Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-05-04

document which il itself covered all over with
the spirit of vitsperation.
Ihave proved, sir, that the principle and policy
Of the bill 10 not only contradicted and costra-
vened by tho report, but that II jusfics and eulo-
gizes the interference of Executive officers in O.
lections, and not only so, but prescribes It as a
duty to be performed by them all.
The report says further:
SIS i, (.hs drnina ton bill 'ono
of the fodera all those Of the
State tho officers Of the corporations Of nsso-
eiatsd wealth, and few prescribed upon whom TINS
bin pun. gag le.s, 70 f.a.a .s.,".; the
So effect of the bill would bs stiii
ss degrading by taking fro" ,hen the
al. ohsr il would prepare them TO become 'hs wiling
Instruments Of corruption or an5i'ios"
And yet, (said Mr.. P.) it is settled by the re.
port that these officers may IN their own behalf
net as instruments Of corruption, because II Is tor
the public good, and surely ambition - not lees
prsiseworthy. But further:
s.rh. bill would create anon, oficchodsr, de-
irving ,hs authority from III. same hsh ones sns
pie, snd occurring tbs high to
Those enumerated would be degsaded by tho
acceptance Of Office, which would cut them o rom Al 'den
s!sy Of fseline nssest, and sympathy with their no"-e
ixsns voluntary mutason Of the very manhood OF
egzsnship II those officers into mues II ca
Iscss temporary ouawry Of tho dearest ann most nesa
hs rights ofeisizsnshp viii, penalty suspended their
hsads during continuance of Office, which BE- cut BY
word message, writing, look, and dooms than
70 become as.s-potical opsr They would be dis
very Of sursndsng such rights for the
sssnary motives Of peeuniay gain and rewards OF oss
themselves and the fit instruments for
making slaves of They would find she badges of
slavery and dishonos wilton their commissions"
Well now, sir, (said Mr.. P) the officer is not
TO be thus degraded and prevented from interfer-
ing in elections and if he does not reject his Of
fec under such conditions with disdain, he IS
mercenary and corrupt, and he is a fit instrument
for power in effecting its corrupt or amb-
SiOus purposes If he will consent to DO appointed
70 office on these terms. Yet the report says that
If he endeavors to control and influence the polls
for the purpose Of attaining office, does not dis
qualify him. "alI this IS innocent and praisewor-
thy - but he would be a merccnary anc cor rupt
tool If he would forego the privilege Of interfer
once.
will make ono moro remark az to the inten- |
ton Of the committee in this report TO contra |
vene the BILL On tho Sth page they say, "The
committee will only advert TO one other ohjcc-
tion TO the policy Of the bill" And what, sir, is
the policy Of the bill2 1t is to prevent interior
once in elections. And what do they say against
that policy Of the bilif
1Is obvious tendency ALLEVIATE the People tho
Federal by infu'nE jealousy Of its powers
Of chossn by the People, to carry on tho
departments the single and integral
Government formed by tho compact Of tho States; to
State and its and thus gad
sly undermine weaken it, by treating aliens in
State those who Office under the Fed
sra Government. In short, its tendency would be
ALLEVIATE portion Of the from the and
ssbs sacred which link together the
,arss' and therefore, in opinion committee, il
,ught TO be resisted in the beginning Il
And hero, Mr. President, is the general sum- !
ming up Of the whole report in . single sen
ence, in the last remark, which embraces and
tho whole policy and OBJECT which is :
Il tho bottom Of tho bill itself. And what is
hat? 1t is to prevent the jealousy Of the Peo- !
10 against Office holders And what is especial
y taken for granted in this report IL, that the
'fice holders and tho People all one, and
his is done with view to prevent that very
ealousy. Sir, what is tho price Of our liberty
md of our government, and how are we to sus- Z
ain ,hem7 II is by eternal vigilance alone that
public liberty can be maintained; and it is by .
his very jealousy, denounced and deprecated by +.
his report, by this jealousy alone, unslumber'ng
Ind undying, that our form Of government can
10 preserved. Ii is passed into = proverb, that
,uly by jealousy and watchfuness can free =
government be long maintained. Sir, what is
overnment in its very nature1 Is 1t not the .
of power from the many in the
hands of the few, which is ever more or less
liable to be turned by them against the public
ibertys Are not we simply q part OF the 60
vsrnmeut in whom power resides, and have We
not now unanimously and exclusively acted on
Tho ostensible ground Of the jealousy Of power,
The one side denouncing this bill as tyrannical,
and the other justly regarding it a. a sslutary
and necessary measure in giving effect - this I.
t0Hv 100Ouoy OIL pOWeff anu FSt tuiS IcpoIA
insists that the People must be iulIed. that they
must no, be separated or alienated from ,hei. .
(eow citizens, the holders Of Office, by any kind
Of jealousy, but receive them to their bosoms ~
equal brothers in one common interest, and be
carried alosg ono common stream Of symPs,hy
with ofice-holdcrs,a and unsusPecting Sacrifices
perchance, to the iron embraces Of despot. ?
Nor does this, even, give full and sufcien: view
Of the argument Of the report, which is, that we
should not be jealous Of ourselves, nor divided d
from ourselves. and what moro than this could be
said to lull US into security in regard TO the Co
' ornmen,, and to close the eyes Of the People 4
against the etcrnally encroaching spirit Of powcrf
Sir, what sort Of an argument is it TO say that 9
This is to divide portion Of the People from b
tho other, and to erfceble the sacred ties that a
link them together! What language 10 this! 6
The Gov eminent is to be preserved by the strong
domination Of aspirants, hoing regarded as simple 9
PORTIONS of the People Of the country; and this p
argument is pressed Of blndfoIding the People o
o the movements of Executive power, If it Z
we're also for tho purpose Of surrendering our
tights. Bind together portions of the country d
And what portionsf The office. holders, the post il
masters and the People; :hese are to be bound a
ocesher, and they to listen unanimously TO c.
he sly Office holders at elections, embrace them Il
n hrothoYs and give them their confidence, md Il