Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-04-16
PRESIDENT TYLER ADDRESS.
To the peorle If The United STATES.


FELLow-C irIzESs Before my arrival 1.-THE Seat
of Government the painful communication was made
to you by the officers presiding over the several De-
partments of the deeply regretted death OF WILLIAM
HESRy HAnRIsoS, late President of the L. States
Upon HIM you had conferred your suffraecs for the
first office in your gift and had selected him as your
chosen instrument to correct and reform all such err
rors and abuses as had manifested themselves from
time to tlmcn the practical operation Of the Govern.
mcnt. While standing al the threshold of this great
work he has, by the dlspensatIon Of an ail-wlse
Providence, been removed from amongst u.s. and BY
the provisions otthe Constitution the efforts 10 be d.
rected to the accomplishment of this vitally mpor.
tant task, have devolved upon myself. This same
occurrence has subjected tho wisdom and sufficeney
Of our institutions to a new test.
For the first time IN our history the person elected
20 the wee Presidency OF the United States, by tho
happening ola contingency provided for IN the Con,
stitution has had devoved upon hun the Presidential
office ! he spirit of faction, which IS directly OPP
posed TO the splrt of lofty patriotism, may find in
this occasion for assaults upon my administration
And IN succeeding, under circumstances so sudden
and unexpected, and 10 responsibilities greatly avg
mented TO the administration ofpGhc affairs, shall
place m the intelligence and patriotism Of the People
my only sure reliance. My earnest PRAYER shall be
constantly addressed the all W ise and all-powerful
Being who made me and bv whose dspensailon am
called to the high Office oPresden Of this Confeder
acy, undcrstandinglv carry out the principles Of
that Constitution which have sworn ITO protect,
preserve, and defend
! The usual opportunity which IS afforded 10 Chief
Magistrate upon his induction to office Of presenting
10 his coumrymen an exposition OF the policy which
would guide h1 administrations IN the form of an
/ Inaugural Address, not having, under the peculiar
circumstances which have brought me to the discharge
OF the high duties OF President of the United States,
cen afforded 10 me, brief exposition Of the prnci-
pies which will govern me IN the general of
my administration of public affairs would seem 10 be
due well to mvselfas 10 you. In regard 10 foreign
nations the ground work ofmy policy will be Justice
on part 10 ALL submitting to injustice from none.-
Whcl shall sedulously cultivate the relations OF
and amity with one and all, it will be my most I'M
We n b1f n tlor hall
sustain no blcmish With view to tins, the con-
dtion of our military deiences will become matter Of
anxious sclicnudc. The Army, which! Inns in other
days covered itself with renown. and the Navy, not
nappropuately termed the right arm of the public
defence, which has spread light Of glory over tho
American standard in all The waters Of the Garth,
should be rendered repcte with efficiency.
In view Of the fact, well avouchedb by history tha /
the tendency of all human institutions IS 10 concen-
trate power IN the hands OF single man, and thai,
their ultimate downfall has proceeded fr this cause
deem II of the most essential importance that COM
petc separation should take place between the sword
/ and the purse. No matter where or how the public
moneys shall he deposited, 50 long as the President
can exert the power of appointing and removing, at
his pleasure the agents selected for their custody the
Commander IN Chief Of the Army and Navy is in fact
the Treasurer. permanent and radical change
should therefore be decroed, The patronage incden-
tai to the Presidential Office already great, is con
sanhy lncieasng. Such increase is destined TO keep
pace with the growth of appropriation, until without
figure Of speech, an army Of office holders nav be
ted by scfishy ambitious man. IN order either 10
perpctuae his authority hand it over 10 some ia
yorlte as his successor may lead to the employment
OF all the means within his control 10 accomplish his
object.
The right to remove from Office, while subjected to
no Jus, restraint is inevitably destined produce
spirit of crouchng seIvllry with the official corps,
which, in order TO uphold the hand which feeds them
would lead to direct and active interference in the cleo
tons both State and Federal, thereby sublecting the
course of State legislation 10 the dctatlon of the Che
Executive Officer and making the will of that officer
absolute and supreme. will at proper time invok,
the action of Congress upon this subject, and shall
readily acqulesce the adoption of all proper meas
ures which calculated arrest these evils so full
Of danger in their tendency. will remove no ncum
bent from office who has faithfully and honestly ac
quilted himself of the duties OF his office, except II
such cases where such officer has been guilty of
active partnership or by secret moans-the less man
ly, and therefore the more Objectionable glver
his Official influence to the purposes of party 'hereb,
bringing the patronage Of the Government IN conflc
i with the freedom of elections. Numerous removals
may become necessary under this rule These vii
be made by through acerbty OF feeling
have had no causeto cherish indulge unklnd feel
mgs towards any, but my conduct will be regulated b.
profound sense of what is due TO the country and it
= institutions nor shall neglect TO apply the same u
6 bending rule to those OF my appointment Freedor
right Of satlrage will be maintained as the birth rIgh
0 OF every narican citizen, bur say emphaucaliy 1
: the official corps, thus far and no farther hay
- dwct the longer upon this subject because removal
c from office are likely often TO arise, and would hay
= my countrymen to understand the principle Of tn
= Executive action
J. In all public expenditures the most rigid oconom
should be resorted 10, and of It's results put
lie debt IN time of peace be seluloysly avoided.
i wise and patriotic constituency will never object III
n imposition of necessary burdens for useful ends an
true wisdom dictates the resort to suh means, in o
l. de- 10 supply Deficiencies in the rovenue rather tina
t to those doubtful expedents, which eliminating in
l.. public debt, serve 40 embnrrass III, resources Of u
country and 10 lessen It's sbill q meet any gre,
l. emergency which may arise All sinecures tPonld
l., abolished. The appropriations should be dIeot an
explicit SO as to leave limited share 81 dtoret 70
D 70 the disbursin, SCENTS as msv b. HWid eomTeuh