Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-10-03

| He who would pledge most, he who would promise
most, would be the man to be voted for, and have
no hesitation in declaring my belief, that he who
would subject his course to be thus tied up by
pledges and promises would not stop to break them
when once in office. (Cheerng) Are my views
on this topic correct, or are they not! with one
voice, the multitude indicated they were)
If, fellow-citizens, we examine the history of all
republics, we shall find that as they receded from
the purity of Representative Government, the con-
dition of obtaining office was the making of prom
ises. He who bid the highest in promises was the
favored candidate, and the higher he bids, the more
marked and certain the corruption Look at the
progress of this thing in our own republic. Were
any pledges required of your Washington or your
Adams' Adams was the candidate of the federal
party and a statesman was bound to carry out
the principles of his party. Was his successor,
Thomas Jefferson. the high priest of constitutional
democracy, called on for pledges! No. His whole
life was pledge Of what he would do. And if we
go back to this old system of selecting men for the
Presidency, whose past career shall be guarantee
of their conduct when elected to the Chief Magis-
tracy of the republic, the nation would advance
safely, rapidly and surely in the path Of prosperity
But Of late years, the cOrrupting system of requ-
ring pledges hath been adopted. The Presidency
hath been put up to the highest bidder in promises
and we see the result. 1t remains for you, my fe.
low.citzens, to arrest this course of things. Cries
of-we will, we will)
While then, feiow-citizens, have never hest
tated to declare my opinions on proper occasions
upon the great questions before the nation, cannot
consent to make mere promises The condition of OBJ
tanning the Office which you kindly wish to bestow
upon me. My opinions am free to express, but
you already have them, sustained and supported by
the acts of long and arduous life. That life is
pledge of my future course, if am elevated by
your suffrages to the highest office in your gift
Immense cheering for several seconds.)
1t has been charged against me, fellow-citzens
that am a federalist. While acknowledge thai
the original federal party of this country wa:
actuated in its course by no improper motives,
deny that ever belonged to that class of politicians
Tremendous cheering,) How could belong to
that party! | was educated in the school of anti
federalism and though too young to take an ectivt
part in the politics Of the countryg when, at the
erection Of the Constitution, the nation was dvi
ded into two great parties, my honored father hat
induced me into the principles of CONSTITUTIONS
Democracy, and my teachers were the Henrys nnt
Masons of that period. He who declared that the
seeds of monarchy sown in the soil Of the
Constitution, leader in my school of politics
He, who declared that the seeds of monarchy were
sown in the soil of the constitution, was a leader
i'll my school of politics. He, who said, that 81
this government be not monarchy, it has an awfu
squirting towards monarchy" was my Mentor
, Immense applause. Some time elapsed bc(or,
order could be restored at hearing these emphati
declarations of the General. If | know my owl
feelings, if know my own judgment, believe a
did then, with the patria rchs Of the Jefersonia
school. that the seeds of monarchy were ndee
sown in the fertile soil of federal constitution
and that though, for nearly fifty years they lay dor
{ mant, they at last sproutcd and shot forth int
b strong and thriving plants, bearing blossoms an
: producing ripe fruit. This Government is no,c
t practical monarchy! Loud and long cheering il
dicating that the people felt the full force of hi
e declaration Power is power. it matters not b
e what name it is called The head of the Govern
h ment exercising monarchical power may be name
e ter, still he is monarch. But this is not all
J., The President of these United States exercises
II power superior that vested in the hands Of
e ly all the European Kings. It's power far grea
e er than that ever dreamed Of by the old feder
o party. 1t is ultra federal power, it is despOtisn
Is Cheering And may here advert to an objectio
IS that has been made against me. 1t has been su
IS that, if ever should arrive at the digniied static
n occupied by my opponent, would be glad and ct
n ger to retain the power enjoyed by the President
the United States Nerer, nerer. Tremendol
u cheering Though averse from pledges of ever
Is Sort here openly and before the whole world d
a. clare that | will use all the power and inhuent
a. vested in the Office of President Of the Union
ID ahridge the power and Influence of the Nation
10 Executive! 1t is impossible to describe the sci
r saton produced by this declaratun.1 Is this fed
= ralism! (Cres of no, no, for several seconds J.
In the Constitution, that glorious charter Of o
he liberties there is defect, and that defect is, d
~ term Of service of the President not limited
es This omission is the source of all the evils und
; which the country is laboring. If the privilege
Id being President of the United States had been lii
a tied to one term, the incumbent would devote all
time TO the public interest," and there would be
ny cause to misrule The country. | shall not aninh
he vert on the conduct of the present adminisratic
y! lest you may, in that case, conceive that am al
ing for the Presidency, to use for selfish purpose
cy should be an interested witness, if entered il
as the subject But 1 pledge myself before Heal
int and earth, If elected President of these Uni