The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-10-01

VI tuC ICuCl d. Psfity div DIS d SStdteSLIhlt
was boundto carry ont 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 10 this
old system Of selecting men for the presi-
dency, whose past career shall be guar
antee Of their conduct when elected to
the chief magistracy Of the republic, the
nation would advance safely rapidly, and
surely in the path of prosperity. But of
late years, the corrupting system of re-
qiifing pledges hath been adopted. The
presidency has been put up TO The high
est bidder impromises, andswe see the re.
suit. llrem aims for you, my lellow-cit-
zens. to arrest this course Of things.
(Crles of We will, we will.) FL
While then, fellow citizens, | have
never hesi,aled 10 declare my opinions
on proper occasions upon the great ques-
lions before the na,ion,i cannot consent
to make mere promises the condition OF
obtaining the Office which You kindly
wish to bestow upon me. My opinions
! am free 10 express, but you already
have them, sustained and supported by
the acts of long ndardt,ons life. That
life is pledge of my future course, if
am elevated by your sutlrages 10 the high.
est office in your gift. Immense cheer
ing for several seconds.1 9e&2
II has been charged against me, fellow
citizens, thatI am a fcderalist. While
| acknowledge that the original federal
party OF this country was actuated in its
course by no improper motives, I dcay
that Fever belonged to that class of polilis
clans. Tremendous cheerng) How
could ! belong to thatparly? | was edu-
Gated in the school of anti-fcderalism, and
though too young to take an active part
in the politics of the country, when, at
the erection of the constitution, the nation
was divided into two great parties, my
llonore,l father had indicted me into the
principles of constitutions democracy,
and my teachers were the Henrys and the
Masons Of that period. He who declared
that the seeds of monarchy were sown in
the, soil ofthe constitution, was leader in
my school Of politics. He who said that
''ii this government be not a monarchy,
it has an awful squirting towards monar-
chy,' was my Mentor, (lmmense APP
plause. Some time elapsed before order
could be restored at hearing these emphat-
&c declarations of the generally If l
know my own feeling, if know my.
own judgment, | believe now as did
then, with the patriarchs of the Jefersoni-
an school, that the seeds of monarchy
were indeed sown in the fertile soil ofour
federal constitution, and that though, for
nearly fifty years they lay dormant, they
at last sprouted and shot forth into strong
and thriving plants, bearing blossoms and
producing ripe fruit. This government
as noac q practical maonarchyt Loud
and long cheering indicating that The peo-
pie felt the full force of his declaration.)
Power is power, it matters not by what
name tits called. The head of the gov
eminent exercising monarchical power
may be named king, emperor, president,
or Imaum, {Laughter) still he is a mon
arch. But this is not all. The presi-
dent of these United States exercises a
power superior to that vested in the hands
of nearly all the European kings. 1t is
power far greater than that ever dreamed
of by the old federal party. It is Al, ultra
federal power, it is despo.ism. Cheer
lng.) And may here advert to an OBJ !
lection that has been made against me. 1t
has been said, that, if ever should ar
rive at the digniiied station occupied by
my opponent, | would be glad and eager
% retain the power enjoyed by the presi-
lent Of the United States. Neucr, aeuer.
Tremendous cheering.) Though averse
rom pledges of every sort, I here openly
and before the world declare that | will
use all the power and influence vested in
he Office of president of the union to a.
bridge the power and influence of the ma
ional executive! 1t is impossible to de-
scribe the sensation produced by this dec
aration. Is this federalism (Cries of
10, no. for several seconds.) In the con-
that glorious charter OF our lib
srtles. there is defect, and that defect is,
he term of service of the president was
lot limited. This omission is the source
If all the evils under which the country
$ laboring. II the privilege Of being pre-
'ident of the United States had been lin.
ted to one term, the incumbent would de-
'ote all his time to the public interest, and
here would be no cause to misrule the
country. Iishall not animadvert on the
conduct Of the present administration, lest
you may. in that case, conceive that am
aiming for the presidency To use it for sell
ish purposes. | should be an interested
witness if entered into the subject. But
pledge myself before heauen and earth,
+ eltctedpresidenf ofthese United States,
o lay dozen at the end Of the term faith-
July that high trust at the feet of tie peo-
Die! Here the multitude was so excited
as 10 defy description. l go further.
lere declare before this vast assembly of
he MiamiTribe Great laughter) that if
am elected, no human being shall ever
know upon whom prefer to see the peo-
pies mantle fall, but shall surrender this
glorious badge of their authority into their