The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-25

mics, TO the system. oil diyiding tae paplic
lands into small psrcels, and selling them on
such terms as enabled every Industrious citizen,
however poor to become an owner OF me soii,a
he was proud 10 remember he had been instru-
mental ia bringing forward and periecting, when
he had The honor 10 represent IN Congress the
whole az the then Northwestern Territory. To
,ha internal improvements so nobly undertaken,
and so successfully executed by the State, and,
above all TO the glorious civil institutions OF our
country, by which the citizen IS leit Tree 10 pur-
sue his own road TO wealth and happiness, and
protected in the enjoyment OF the fruits OF his
own labor.
He. however, warned the people that their
liberties could only be preserved by eternal ygi-
lance-by watching cautiously and unremttlng-
Iy those who were entrusted with power-that,
owing 10 The fralies nseparable from human
nature. power could not be long retained IN the
same hands without danger OF ITS beng abused.
The men who were at first honest and patriotic,
were subject TO be intoxicated when frequently
entrusted with civil and military authority, and
especially il il should be long continued in their
hands He made beautiful allusion TO Simon
Bolivar, who after having once and again de
Tended the independence Of his country, at last
fell before the seductive influence oil poioer long
possessed and coaspired against those Liberties
which he had SO Off defended
He explained the cause OF the original divi-
sion between the federal and republican or de-
mocratic parties in our cauntry -showing that
the former were in favor Of entrusting IN the
hands Of the President, more power and lnfiu-
ence than the latter believed compatible with the
permanency Of our political institutions. He
was of opinion that the danger apprehended by
| Patrick Henry and other distinguished patriots,
| who held that the Executive would encroach
upon, and finally exercise dangerous influence
over the Legislative and Judicial departments
of the Gov ernmenf, had TO great extent Deeh
realized He considered it of the first importance
that the administration Of the Government should
be brought back TO its original purity, and that
the executive power and influence should be
confined within the limits prescribed by the spirit
OF the constitution. That the will OF THe PEOPLE
expressed through their constitutional represen-
talives, and not the will Of one man, should go-
vern in all questions touching the general well
fare. That the President should not-and that
he would not, if elected, interpose the veto
power between the wishes Of the people and
the legitimate objects Of their desires, except 10
preserve the sacred charter Of our liberties from
manifest violation. He held il improper for The
President TO express his opinions, much more TO
express his determination to exercise the veto
power in regard TO measures coming exclusive
ly within the province assigned by the Const-
tuition TO Congress- until those measures should
have been duly considered and perfected by the
Legislative Department Of the Government, and
presented TO him in the manner prescribed by
the Constitution for his approval.
Gen. III. cautioned the people against confd
ing the execution Of the laws, the command of
the armies and nayies, and the purse Of the ma
ton TO the same hands, declaring such combna-
ton of power in one person virtually 10 consti-
tute a MONARCHY, under whatever name that
government might exist-and proceeded to show
that if the public moneys were placed in the
possession of men holding their appointments
from the President-subject TO control and re-
moval at his pleasure, that those moneys were
in fact in his possession, whatever guards the
laws, entrusted 10 him TO execute, might osten
sbly throw around the public treasure.
In allusion TO the charge made against him of
having been federalist the General referred to
| the almost despotic power entrusted in his hands
| as governor of the great country which now
forms the States Of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan
and the Territory Of Wisconsin, at one time in
GLIDING also Missouri Arkansas and Iowa, and
the manner in which he exercised that power
stating the fact that the people were permitted
by him to choose their own sherffs and other Of
ficers, although the ordinance for the government
Of this extensive territory gave him the exclu-
sive power Of appointing these officers at his
| own will and pleasure.
| He coniured the people to watch their rulers
diligently to examine into the situation OF the
| country, and the manner in which the powers
delegated by them had been used-whether there
was any reformation necessary, and If so impair
TALLY to inquire which Of the candidates, now
before them, was best calculated TO accomplish
that demonstrating that whatever might be
the result Of that inquiry, even if adverse to
him. his regard for the man thus exercising his
undoubted right, thus performing his sacred duty
as citizen would not be in the least diminished
and to that man he would extend the hand of
cordial friendship as readily as if he had come
to conclusion favorable to his pretensons.
| These noble-these patriotic sentiments Of
which we have given but summary, were de-
livered in pure and elegant language in clear
and strong voice. and with a distinct artcula-
ton that enabled every Individual, even the most
distant, in crowd Of some four thousand per-
sons distinctly TO hear and understand every
word that was uttered, in speech which occu
pied least one hour in its delivery affording TO
thousands of our fellow citizens the most con
elusive OF all testimony, that Of their own senses
and understanding, that the possession Of both
mental and physical ability were still vouch-
saied by an overriding and kind providence 10
the man whom we confidently believe is des-
tined TO be the instrument Of saving our coun-
try from the hands of the spoilers, and restoring
1t once more TO happiness and prosperity.
FORT MEIGS CELEBRATION