Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-29

i
forced upon him by the inperious obligation Of duty
In affirming thai mpcrections existed in the Consttu
ton he trusted that he should not he considered want
ing in respect and generation for those uslrlous patrI
and sages, who, through the blood and peril OF the
REVOLUTION having achieved the liberty Of Their
try, consecraied their mighty work by uniting them IN
the glorious bond Of union under which, for more than
hulf century, they had lived free and prosperous
ton. On the contrary, he had been educated in the
most profound venera,ion for their Revolutionary an.
cestars; and That veneration only cquacd By the
admiration that filed him, when he contemplated the
wonderful foresight and wisdom that guided their
cils upon whom devolvcd the great task of construct
ing the frame work OF the Constitution and reducing
to successful operation its complicated machinery AT
that time the science of Republican Government was
in its nfancy-thc men of that day were pioneers,
and the Constitution an experiment. The Constitu
ton was the work of inspiration; 1t did not like
the fabled goddess spring from The brain, at full
formed and perfect, but az its history proves under
went the painful process Of elaboration, from mate
rails in many respects confused and crude. That
PROJECTIONS should exist in it, ought to excite no sur
prse certainly its authors claimed for title 10 per.
reliability but, that they contemplated the possibility,
nav the probability of defect plainly appeared from the
9Th article Of the Constitution, by which provision
made for future amendments. Indeed the history of
the Constitution not without examples Of amend
ments introduced By virtue of that provision. At the
first session of the first Congress, ten new articles
introduced and embodied part Of the Constitution.
At the second session OF the third Congress- another
and at the first session Of the eighth Congress- so
late as 1903 another article introduced, making
important provisions IN respect 10 the Presidential
election. IL, then, the experience OF the rst sixteen
wears suliced to suggest these amendments, why
should not the same consideration be given 10 the cxpe
renee of the Mirty.eieht years following, Look TO
the events that had happened IN tins latter period -
Had not Of the departments OF the Government
discovered capacity for power UNNECESSARILY beyond
any carly conception of its friends Had not its ope-
I last nIuhi ont
revolution in the administration OF affairs lie alluded
10 the Executive Departmental that department
which, drawing to itself most of the important powers
III Government under the sway Of popular chief had
been exercise absolute sway the popular
branch of the National Legislature and, At length,
embodened according TO the of its success,
TO wage successful war upon the Senate, stretching
its Brarian into the States, and welding their
Legislatures TO effect its purposes. He alluded 10 that
department which ELECTED the celebrated conmenta-
re of the great Henry aIhs Constitution, SAID
he, is said to hare beautiful eaturcs-but when ]
come to examine these features they appear 10
horribly frghtiul among other deormI,Ir- il has
awful sGuntng-t sguints towards monarchy. HIS
attention was first attracted political concerns when
the contest vaging which resulted II the cleo
on of General Jackson ever the younger Adams. The
disc of that day had led INN 10 believe that the
Administration Of the Federal Government needed re-
form that abuses had crept into the Executive De-
partment by which il had stretched its powers without
the Just limits Of tie Constitutions that the freedom OF
election was endangered BY the oyergrown patronage
of Office; and extravaganza, not TO say corruption, was
becoming the order of the day Whether these things
not not his purpose 10 inquire; but I'M
der his then IMPRESSION although he had not arrived at
sufficient age exercise the right of suffrage, he
strongly attracted the support OF the successful cund
date his unsophstl,atcd Judgment put faith III those pro-
fcssIons Of rctrcnchmcn economy and REFORM Of winch
General Jackson md pariIzans for him, pro.
| fuse The American people were taught To believe
that there existed Mr.. Adams Administration every
vice To which Government was liable; that by course
ofune vagance the expenditures had swell
ed TO an sum; by the multi plcation of Offices
and office holders elections controlled; where the
forms Of the Const tuition permitted, power abused
for unholy purposes, and when those forms longer
subserved, il irroganty usurped Whilst the
hearts Of the people thus set against MIR.
\ Adams Administration, they were at the same time
| ilatered with the hope that in the election of &C.
neral Jackson 4 sovereign specific would be found
for all these evils; that in tin lllustrous Chief
Hercules would appear with his mighty club to crush
the monster party, and with scahng IRON 10 its by
dra head Every where the plrtzans OF the successful
candidate filled the public press with professions Of re-
form. The Government, They SAID, was to be brought
back 10 the true principles Of the Constitutions the
| Executive, admitted 10 be too strong for Republic,
to be shorn of lis suPerluous strength lis patron
age cut down; all undue interference with the bust
ness Of Congress ahsta med from: the elective franchise
protected from tie Vaccinations of office holders, the
pcndcucc .: Congress restored and preserved for
the future ly carefully excluding liza members from all
participation the emolument Of Office; and lastly, At
the end Of trm when all the blessings had been
accomplished, the world To behold the head or that
great ration, like second charDS the Fifth. volunia
ry rclinquish,ng the ponp aud power Of State, de
scend al INTO the peaceful walks n HE, signaiiz
ng AT once his devotion 10 Republican principles
and setting example Of moderation and irnncss Ter
all future successors In letter, # he misaked not,
10 the Legislature Of Tennessee, the great Chef
himself declared his convcton that unless the doors
of Congress were shut against the nsldous approach
Of Executive patronage its independence gone, aud
corruption would become the order OF the day. anu eithc
on the solemn Of his Inaugural Address, or IN
message Congress- he advised the American people TO
amend the Constitution so as TO restrict tho Executive
office TO single term. Such were the professions by
which the friends Of Gen Jackson every where enlisted
the support Of the people, such were the promises Vi lat
individual himself
twas not his purpose to enter then upona review OF
Gen Jackson administrations al another time, when
the resolutions should up for discussion, II might
become necessary to trace out some OF It's most pro-
mincnt measures in illustration of his opinions re-
speeding the power of the Executive. For the pre-
sent, lac meant only TO advert to the TACT Of the total
disappointment which all experienced, who, like HIM
SELF had put faith in the professions and promises by
which their confidence had been The first act OF
the administration put an eilectual cxtnguisler
upon al hope Of reform. vindictivc, ruthless sys
ten Of crue prescription characterized It's hrs entrance
into power-the whole patronage Of the Government
was put into immediate requsition to secure re-cec
ton-a relentless prescription was begun-the sa!a-
res Of office were converted into rewards tor tavoritc
par,zans or used the of purchasing the sup
port of others system arising out of lust Of power,
and formed upon the cemcnng principle of "spods,
was likely to terminate when the occasion winch
called il forth had ceased to cSiSt;-accordlngly,
they found the same party machinery, which haa
been operation TO reelection, viEor
ously excrcd 10 the successful appointment of an
Amounted successor lie thought with Patrick Hen
ry that the Executive Department of their Govern
nent was too strong for Republic. Under the pre-
sent and late Administrations, that Department had
displayed an energy heretofore unknown to IT. This
energy according 10 his apprehension had ITS vitality
in tie patronage Of office In Engla the patronage
of,he Crown was known be the chief source of pow
or of the Crown-there il had been found sufficient to
prevail against the elective franchise, and here It was
fast consolidating in the Executive the enormous
power Ifthcy desire 10 the possession OF their
Republican Institutions they must cut down the power
Of the Executive, and this could only be done ettec-
tnay by the shearing it Of some Of its patronage
Every amendment proposed by these resolutions had,
would be seen, this very obiectin every case the OBJ
Tho tof bis