Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-06-22

remember him few years back to be sure it was
when the writer oil this was boy, and it may be
that he is not familiar with all the points OF MIR
Van Ness history then but we remember, if we
mistake not, that Mr.. Van Ness tcas not political
~ what he is. 70 hint the fOct us gently posi-
ble-ho has turned his coat once too often to he
consistent expositor OF any political faith. And it
is this which removes the sting OF his wholesale
denunciatons Of his opponents, and exhibits him
in The pleasant predca.nent of self conriced fed-
erdlisi. Had not Mr. Vim Ness suddenly nban-
doned his old friends, when they elected a
saunch democrat [lloralo Seymour to the Uni
ted States Senate over himself; hal he not
joined the enemy then, in spite of his flesh
proestaons-nay, in spite of uncquivocal WRIT
TEN PLEDGES of friendship to John Quincy Ad |
ans and hostility 10 Andrew Jackson had he not
received, rs n reward, due either to his disng-
uished talents or TO his political treason, 1--WE say
not which - let the reader decide ns Justice and
the utmost stretch of charity will pernt) the
Spanish, mission, and pocketed perhaps 10000 spe-
Gle Gus arguint n,s, which might possibly influence
his party feelings Ind nothing OF this kind oc.
Cured, his exclusive claim to the pures; democrn.
him, as such preposterous claim can come from
any man. But as it is. it strikes ns he is lot the
mnn to talk of principles and pure democracy the
political chnngeling cannot answer for himself
much less is lac authorized TO obrude his services
us sponsor for other Let it he borne in mind
that Mr.. Van Meas endeavors to identity the pres
cht Wing party Nth The oil federaIisis by mere
! N nd il el,.ll
be the one he suggested, hut iii not apply TO the
case in hand. We acknowledge with Mr., Van
Ness, that the great question which di 'ided
the democrats and ederalisls WINS that OF federal
power- power Of the federal government distin
guished from thar Of the states and po,cer Of The
federal Erccutire. We will admit and ilisis that
Jefferson and The democrats we're jealous Of fed
eral power and watchill to preserve the rights Of
the states aud the sovereignty OF the people; willie,
on the otLer hand, Hamilton, John Adams and the
Il derulists entertained different views. Aud we
will go a step beyond Mr.. Van Nrss we will bring
the existing parties 10 this test. What has been
the practice of the men in power and how will
they abide this test? We point to your Congress-
- to the Senate, the representative of the sovcr
eirntv of the states, and 10 the other branch
the representative of the sovereignty Of the peo
pie in the first struggles with the Executive since
1929, they were defeated by the Pefo, the most
odious and anti democratic feature in the cons,,
tuition; in the next, even the Veto was poweress,
ind the Executive actually ypaiked of with most
important bill in his pocket, which was approved
by more than two thirds OF The representatives OF
liie. sovereign,y of the people; in third, the Ex-
ecutive assumed power which belonged TO Con-
gress alone, AMI this against the expressed will OF
y Congress /; and al last. where aud what is Con-
{ gress at this very day? We assert the fact with
out tie fear of contradiction by any candid and
int ieent man--the brides of office, The threats
of power, the fear of Tie party asl aud the lille
gal exclusion Of representatives OF the people.
, hare placed IL at The feet Of Tie Erecu ice. The A.
mercnn Senate is become but an appendage 10
- The Presidcnt-the American House of Represen
- taiives the mere instrument to make formal reg
h istcr of the edicts from the White House Thus
is the sovereignty of the pcope set at nought by
e the administration. Look next, il you please, Ia
the appointing p0tcer: the old democratic test was
!. honesty, cnpahuy, faithuRess 10 the conslitu
/ ton - but what is it now? Party services zeal
n subserviency to tie Executive; and thus is til,
J. principle entirely changed the people, moth
rs ing and the officers are not theirs; the Presiden
K is every thing, and il the officers his
le wants. tie bow string or The block, political
e speaking, effects he This is but another III
e. stance of The utter contempt entertained by III
of administration for The sovereign people. But loo
&c agnin, and finally, to the great the OIL
of twol Of this administration: the sub treasury hi
to and The standing army. BY the constitution til
as President has no direct control over the publ
ne morcy yet the proposition of the sub trens,ir
to bill Is to put That money in the hands of office
1s ,rho directly an his po,cer to be selected
~, hum and to he removed nj any moment if he au
to he alone, wills il! BY the constitution he is Con
of mander- chief of the militia Of the sever
he states tOhen called into the actual service of the
lis States On looking at the 64h no. of the Fed
OF ernist, written by Alexander Hamilton, we fin
mt TINT he took parcular.cale 10 ialicise The snn
he words which we have here alicised in this que
ne taIon from the Constitution, so extremely feai
gs ful was lie [edemlist mud Inonarchlst, as Mr. "
u snid he was that The power Of the President oy,
nd The militia would appear too absolute aud dangr
IN, Gus. And yet what is the project reported by ii
raj Secretary OF War and tTj~strongly approved /
" the. President in his last message: II is to rail-
he un army of 100000 militia; and IN order 10 q
nd round This provision of constitution. hnliiing
ion poiosr Of the President, the bill actually provid
Dn, that ONE HALF Q00,0oo) Of M,s ARMY,
md TIME OF PEACE, SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS IN I'll
at. SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES ~ Thus tr
I,iS menuoils nrc the strides of the present fdernl
Mr. ecntive for POWER! POWER! POWER !!
an. We defy Ex-Governor Van Ness, or any 9th
nd man, 10 find, any where, in The whole history