The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-16

be observed, thar 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. II is not theory only, but fact, I'M
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 ascendancy that, in
stead OF looking domn to the people, II was all
looking up 10 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-
non. The only legitimate right TO govern is
an express grant ofpower from the governed"
The Popers 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, il is suggested that the
difficulties are intrinsic
"The great danger"
"The great danger 10 our institutions" says
the President, ''does not appear to me TO be in a
usurpalion 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. = = = | sincerely believe
that the tendency of measures, and of mems
opinions, for some gears past has been in that
directiou.n
On account of the high source and authority
OF this document, the last of these two state
ments, as to matters Of fact, is very grave one
Nevertheless, every observer knows it to be
strictly true. That rapid and amazing absorp-
ton Of power in the Executive, by encroachng
on the other branches of the Government, accu-
mulatng strength in one at the expense of the
other two, without apparently infringing on
popular rights, but assiduously endeavoring 10
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
II 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 connexon was less intimate though
that did not escape invasion. But the appro-
pirate constitutional prerogatves 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
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-
sury? Whence all the measures which have
plunged the country in misfortune2
Grateful will the country be for that word
the Inaugural, ~ 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 of power
placed in my hands"
One Presidential Term.
M. De TocauEvILLE, who has acquired the
credit, in this country, as well as in Europe, of
one of the most sagacous and most accurate OBJ
servers of American society, says, in view of
the operation of the principle of the re-egibiity
of the Chief Magistrate of this country, that 1T
must prone fatal in The end" The principle is
this: President that is candidate for Sc
cond term, thinks Of himself and works for him
self, and not for the public. SO long as man is
man, it will be so. We are delighted, therefore,
to observe that President Harrison has availed
himself ofthe occasion of his Inaugural Address,
to reiterate his opinion upon this subject and to
renew his pledge for one term. Not like Gen
Jackson, who had expressed the same opinion
before his first election, does he draw back, now
that he has come to power; but he holds up the
warning to the nation, and himself sets the first
example of abstinence from the cup of ambition
that is put into his hands. "Repubics," SAYS
the President, in reference to this defect of our
system, ''can commit greater error than to
adopt or continue any feature in their systems
of government which may be calculated to
create or increase the love of power in the boz
SONS Of those to whom necessity obliges them
to commit the management of their affairs"
We have now before us a new precedent in
this particular, and as we fervently hope, the
beginning of an era; and if the republic goes
on TO prosper-the chances Of which are greatly
multiplied, secured we trust, if this example
prevals-General Harrison will be pronounced
in history as great a benefactor TO his country
for the establishment Of this principle, as Gene