The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-09


which they well know how to fabricate, they may
reserve the sentence.
Whilst promising TO the nation what they have
denomlnated constitutional CuTTency-a term in
vented to imply that practical absurdity, an I'M
mixed, metallic circuaion,-they have brought
upon the people two suspensions of specie pay
mentS in less than thirty months, baDiShed the
coin from ordinary use, Uttered the whole land
with paper and actually reduced the Govern
ment, in the midst of profound peace and unex-
ampled plenty, 20 that last device OF bankrupt
treasury, known in our history only as the Coin
cident of War and calamity, the issue of incon-
vertible Treasury notes.
! These are not the only disorders of our times
Cotemporaneousy with these infections, and ne
eesSarily Sprin9ing out Of the system which has
produced them, the most unparalleled specula-
tions have from time TO time been developed in
the official disclosures of the fnncuonareS of the
government. The public treasure has been rob
bed to the extent of millions by the fayorite par
lizans of the administration, and series of acts
of official delinquency have been opened TO view,
altogether without example in the annals Of the
most corrupt governments. If any experience
were wanting TO convince our infatuated rulers
o. the fatal consequences of that wicked perver-
sion of the ends Of government impliedin their
| favorite maxim that ''to the victorS belong the
spoils of Office" surely they may find in the his
tory Of the last three or four years, enough to inn
press them with the conviction that no deeper
curse may be poured upon the head of a1evoted
nation than the curse of committing trtSt to the
! busy partiZan of the election rather than to the
honest and capable citizen. 81
! Such is brief summary of some of The most
exceptionabe features in the conduct and mea-
sures of that party, who call upon the people to
| follow them in their devious path, and who Sys-
| temacally denounce and anahematiSe all who
refuse to be led, all who fall off by the way and
even all who pause to reflect at any stage OF their
II
ERALIsTs And such are the men who not only
claim to be considered republicans, but usurp
without blush the title of DEMOCRATS
We are Wings in name and principle We
turn proudly TO the history of our ancestors for a
definition of the sentiment which entities us TO
the name. We appeal to the Tecollections which
cling around the birth of our Republic, to indi-
cate the position which we maintain in this strife
for free institutions. Repelling the slavish doc
; trineS of Executive power proclaimed by the AID
miniStration, and utterly loathing the miserable
, shifts and devices which they have dignifed with
! the name of measures, we are unwilling ~ thi;
contest to give up one inch of that ground which
from first to last both on questions OF politica
right and of government policy, we have ever
occupied We proclaim ourselves hostile to ev-
cry attempt to strengthen the Executive arm Of
+ this government, or to weaken the legislative
power. IL is through that avenue that all history
teaches us TO look for the enemy of the Republic
We desire TO see the popular will supreme in
the legislation of the country-thal will, untutor
) ed by Executive dictation spontaneously, and
r without prompter, speaking its own first sober
Thoughts and not drilled by domiciliary visits Of
the familiars of the Government into tone more
! agreeable to the ear of the chief.
: We desire to see the fountains of power kept
pure by the strongest guarantees of the indepen-
dence and freedom of the ballot box.
We desire to see the dignity, the integrity, and
the usefulness of the Chief Magistrate preserved
by removing him beyond the selfish inducements
: of re election, and leaving him free to study
and pursue the comm on good
I five are asked to what specific returns we di-
: rect our aims, we reply, our demands are
7 The Limitation of the Presidency to single
7 term of service.
: The appointment 10 Office of honest and capa-
r BILE men, who shall not be subject to removal bu!
2 with the concurrence of the Senate.
The custody of the public moneys under the
control of Congress.
The Limitation of the veto to cases of Consti-
] tutional doubt.
f The restraint of the power of the Executive
within the limits of strict Interpretation of the
1 Constitution.
The freest investigation, at all times, by Con-
gress, into the condition of the Executive depart
mentS, and full accountability of all public Of
: ficerS TO that body.
e The purity of the elective franchise. secured
by legal prohibitions which shall guard the pop
ular elections against the interference of the Of
ficers of Government.
The reduction of the expenses of Governme nt,
{ and a rigid economy in the departments.
2 The appropriation of the proceeds ofthe public
lands to education and internal Improvements
S The restoration of sound currency, and,
through that medium, the reduction and controu
of State banks.
In the pursuit of these demands, the opposition
: to the Administration is abundantly strong to
procure the ascendency in the councils of the ma
2 lion. That they have not hitherto done so, is to
be ascribed, not to the want of power, but to the
i want of combination. Our adversaries have skill
4 fully awaited themselves of the local and section
e al differences which cannot but exist over so
wide a field of action, 10 impede that union Of
: power which is so essential TO our success. BY
the force of depraved press, by the arts of dem
: agogues, and by the most revolving impositions
!, practiced upon the credulity of those who have
Y not leisure or opportunity to inform themselves
they have contrived to create distrust between
$ different members fthe Opposition. That day
4 OF delusion wetrust, is past.
The unanimity with which in everysection of
0 the Union, the nominations of VIM. Henry Har
: rison and John Tyler have been received by
: those opposed to the Administration, and the pa
triotic resolve with which all personal predilic-
tons in favor of other candidates have been sur