Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-04-17
OFFICIAL.
To the People of the United States.


To the People of the United States.
FELLOW CITIZENS Before my arrival nj the
Seat of Government, the painful communication
made TO you by the officers presiding over
the several Departments, of the deeply regretted
death of WILLIAM HENRY RARRIsoS.latc President
OF the United States. Upon him you had confer
red YOUR suffrages for the first Office in your gift,
and had selected him your chosen instrument
to correct and reform all such errors and abuses
as had manifested themselves from Time 10 tune
in the practical operation of the Govcrnment-
While standing at the Threshold Of this great
work, he has, bv the dIspensation of an l-wise
Providence. been removed from amongst MS,
and by the provisions of the Constitution, the
efforts to be directed 10 the accomplishing at this
vitality important task have evoiy ed upon my
self. This same occurrence has subjected the WIS
dom and sufficlency of our institutions 10 new
test. For the first time in our tis,ory,she person
elected to the Vice Presidency OF the United
States, by thehappening Of a contingency provided
for in the Constitution, has had devolved upon
him the Presidential office. The spiri, OF fac
ton, which is directly opposed to the spr,, OF a
lofty patriotism, may find in this occasion for as
saults upon my administration And IN succee-
ding. under circumstances SO sudden and uncX-
pec,ed, and 10 responsibilities so greatly augmen-
ted the admins ton of public affairs, shall
s in he only Sure Ny carncs. pray
er shall be constantly addressed TO the all wise
and all power Being who made me, md by
whose dispense ton am called 10 the high office
of President of this Confedefacv, understanding.
~ TO carry out the principles Of The Constitution
which have sworn "to protect, preserve, and de-
fend'
The usual opportunity which is afforded To
Chief Magistrate upon his induction 10 the office
of presenting 10 his countryRen an exposition
of tho policy which would guide his admnis,ra-
ton, N the form OF an inaugural address, not hav
ing, under the peculiar circumstances which have
brought me TO the discharge of the high duties of
President of the United States, been afforded to
me, brief exposition of the principles which will
govern me in the general course Of nv admins.
,ra,ion OF public aff4irs would seem to be due n 5
well 10 myself as TO YOU. In regard TO foreign
nations, the ground work OF my policy will be JUS
tlce part TO ALL submitting TO Injustice
from none. While | will sedulouslv cultivate
the relations of peace and amlty with one and all
it will be my most imperative duty TO sec that
the honor of the country shall sustain no bem-
Ish. With view to this, the condition of our
military defences will become matte. Of anx-
ious soliciiude The Army, which has in other
days covered itself with renown, and he Navy,
not appropriately termed the right arm of The
public defence, which has spread light of g!o-
ry over the American standard in all the
tiers Of the earth, should be rendered repete with
efficiency.
In view Of the fact, we'll as ouched bv history.
that the tendency OF all human institutions is TO
concentrate power IN The hands OF single man.
and that their ultimate downfall has proceeded
from this cause, deem ii of the most essential
Importance that a complete separation should take
place between the sword and the purse. No mat
ter where or how the public moneys shall be de-
posted, SO long as the President can exert the
power of appointing and removing, at his plea
sure, the agents selected for their custody, the
Comman der in chief of the Army and Navy is in
fact The Treasurer. A permanent and radical
change should therefore bs decreed The patron
age inciden, 10 the Presidential Office aIfeady
great, is constantly increasing. Such increase is
destined to keep pace with the grow III Of our pop
ula,lon, until, without figure of speech, an ar
my of officeholders may be spread over the land
The unresirained power exerted by sefshIv !
ambitious man, IN order either 10 perpetuate his t
authority or to hand 1T over TO some favorite as
his successor, may lead 10 the employment. Of all
the means within his control to accomplish his
object. The right 10 remove from office, while /
subjected to just restraint, inevitably des.
tined 10 produce spirit Of crouchiug serviity /
with the official corps, which, in order to UNFOLD
the hand which feeds them, would lead TO direc,
and active interference in the elections both State
and Federal, thereby sHbjecting the course of
State legislation to the dictation of the Chief
Executive Officer, and making The will Of that of. |
dcer absolute and supreme. will at a proper I
time. invoke the action of Congress upon this |
SUBJECT, and shall readily acquiesce in the adop- |
lion OF all proper measures which calculated /
10 arrest these evils, full OF danger IN their
| will remove no lncumbcn. from Of