Of late-I have often de-
se,oea on ms hoor have repeatedly referred to this
SUBJECT Us the origin OF all the evils which aflc the
country content myself for the present. by repeat
'hal the mass Of the People have for years been de-
eaoea 70 the rank OF machines in the hands Of
lew men who have had the talent and address to use
mem Tor Their own purposes Never before were free
cope under such positive, such despotc CONTROL the
eope OF the United States have been, by the artful
management of few men, acting in conjunction with
'ne powerful influences OF overgrown patronage.
again alarm that at no period since the of
tue oVeinment IN 1883, have its powers been so ex-
,ensise IN practice OF late they have undoubtedly
been carried far beyond the example of any preceding
Administration. Then, sir conclude that the Presi
dent holds out unounded assurance to the country
we cannot safely congratulate ourselves that the Peo-
pie have had the sphere of their Influence increased
that the powers Of the Government have been re-
strictcd.
After cnumeratng many of the happy results of our
republican institutions, the President expresses the fol-
lowing sentiment
This review of tho results Of our institutions for
hall century, without exciting spirit Of vain exulta
taton should serve to impress upon the great prnci
pies from which they sprungeonstani and difect SUI
perr'si0n by The People esery public measure" de-
Now, sir, tsaid Mr. B should be pleased to be in
formed what Is meant by the constant and direct SUI
perrison Of the People," which is here enumerated as
one OF the great principles which we are indebted for
the glorious results Of our system Will some gentle
man who is better acquainted with the sentiments Of the
President upon this subject enghten me Will he tell
me what is the true import Of the language, "Me
stant and direct supervision Of the Peope" Is in
tended by this passage in the Message and the other
doctrines which are more or less openly inculcated to
give the high official sanction Of the Chief Magistrate
OF the Union to the new impulse which has recently
been given, or sought to be given, to what called the
democratic tendencies Of our system! You must be
aware, Mr. Chairman, that unusual pains have been
ken OF late to show that our system needs radical
vision. The People told that our ancestors, who
the rear of the improvements of the present age that
they had not the benefit Of the lights which expe-
renee mas shed upon the subject OF government since
that time, and which now in full blaze around
The science OF government we arc told, has made
great strides since Constitution was formed and,
indeed that instrument is beginning to be looked upon
by many rather device OF bad men, to advance the
interests Of the few at the expense Of the many, and
forming actual obstruction to that full tide of happi
ness and prosperity which awaits US when the nven-
tons Of modern democracy shall be substituted fort
AT all events it is proclaimed to be the duty Of every
man who would improve the condition Of the human
family to strengthen the democratic tendencies Of the
Constitution, and disrobe rather strip it Of those
limitations and restrictions upon the popular will, with
whicho our unimproved ancestors had thought il neces
sary to cucumber IT, Some progress has already been
made in impanting this sentiment among the people in
some OF the States. New party names have been in
vented for this purpose New definitions have been
given of free Governments An od-fashioned republi-
denounced little better than arstocrat We
hear Of late from the leaders of OF the great par
ties which divide the country, Of little else than the de-
mocracy of the c6untrythc great democratic family
the democracy of numbers In TRUTH sir it cannot be
disguised that there a class Of politicians in the
country at this moment, whose aspirations does not
suit that any restriction, any limitation whatever shall
exist in the practice Of the Government upon the will
or absoutism OF the majority; and in the estimation Of
all their followers, Constitution is defective. 1t
imposes quite many trammels in their judgments,
upon the benefcen designs of the reformers Does the
President mean to be understood as countenancing the
doctrines Of these reormers, by pointing to the ICON
slant and direct supervision by the People" i'm
portant principle in free Government Sir, would
be the last in this House to question the
sttutional principle of popular supervision the
measures of the Government 1t is to the operation of
that principle that TO look for safety in times
which, perhaps may be worse than the present; ant.
trust we shall not look to it in vain But sir, accord
ing to our SYSTEM the People do not and cannot exer
else any direct supervision over any public measure.-
Their power their influence, their supervision can be
exercised only by petition and remon
STRANGE and by the utterance of their voice at the bal
lot-box And it is that feature in system that at
once distinguishes it in form from democracy, and Sc
it from the fatal catastrophe which has always at
tended democraces or Governments in which the Peo-
pie exercised direct supervision public measures
But it would be gratifying to know what change in
Constitution is medated by which the people may
be admitted to direct supervision Of public mea
sues it intended that the people shall interpose
their authority, whenever, in their Judgment, the const
tutional unconares shall err fail in the discharge
of their duty, without any amendment OF the Constitu-
ton? We have very lately had specimen OF this I'M
proved system of government announced through the
medium Of an Executive communication. We have
heard the doctrine proclaimed on this floor we have
seen il announced in several of the most influential
journals in the country, and among the rest the official
organ Of this Administration (the Globe) that the d.
rect interference Of the people, or, in other words the
democracy Of the country, in the settlement Of const-
tutional and legal questions is not only allowable, but
justifable We have heard it proclaimed from all
these high and authoritative that excited and
sgated assembly of the people may properly rush into
a legislative hall, ill oil the aises and other vacant
places, and by their menaces and camor for the blood
Of obnoxious individuals drive the Speaker from his
chair, and the members from their seats In such
proceeding it SAID there is mo positive violence !"
and when successful, it is proclaimed triumph OF the
democacya triumph Of the people Is this the sort
the of many happy and glorious results past
is it only from such supervision of the people that
the future peace and happiness and prosperity Of the
country to spring. Is it already come to this,
der the reforming hand Of the party in power, that if
an occasion similar to that which occurred in this
House only a year aco-I aludo to the vote Of the