The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-20


to keep lp the deIusion under which they 9Th
people, may be supposed to have acted in rela
ton TO my principles and opinions" This is ;
very delicate and cutting sarcasm. tits sworC
gilmore than two edges, and in more hands thar
one. Every friend of the man who uttered i
would be ready to exclaim, ''Deluded7" and
throw back the imputation with scorn on the
heads ofits authors.
The outline of principles to govern, and o.
measures 10 be adopted, by an Administration
not yet begun, will soon be exchanged for i'm
mutable history, and shall stand, either exone-
rated to my countrymen, or classed with the
mass of those who promised that they might de
ceive, and hattered with the intention to betray.'
A bold position this, which none but those who
are EARNED strong with honesty" would dare to
take, and defiance, the front of which will be
assailed if it can be. ''Exonerated p He had
then been accused. Who are they that "pro-
mise to deceive, and fatter to betray2" They
are to be found in the history of country that
has fallen PROSTATE by their misrule. The gar
ments cut outby this skful hand will be put on
those whom they fit
Those who were milling to know General
Harrison's principles knew them as well before
as now, nor will any one say, desiring credit for
honesty, that this document is unintelligible.
The sovereignty ofthe People.
1.-THE broad foundation upon which our Con-
sttution rests being the people-a breath of
theirs having made, as breath can unmake,
change, or modify tit can be assigned TO none
of the great divisions of Government, but to that
of Democracy" Here is a distinct recognition
OF the fundamental principle of the American
Government and its institutions, on which the
entire edfce reposes. Here is also recognition
be observed, that the Democracy, the people, are
component power, and 'great division of Go
vernment." They are indeed the chief, the all
controlling division of the actual government of
the country. 1t is not theory only, but fact, un-
der the legitimate operation of our institutions.
The people take their part in Government
Every branch of authority, and every agency of
Government control, is referable to this primal
source, and dependent upon it. How different
this from the opinions which were getting into
vogue during the late dynasty, and which had
actually gained such an Rscendancy that, in
stead of looking doaon to the people, it was all
looking up to the President The people were
not recognised as "great division of Govern
ment." In the single sentence above quoted,
President Harrison has brought out the ortho-
dox doctrine, standing in strong contrast to the
practice of two of his immediate predecessors,
and restoring the principle to its rightfnl posi-
ton. "The only legitimate right to govern is
an express grant ofpower from the governed"
The PoDers of Federal Legislation.
The remarks upon this point are historical
and expository, and go to show that opinion as
to the extent of these powers has not been uni
form. From the fact, that many of our most
eminent statesmen have been on both sides OF
he disputed questions, it is suggested that the
difficulties are intrinsic.
"I'he great danger"
sThe great danger 10 our institutions" says
the President ''does not appear to me to be in a
usurpation by the Government of power not
granted by the people, but by the accumulation
in one Of the departments Of that which was as
signed to others. y | sincerely believe
that the tendency Of measures, and of mems
opinions, for some gears past, has been in that
directiou"
On account of the high source and authority
of this document, the last of these two state
ments, as to matters of fact, is a very grave one
Nevertheless, every observer knows it to be
strictly true. That rapid and amazing ABSORB
ton of power in the Executive, by encroaching
on the other branches of the Government, accu-
mulating strength in one at the expense Of the
other two, without apparently infringing on
popular rights, but assiduousy endeavoring to
invoke popular feeling in favor of this change,
at last opened the eyes of the people by the
celebrity of the movement and awakened alarm.
1t was too obvious not 10 be seen, when public
attention was challenged. The independence
of the Judiciary was less shaken of the two,
because the connexion was less intimate, though
that did not escape invasion. But the appro-
pirate constitutional prerogatives of the legisa-
tive branch had been gradually encroached upon
and diminished, till the Executive began to be
considered as the source Of legislation in all
great political measures. 1t began to be the
habit of Congress to look to the President to lay
out their work for them, as much as apprentices
look to their masters. Wherein originated the
annihila ion of the National Bank, the deposite
system, and the substitution of the Sub-trea-
sury7 Whence all the measures which have
plunged the country in misfortune?
Grateful will the country be for that word
the Inaugural, 81 take this occasion to repeat
the assurances have heretofore given, of my
determination to arrest the progress of that
tendency, if it really exists" (and he says, 81
believed it,) sand to restore the Government to
its pristine health and vigor, as far as this can
be effected by any legitimate exercise ofpower
placed in my hands"
n,o DyoesJo,f,oI 7I o,,o,,