The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-08-06

DV an upfight anO iaIknlul discharge OF PugaiS
duty, without rank or prerogative, and with
out any exclusive privileges or claim to ruie,'
except in the name and By the authority Of the
people. Hence it ID the unquestionable. right.
and an imperious duty cnjoined upon the peo-
pie at all times, and upon all political occa-
sions, to take the control Of their own affairs
into their own hands. to express their will upon
all subjects of public concern-and when the
occasion demands it, to visit with their stern-
eat rebuke every dark intrigue, every ambi-
tious project and abuse of confidence, which
threatens 10 subyert their interests, and to in
noyate upon their constitutional rights and
privileges.
The present time is full of admonition. We
have reason to fear that the process of innova.
tion, which has proved fatal to every free go.
vernment'that has hitherto existed, has been
and still is actively exerting its baneful in
fuence in our own country If history fur
nishes US with any guide, all human institu.
tons are prone TO corruption and abuse !; and
the most efficient and salutary check that can
pc opposed is to be found in the virtues lnd in
lsliigence Of an enlightened people, lnd in
their constant vigilance. We need not expect,
what the world has never yet seen, perfect
government. And while we would exercise
proper charity towards those who may differ
with US in opinion Of public men and public
measures; yet we deem it necessary. on this
occasion to speak with perfect freedom, but
with candor on every pertinent subject Of in
terest to our country.
We have not forgotten that our federal and
state governments have been founded upon
principles Of mutual conciliaiion and compro.
mise. 1t would be both unwise and unjust,
therefore, to indulge in spirit of hostility to.
Wardsan portion of our country, where local
interests may differ from our own. We only
mean, on this occasion, to invite our fellow
citizens, who have congregated in our Terri.
tory from every state in the Union, to reflect
seriously and calmly upon the great and por-
tentious questions of policy which involve not
only the highest interests of our whole couatry
but its future destiny. LIZ ,....s.5e,l..l
1t is subject to be deeply regretted that the
election Of any public fpnctionary should in
any degree become the subject of high and
often of q dangerous excitement And this is
now, in a great degree. owing to the reckless
and licentious spirit of the press. The vast
power and patronage conferred upon the exc
cutive OF the mutton, by the constitution, with
out seeking to extend them by unfair means or
by implication; power and patronage that have
naturally resulted from the legitimate opera
tons Of the government, and the unexampled
increase OF our population and national resour-
ces. would have alarmed the trainers of our con.
stitution, if they could have foreseen such re-
suits within the short period of little more than
half a7century 1t probably would have taught
them that, as it is the nature of power to con-
centrate itself, it would be wise to restrain this
tendency, and by some greater safeguards than
the constitution now possesses, to check such
an immense accumulation of power in the hands
Of the executive. But with this daily augmen-
tation of power, the present chief magistrate
is not satisfied, His craving ambition is daily
seeking, through the sub-treasurv, the standing
army bill, and other contingent measures, to
increase it. The power and patronage confer
red upon the executive, by the constitution,
and wisely and discreetly exercised,is sufficient
to tempt the ambition Of the best man, and
certainly Is enough to encourage the MACH.
nations and intrigues of those less scrupulous.
The experience of the last few years Should
teach us, that the apprehensions which were
felt by many Of the trainers Of the Constitu-
tion, that too much power had been given to
the executive department, were justly en-
tertained. Too much power in the hands of
the executive has always been most dreaded by
the republican party in Che nation. This has
always been considered by. them as the most
dangerous feature in our system, and the weak
est point in the constitutions; and one that
threatens to become most dangerous to the
liberties Of the people. Power, in the hands of
one man, has no other restraints than the die
tates of his wTl--but when dlffused among u
number it becomes weakened in degree, because
al must be consulted and be united!in its exer-
else. Thus, each serves as check to the other,
and in this rests the safety of the people and
the public interest. The executive branch Of
our government is the great absorbant Of po-
oal and mil, olr, 4
in its career, sooner or later, will swallow up
all that the people will suffer to be wrested
from them. How strongly does this fact APP
peal to their frmness, and their constant vigil
lance! wi !l53 eesis ,yFrssi fgrI= sf-2t
The powers that are, necessarily delegated
to any department. Of government for purposes
good,if improperly directed, become
a power alsoto do evil. What powerful reasons
therefore the last few years have furnished
the American people with, to induce them
to desire a change Of measures by the ad.
ministration, and to effect that object, a
change ofmen in power. AiSt35af e'7j iaietl
Among the innovations that time and human
irailty have stamped upon democratic institu-
lions, there are none more dangerous and alarm-
ing than those which seek to unite, in the hands
OF the executive, the two great levers of politi-
cal power, the purse and the sword BY the
AA'SAA " shiS power oil Iu0 iICIcuL republics VI
the world have been overturne ed and destroyed.
The sub treasury has united them in the hands
of MIR Van Buren,; and with the aid of MIR Poin-
sett's army bill, with a hundredth part of the
military talents, and bold and manly daring of
Jackson, our constitution. would prove but u
rope OF sand, the first revolutionary breath
would drift it to the four winds Of heaven.
With the incorrpptible virtue of Washington,
the wisdom Of Jefferson, the profound political
intelligence Of Madison, the calm benignity
and inflexible fortitude OF Monroe, with hume.
rous others, high examples Of public worth
and private virtue. before the eyes of the Ameri-
can people, and on whom they have been &C.
.cuslomed to look with confidence and not with
distrust, it is natural that they should have
learned to bestow their confidence readily and
without suspicion. They have been long ac-
customed to witness the integrity of the patri-
OF, rather than to suspect the chicanery Of the
demagogue, in those who aspired to their
favor. 1t is true that these venerable sages of
former and better days in this republic, had
high claims upon their country's gratitude,
which the people were anxious to ack nowledge.
Z But they have passed away, like the years that
blessed us with the efforts of their wisdom, and
have left their exalted stations to be filled by
others, who il their deeds bear testimony Of
their desires, would not repine if memory had
lost its power, and moral and political virtue
its influence upon the American people: that
no lnvidious comparisons between the past and
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