The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-03-16
yOl. A. NO. :s:s--- whole NO. as9.

| from whose situation and mode Of appointment
more Independence and freedom from such inhn
ences might be expected. Such one was afforded
/ hy The Executive Department, constituted by thu
Constitution. person elected to that high office
having his constituents in every srcii H. state aud
division of the Union must consider himself bound
by The most solemn sanctions, 10 guard proec and
lcnd The rights of all aud Of every portion grcni
or small, from the oppression and Injustice of the
rest. | consider the veto power, therefore, given
by the Constitution 10 the Executive Of HE United
Sm,es, solely as g conservative power; TO be used
LIST TO protect the Constitution from violation; Cd
the people from the effects of hasiy Legislation
where their will has been probably dsrcgarded, or
not we'll understood; and 3d. 10 prevent the effects
| denominations vola,ive ofthe rights Of ninori,ies.
In reference TO the second uf these Objects | m ay
observe that consider it tho right and privilege Of
the people to decide disputed points OF the Consti
luton, arising from the general grant Of power 10
Congress to carry INTO effect The powers expressly
given. And believe, with Mr.. Mad ison, ''ihat re
peated recugniiions, under varied circumstances in
acts Of the legislative, executive and udctai branch
es ofthe Government, accompanied by indications
in different modes ofthe concurrence of the gener.
al will or the nation, as atfording 10 the President
sufficient authority for his considering such disput
ed points as sellled."
Upwards of hafa century has elapsed since the
adoption OF our present form of government 1t
would be an object more highly desirable than the
qualification of the curiosity Of speculative s,atcs-
men, If lis precise situation could he asoertained
fair exhibition Of the operations Of each Of It's De
partments, made of the powers which they respec
lively Claim and exercise Of The collisions which
have occurred between them or between the whole
gov eminent and those of The States, either of
them. We could then compare our aciunl condi
lion, after fy years trial Of our system with what
it in the commencement of lis operations, and
ascertain whether the predictions of the patriots
who opposed its adoption, or The confident hopes a"
it's advocates, have ls,en best realized The grand
dread Of the former seems to have boen that the re
served powers Of The states would be absorbed 10y
those Of the Federal Government and consoidn-
ted power established, leaving to tho States the
shadnw only of that independent action tor which
they had zealously commended and on the pres
ervalion of which they relied rs the last hope Of
liberty. Without denying that the result TO which
they looked with much apprehension, is in the
way ol be, ing realized, it is obvious hat they did
no, clearly the mode Of its accomplishment.
The General Government has seized upon
Of the reserved rights Of the states AS far any
open warfare may have gone, the state authorizes
have amply maintained their rights. TO casual
observer, our system presents no appearance OF dis
cord between The different members which compose
IT, Even the addition Of many new ones has pro-
ducpd no jnrring They move in their respective
orbits in perfect harmony with tho GENITAL head.
and with each other. Bui there is still under
current Mt work by which, ifnot seusonably check
ed the worst apprehensions of our anti frdern pat
riots will he realized. And not only will the state
authorities be oversladowed by the great increase
of power in the Executive Department ci the Gen
eral Government, but the character ofiha, Govern
mon,, if its designation, be essentially and radi
cally changed Til safe of things has heen in
part effected by inherent in the Constitution,
and part by tho never failing tendency of poti-
cal power to increase itself
BY making the President the sole distributor Of
all the patronage ofthc Government. the trainers
OF the Constitution do not appear To have anticpat
ed NJ how short period it would become conn.
clnbIe instrument 10 control The free operations of
the state governments. or triiIing importance nj
first Il had early in Mr. Jeftrson's admin isiralion,
become powerful as to create great alarm in The
mind of that patriot, from the potent influence it
might exert in controlling the freedom of the cleo
tive franchise If such could have been the effects
ger at this time, quadrupled in amount, as it Ger.
tainlv is and more completely under the conrol
o.. the Executive VIII, than their construction
of their powers allowed, The !orbearing
character Of all the early Presidents permi,
ted them to make? Bot il is not by the extent Of
its patronage alone that the Executive Department
has become dangerous, but by The use which 1t APP
pears may be made Of the appointing power, 10
bring under its control the whole revenue OF the
country.
The Constitution has decla ed it To he the dnty
of the President that The laws are executed,
and it makes him the commander-in chief of The
army and navy of the United States. Il the opjn
ion of The most approve writers upon that species
OF mi I'd gov ernment, which, in modern Europe, Is
termed monarchy. i'm contradiction to despotism IS
correct there was wanting no other addition to
the pcwcrs Of our Chief Magistrate to stamp mo.
narchicai character our government, but me
cor troll Of our public finances And to me II up |
pears strango indeed, that any one shond douo'
,t,, ,h, o,trc CENTRAL which The President posses