Litchfield enquirer., 1840-09-17

this naxim! It is provcrbal with the advo-
 catcs of monarchy in the Old World that
 Republics are ungrateful. How does your
 experience for the last few years give the
 lie to this proposition! Nay, fcllow-citizens,
 l fear that this Government affords many
 examples which tend but too strongly to yer
 ify the proverb. Among other instances of
 manifest ingratitude, to only one will here
 rccur. I mean the removal from office,
 without cause or provocation, save differ
 elIce of opinion with the President, of Gen. Solomon Van Rensselaer,, of New York;
 He Was noble friend of ours in the "winter of our discontcnt." I became acnuaintCd with him when, like myself, he Was young officer in Gen. Wayne's army. found him an agreeable, social companion, as well as a brave and magnanimous soldier. He as- sisted in fighting tho battles of his country ay, for your bchoot, my cOuntrymGn, his blood has been poured out upon the soil of Ohio. The bullets Cf your enemies have pierced his body while fighting in defence of your trcsidcs. And not only on the plains of Ohio has he stood between danger aud his country, but in other places like Wise. ln the si'nguinary battle of Queens town nc received six wounds from his coun- :ry'S foes. We'll, what is his reward AE- ter having spent the flower of his youth and ! the vigor of his manly prime in the service of his country as q soldier, he was called by the American people to serve them in q civil capacity. He obeycd the call with thank tulness of heart. But he has been cruelty driven out of the service by the Adminstra- tIon, and why? Because, fel!ow-citiZcnS, he was the friend of the companion of his youth; because he would not forsake fel- low soldier; because he was my incorrupti- be friend {; and because the cmolumcnts of l foI 1n or,l gan services of supporter of my political competitor. "Ah, there's the rub!" But you, my friends, am confident, will not long permit such wrong to the men who "righted your wrongs" in oIden times.
 1 FelloW-citiZens, you know that my oppo- nents call me Federalist. But deny the charge; am not-I never was a Fcdcralist. Federalists are in favor of concentrating power in the hands of the Executive Demo- crats are in favor of the retention of power { by the People. I am, and ever have bee n. democratic republican. My former practi- ces will bear me out in what say. When l was Governor of Indiana Territory, was vested with despotic power, and had cho- sen to exercise it, might have governed that people with rod of iron. But being q child of the Revolution, and bred 10 it's principles, believed in the right and the ability of the people to govern themselves; and they were always permitted to enjoy that high privilege. l had the power to pro- rogue, adjourn and dissolve the Legislature to lay off new counties and establish seats of justice; to appoint shcriffs and other off, cers. But never did intcrpose my prcrog- alive 10 defeat the wishes of majority of the people. The people chose their own off, cers' and l invariably confirmed their choice; where they preferred to have their CpuDfy Snafc fhnra I located thnrp thpy made their own laws, and ratified them. I nerer retocd C biH in my life.
 But have been denounced as bank man. Well, let it go. am so far q bank man as believe every rational republican ought to bc, and no further. The Constitu- ton of the United States makes it the duty of the Government to provide ways and means for the collection and disbursement of the public revenue. If the people deem it necessary to the proper discharge of the functions of their Government to create n National Bank, properly guarded and regu- lated, shall be the last man, if elected Pres- ident, to set up my authority against that of these millions of American frcemcn. It is necdful to have a larger money circulation in land of liberty than in an empire of des- pOtism. Destroy the poor mans credit, and you destroy his capital The peasant who l tolls necessarily 10 maintain his furnishing household, in the hard money countries of Europe, rarely, if ever, becomes the noble lord who pastures his flocks upon thou. sand hills." There are, necessarily, difli- culties connected with every form and sys- tenn of the government but it should be the aim and object of the statesman to form the best institutions within his power to make, for tho good of his country.
 | Fellow-citiZens, cannot forbear to invite l your attention to the concerns of your Gov crnment, in the welfare of which all good citizens feel deep interest. ] warn you to watch your rulers. Remember" Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" When look around upon the dangers which seem to be suspended as by hair over this People, tremble for the safety of this republic. In an evil hour has the Chict Magistrate of this nation been transformed into monarch and a despot at pleasure! To show that this is the case, need but refer you to the philo- sophical and profound historian, Gibbon, who says" The obvious definition of mon- archy seems to Dc that of u state i'll which a single person, by whatsoever name he may Ha distinguished, is entrusted with the exe- cui; on of the laws, the management of the revenur. and the command of tho army."- Ia not Mu,iin Van Burcn entrusted with these functions! Most assurcdly he is.- Call him by whatsoever name or title you choose-Prcsdent, Executive, Chief Magis- trate, Consul, King, SlathoIder-it does not alter the nature of his power; that remains the same, unchanged; and the President therefore possesses all the functions nccesSa- nv to constitute monarch. You have often heard the "moneyed influence of the coun- trV" denounced, while ii yet remained in the