The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-07-30

lievc they are mistaken in their man Mr..
Rich will long outlive the vile, calumnies of
such men as conduct the Gazette ii
THEORETICAL DEMOCRACY. "
There never was time when so little re-
gard was paid to the intelligence of the people
by any party as is shown by the party now in
power. The leaders Of that party know the
reluctance the great body of the people have
always manifested in believing statements de-
rogatory.to the character of their rulers The
people as a body are honest and this very fact
leads them to place confidence in those who
govern the affairs of the nation. This reluc-
especially be seen, in those who have been in
strumental in placing in Office those whose pa
triotsm, capacity or honesty is questioned
Being well acquainted with the existence of
this principle among the people, the eabal ut
Washington, with Amos Kendall as their
grand central instrument, are now taking ad-
vantage of this credulous confidence of the
people; and notwithstanding there is an album
dance Of Notwithstanding evidence too
evidence that cannot be gainsaid-to show
that the present administration has been the.
most selfish, the most extravagant, and the
most corrupt that ever disgraced a nation, still
they deny these charges, and hypocritically
claim to belong to the democratic party, and
profess to be governed by a love Tor the people
in all their acts.
Now Fl he ,r,er th norv of damocracv
is concerned, we have no reason to believe that
the Van Buren, leaders are any more ignorant
in regard TO it's meaning than was Thomas JEFF
ferson himself. The theory and the principles
of democracy are easily understood by ALL
The idea of ia form ofigoyernment in which
the supreme power is lodged in the hands of the
people collectively" is 20 simple that it would
4 be absurd to suppose there were any that could
not comprehend it. It is not, then, concerning
the theory about which we have any contro-
( versy. 1t is whether, protesting to be demo-
Gratis, our opponents carry their theory into
practice. It is not enough that they should I'M
| derstand the full import of the term Democra.
CIV. 1t is said that the Devil is as orthodox in
religion as the most enlightened Christian, if
not more so. Yet one supposcs that his
I knowledge leads him to obey or practice the
precepts of religion. He doubtless uses this
knowledge, by sometimes assuming the form
Of an Angel Of light, for the very purpose OF
sapping the foundation OF religion among his
Victims We do not go SO far as to compare Mr.
Van Buren, or Amos Kendall to his Satanic Ma
iesty, but merely to show thut. with all their
knowledge and all their professions, they may
nevertheless be doing all they can to sap the
foundations Of true Democracy, and destroy
the liberties Of the people. This is what we
charge upon them; this is what has been
charged upon them by those who are compe-
tent judges, and who have. in numerous in.
stances proved those charges to be true.
w e look around lis and see that almost all
the leading men in the Van Buren, ranks were
, once federalists; and even the immaculate
head Of that party is not destitute OF tinge o.
federalism, having, during the commencement
of the last war, ranged himself on the side O
that party against James Madison, the Demo
cratic candidate.
Y The attempts made by the present party ii
power to concentrate all power in the Execu
: tive, is prominent and one of the most alarm
ing features of Fed eralism. 1t wasagainst thl
concentration of power that caused Jefferson
especially, to sound the alarm Let the PEG
: pie once accede the point, that, in addition t.
having the army and navy under his control
the President has likewise the control of thu
revenues of the country, andthey will find tina
the grave of this fair and beautifulrepubl i
l dug. majority of the representatives il
: Congress have already gone thus far; but WI
believe the People will not be so recrcant t.
their own and their children's welfare t.
endorse their action.
Mr. Van Bu-en's recommendation, too, Of !;
! standing army of 100000 men in time 0
peace. is another abominable feature in thu
Anti-Dcmocratic Drama that is now bein!
performed by our rulers. 1t purposes that CT
: tizens while in service should be under TIL
: President; be marched where he shall direct
and subjected to all the rules and articles tina
> govern the regular service. One Of thos
a rules, as we showed in our last number, wa
( the punishment by DEATH or IMPRISON
: MENT. at the discretion Of Court Martha
. mot jury Of his couatfymen--for offence
: which are of every day occurrence, and whic
$ the cipils law considers offences of mino
e character. What Mr. Van Buren, can want wit
. such an array in time. of peace. we cannot cor
y ceive, unless it be to make it more easy f.
!. him to destroy the liberties of the people
: The measure is any thing but Democratic.
! AS we shall have occasion to recur to TIL
3 subject again. it is not necessary to particu
9 larize any more antiSdemccratic acts Of tn
administration at the present time. Our read
/ ers are fully competent to settle the questio
/ in regard to whether the Democracy of th
> present party in power Isl that practical. vita
7 principle, which is the glory Of our land sboy