The Illinois free trader., 1840-07-03
NUMBER


know, that if his measures are all carried
out, he will lay foundation for others TO
do so if he does not.
What rejecting man, fellow citizens,
cannot see this ! The representatives of
the people were once the source Of power.
Is 1t so now! Nay. 1t is to the execu-
tive now that every eye is turned.-that
every wish is directed. The men of
Office and party, who are governed by the
seven principles of John Randolph, TO
wit, the five loaves and two fishes, seem
to have their ears constantly directed to
the great bell at head quarters, to indicate
how the little ones shal. ring
But to return | have to remark that
my anti-federalism has been tempered by
my long service in the employ of my
country-and my frequent oaths to sup
port her general government; but l am
as ready to resist the encreachments on
State rights, as ] AIN to support the legiti-
mate authorities of the Executive, or the
general government.
Now, fellow citizens, have very little
more 10 say, except to exhort you 10 90
on, peacefully if you can--and you can
to effect that reform upon which your
hearts are fixed. What calamtous con-
sequences will ensue to the world if YOU
fail +! If you should fail how the tyrants
of Europe will rejoice. fyou fail, how
will the friends of freedom, scattered like
the few planets of heaven, over the world,
mourn, when they see the beacon light
Of liberty extinguished--the light whose
rays they had hoped would yet penetrate
the whole benighted world. 4
If YOU triumph it will be done by yigi.
lance and attention Our personal friends
but political enemies, remind us that
External Vigilance is the price of Libcr-
V." While journeying thi,hcrward, l.
observed this motto waving at the head Of
a procession composed of the friends of
the present administration. From this |
inferred that discrimination was necessary
i'll order to know whom to watch. In
der Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, the
eye of the people was turned TO the right
source-to the administrations The adj
ministration, however, now say to the
people, "You must not watch us, bnt YOU
must watch the Wings Only do that
and all is safe - But that, my friends,
is not the way. The old fashioned re-
publican rule is to watch the government.
See that the government does not acquire
too much power. Keep check upon
your rulers. Do this and liberty is safe.
And if your efforts should result success
fully, and ! should be placed in the Pre-
sidential chair, shall invite recurrence
to the old republican rule, to watch the
administration, and to condemn all its acts
which are not in accordance with the
strictcst code of republicanism. Our ru-
lers, fellow citizens, must be watched.
Power is insinuating. Few men are sa-
tislicd with less power than they are able
to procure. If the ladies whom / see
around me were near enough TO hear me,
and of sufficient age TO give an experiment
tai answer, they would tell you that no
lover is ever satisfied with the first smile
of his mistress.
1t is necessary, therefore, to watch, not
the political opponents of an adminis,ra-
ton, but the administration itself, and to
see that it keeps within the bounds of the
Constitution and the laws of the land
The Executive of this Union has immense
power 10 do mischief, if he sees fit to
exercise that power. He may PROSTATE
the country. Indeed this country has
been already prosrated. 1t has already
fallen from pure republicanism, 10 monar-
chy in spirit if not in name. A celebra-
ted author defines monarchy to be that
form ofgoyernmen!in which the executive
has at once the command Of the army,
the execution of the laws and the control
OF the purse. Now, how is it with our
present executive The constitution
: gives to him the control of the army and
the execution of the laws. He now only
awaits the possession of the purse to make
I him monarch. Not a monarch simply,
with the power of the king Of England,
: but monarch with the powers of the
: autocrat Of Russia. For Gibbon says
j that man possessed of those powers,
g twill, unless closely watched, make him
e self despo,.'
d The passage of the sab-treasnry bill
8 will give to the president an accumulation
# of power - the single additional power
i that the constitution wiinholds from him,