The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-31
To Hon. GEO. PorNDExTER,
Washington City.
WASHINGTON. JuIx % 1s4O


receipt of your letter of the 18th instant invit-
ing me, in behalf of the standing committee OF
| Tippecanoe Clubs, to address the citizens OF
Baltimore, at such time as I may find it conve-
nient to appoint. For this invitation and the
very fiattering reference which YOU have been
pleased to make to my past political life, l beg
YOU to be assured of my most grateful thanks.
| should be highly gratifed to comply with the
polite request of the standing committee of Tip
pecanoe Clubs, and to meet my fellow citizens
of Baltimore, and impart to them my views on
the important and interesting questions which
now agitate the public mind, and on which de-
pend the existence of our free system of govern
ment, and the prosperity of the American people;
but, contrary to my expectation, l find myself
compelled to proceed on my route TO the west
with as little delay practicable, which, trust
will be an acceptable apology to my friends for
not appearing among them, in compliance with
their wishes so kindly made known to me in your
communication. More than thirty years have
elapsed since entered the National Legislature
and from that moment up to the present. have
been an attentive observer of political events and
of the measures of each successive administra-
ton of the federal government
have had the good fortune and the satisfac-
ton, during the greater part of my long public
| service, to be associated with many of the most
distinguished patriots of the revolution, who
have gradually passed from among u.s. and have.
tomb, leaving to their posterity the rich legacy
of their example, and the blessings of liberty
purchased by their valor, secured by written
constitution, the work of their united wisdom
From these llustrious menI learned in my youth
the true, unsophisticated Interpretation OF that
instrument which most of them contributed to
| frame, and the nature and extent of the power
therein delegated to the several departments of
the government, as they were intended to be
construed and carried into practical operation.
In this school, the principles of representative
republic, founded on the sovereignty of the peo-
pie, to whom every public functionary is made,
| either directly or indirectly, responsible. were
inculcated; and in this school was instructed
and imbued with the fundamental axioms of re-
publican government, regulated by suitable re-
strictions and limitations in the exercise of now
er, from which have never departed, and TO
which have endeavored to conform all nv acts
as representative of the people.
Since the epoch of our existence, as a confed-
Grated Republic, our political history demon
strates, that under the Executive administrations
of Washington and his successors in the Exeen
OF the nation, each separate department
moved within its own orbit, and no attemut was
made by any Chief Magistrate to grasp powers
expressly delegated by the chicanery of construc-
ton, to degrade the coordinate departments, and
render them subservient to his will Prior In
the year 1929, with but slight shades OF differ
ence ofopinion, on some matters of domestic pol
icy, and the meaning Of certain phrases in the
constitution, the government has been admins
tered with proper respect for all the departments
and every successive President, down to the ne
riod above mentioned, acted with becoming dig
nifty, and with cautious circumspectiun not to
transcend the authority properly belonging to the
Executive department During this pure period
of our young and growing Republic, our free IN
situations were preserved, the people were
watchful and vigilant their public servants
| and the country enjoyed high state of prosper
ity, interrupted only for season, by the effects
ofthe last war with England, which rendered us
the admiration and envy Of the civilized world.
But, In the midst of our rejoicngs, the glory
conquered by our arms in the second war of in
dependence, when peace had, for few years,
spread ITS benign and influence on our country
and every branch of industry and enterprise
houTished, and prospered beyond all former ex-
ample; military chieftain, with the laurels OF
the signal victory of New Orleans encircling his
prov, mounted into the Presidential chair, and
| from that lnauspi:ious moment, our free system
| OF government has, by gradual entertainments
| become utterly extinct excspt the mere name
| and we now find every essential power granted
In the constitution, concentrated in ONE man who
sits IN his siiken chair OF State and tells his srE
fering country men, in reply to their sunpli.a
tions for relief, esYou expect too rnrh ~ a.,
Government Without entering into details as |
to the means employed, from time to tire ~ |
bring ruined and con6ding people those dis.
astrous results, it is sufficient to draw general
picture of the state of things as they now exist
| ]. No law can be enacted, or executed. against
the scu Of the President, if he chooses e, inter.
pose his power to prevent it. g. No judgment
or decree of the courts Of the United States can
| be enforced against the orders of the President
to the Marshall, in whose hands the process Of
| execution is put, because he holds the Marshall
by string, and can remove him at pleasure ifl
he should dare to disobey the executive mandate.
g. No officers Of the government are permitted
to execute his duty, in any other manner than
that which the President may order and direct.
on pam OF instant removal from Office; thereby
substituting the will of the President for the OBJ
legations Of laws made in pursuance of the con-
stitution. L. The patronage of Office is dispensed
to reward subservient instruments of Executive |
power, and taken away to punish ssrefractorv su-
bordiHates,o without regard to merit or past SER
vices 5. The President, by laws recently en-
acted, IN conformity to long course Of usurna-
the public Treasury. placed in the c..e4l.- Ell