Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-07-20

lot them also determine the point whether the sem
tnenl+ lie has expressed are, not, essential
y democratic, and worthy of the appreciation of
the American people,
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF VERMONT,
adopted by The Vhig State Convention.
FELLOW CITIZENS The purpose for which
the people of the several States of this Republic
united IN the establishment of the Federal Con-
stitution are declared by the preamble of that in.
strunenl 10 be "to form more perfect Union, es-
tablish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide
for the common Defence promote the general Welfare,
secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and
their posery"
nlhe judgment of the sages of that day, these
general objects were not attainabe by the sepa-
rate and independent action If the people or legis
atures Of the individual states, and they were
therefore wisely committed to the charge of
central representative government, in which its
due relative share OF power and Influence was Sc
cured to each independent sovereignty of the con-
ederacy. The constitution coniers upon the ma
tonal Legislature all the powers supposed to be
required for the attainment of the objects set forth
in the preamble, and makes it the duiy of the
ecutive to suggest 10 Congress all legislation need
ful for that purpose.
Whenever therefore, these objects fail to be at
timed, in such good measure as the mperection
of human institutions allows, it is a fair and nat.
/
ted to erroneous or defective legislation by Con-
gress.
During most Of The administration OF Gen.
Jackson, and through the whole Of hut of the
dictionary whose highest pride il avowedly is to
he known rs ''the successor" and disciple of that
distinguished persOnnge, al executive has been
sustained by decided majority in both houses of
Congress 1t is true, that the highest deberatiye
council of the nation was for time upbraJe,l as
"actious," because it revolted n. the doctrines
and tsng,NSge OF the notorious Presidential Pro-
test, but that body long since wiped off the re-
proach by expuuging from its journal the obnox-
ious record OF its independence and whenever Il
strict party measure has beeh since proposed and
urged by tire executive, It's friends have lacked
neither the power nor the will TO carry it through.
Ii IL then pain that the responsibility of all i'm
proper and defective legislation by Congress- for
the last three Presidential terms, belongs to the
administration, and with all its consequences they
are justly cbargeable.
Let us NOW enquire IN Wfar Eeasure the bene-
fits proposed 10 he secured by the Union of the
States, and the delegation of portion of their
kerebgn rights TO "a federal government, have been
realized tromthe year 1929 to the present day
Have we enjoyed condition Of perfect nnion anI
domestic Tranquility. has the administration of JUS
lice by the lawful tribunals been sustained and en-
forced, has due provision been made tor the COM
mon defence, has The general toeLare been advanced
and promoted, and finally has aught been done by
selves or to secure 10 our posteyity the BLESSINGS
| OF LIBERTY? These questions, fellow
eiIiZens, which The boldest par.Zan of The pres
ent executive dare not answer in the affirmative
and I've voice of thunder in which milfens of free
men ave now Yepsatng them, has penetrated the
innermost recesses OF The White House, and made
10 Guake upon his throne the supple nrigtier who
crept INTO that gorgeous palace, when the Man of
! Iron strobe OUT. .'.-.
But lei us look more particularly at the separate
clauses Of the preamble.
| "To iorma more perfect uSlion and TO ensure
domestic tranquility" '.;T
is II not notorious that our whole country has
been shaken, sent divnird, by ihe Anpacabie ran
cor of party dssension, that elections 10 the princi-
pal cities in the Union have been absolutely con-
troed by violence, lawful voters driven back from
the polls, aud Illegal surages forcbly thrust limo
the ballot box Have not men been taught than
they owe allegiance not to- tiieir e0u1try but to
lbelr PdFtY and has not this doctrine produced its
hasural fruits IN the general disregard of the obli-
gallon oil the freeman s oath, in the conversion OF
The session, of Congress from iheaiSe Of honest
discussion and grave deheration into an arena of
iseous discord and Drawing violence, and finally
in the utter exclusion of sovereign state from
her place III tie council Of tive nation Has not
the IMlltual alienation os the North and the South
been promoted, encouraged and famed into q
flame that, until better councils found places
nnoAg the people, had well nigh severed the pelit-
lcnl bands which holds his togssl.er2
ITO establish Justice"
| An able and independent judiciary il not only
the source, but the only certain bulwark of i'm
partial justice. Were in the nature OF things
exist in every well organized government some
common tribunal, empowered 80 deteriaine, ia the
iast resort, all questions Of conflicting authority
and jurisdiction, and to pronounce upon the in
depreciation aud construction Of the laws Of the
lanth Such authority the constitution conlers up
OH the courts Of the United States and the judges
OF ,hese tribunals are made independent of the
| executive in order that their decision may not be
biassed by fear or favor of the officers whose duty
| il is to administer the aY which The court eX-
pounds. The cabinet OF Gen Jackson brQached
the mOnstrous doctrine that every department OF
the Government was supreme, independent, ire
sponsible in ITSELF and hat It was the duty of eX-
ecuive officers TO execute the constitution and laws
" as they understand them," without being bound
by the construction, sanctioned by the eensiitu-
ttional expouuders of The law! ln accordance
with their principle, solemn decisions of the Su-
preme Court Of the United States, in matters of
l,ie and liberty, have been 'lisregarded and lis
mandates openly sci at defiance nor has ,hs dam
gerous and disorganiziug doc,rinebeen renowned
or tsowned in word or decd by the present i'd
nnslra,lon.
9'ro provide Tor the oommoDdeieDce."
This clause embraces Aet only the protection of
1.-The peope of The Union ami its territory from for
elm inv asion but The maintenance Of such fleets
and armies as required in time of peace, Tho
construction and provisioning Of defensive works,
the preparation of armies anil munitions Of war;
md tho aiming and organization 'oS. the mssla.
Although the kindness of Providence, and the
pacific nclinations of the Christian world, rather
Than the wisdom of our rulers have hitherto pre-
served us from open hostities with the nations OF
Enrope, yet the administration has found ahund-
mhopponanny TO show that the operations of the
General Government, in all our relations with for
eign powers, have been conducted upon the same
unwises sell seeking, aud unpsinciped system
which charaetesizes the domestic policy OF the
present Executive
We have long been, and perhaps still are, ON die
verge OF war with the most formidable az Eu-
ropean powers, upon question of minor imnor.