, 1841-03-20

bility for injury To others. and that Of a full
participation IN ;li The advantages which
flow from the Government, the acknowledged
property of all, the American citizens de.
rives from no character granted by his fol.
low-men. He claims them because he HIM
self a man, fashioned by the Almighty hand
as the rest of his species, and entitled to a
full share of the blessings with which he has
endowed them. Notwithstanding the limit.
ed sover. ignty possessed by the People Of the
United States, ano the restricted grant OF
power TO the Government which they ha'e
adopted, enough has been given to accom-
pliSh all the objects for which it was created.
Ii has been found powerful in war, and hlth-
erto, Justice has been administered, an init
mate union effected, domestic tranquility
preserved, and personal liberty secured 10
the citizen. As MAS Ia be expected. hnwev-
er, from the detect ri language. and the nee
eSsarIiv scntentInuS manner IN which the
Constitution is written, disputes have arisen
as 10 the amount OF power which It has &C
tuaIly granted, or was intended TO grant.
TINS is more particularly the case in rela-
ton Ia that part of the instrument which
treats of the leg sIatlve branch. And not
only as regards the exercise OF powers claim
Ell under Il general clause. giving that body
the authority I" pass all laws necessary to
carry mto effect the specified powers, but in
relation 10 the latter, also. 1t is, however,
cnnsolarory /" rt effect, that most of the in
STANCES al ALLEGED Il, parIure from the letter
IA >pi a. ii tie CuiS IufI"n. have ultimately
received tDr sanction al 81 maturity Of The
people. And tie fact that many Of our
statesmen, most distinguished for talent aud
PATRIOTISM, have been. - one time or other
at their political career. on both sides OF
each OF the mos, warmly disputed questions,
forces upon us the inference that the errors.
if errors there were. aIe attributable TO the
intrinsic difficulty, in many instances, of
a>rrrral;3In" &c m'entIuns Of the trainers
If ID rn~'.'l in u. ,ather than the influence
I'll AN . ~, =" rmysiIa"iic m"tIve. But
tie great G.uccr II. our institutions does not
appear Ia nc to Le IN Il UsurpatIOn oI the
government ui p"wer not granted bv the
people, but by the accumulation IN one of
the depai tnentS, OF that which was assigned
10 others.
Limited as are the powers which have been
granted. still enough have been grnnred Ia
constitute ii deSpntsm, If concentrated IN one
OF the departments. Tins danger is greatly
heightened. as /, has been always observable
that men are less Jealous Of enchroachments
OF one department upon another, than upon
their own reserved rights. When the Con
~sritution Of the United States first came from
the hands of the Convention which formed
il. many oi Tie rcrnr>i Republicans of lie
day were alarrcd IL lie extent 81 the power
"hich had been grhnlrd la the federal GOV
eminent. and more particularly Of that pDr-
ton which had been assigned IL the .xrcu-
tive branch. Thee were in II features winch
appeared not la he IN ~iarm"ny viii, their
Ideas at IL simple representative Democracy
or itepuiiic. And Knowing the tendency
nt power In increase Itself, particularly when
exercised by Il single IndIvE!uIl, predictions
we've made that. al no very remote perIuh,
the government would terminate IN virtual
m"Earchy. 1t would not become me 10 say
hat the tears of these patriots have been
already realized. Bot, as | sincerely believe
that the tendency "i measure, and Of mems
opinions. f"r some years past, has been in
tIht direction. u Is. | conceive strictly prop
er. thai ] should take this occasion To rcpeat
the assurance ! have herrt"fnrr given. of NV
determination oarrcsI the progress OF that
irni"ncy. 4! II really exists. and restore The
government 1" ~ pristine ur!lrh and yinnr.
Is tar 'S lhIS en- Re cllrrIed hv any I"riri
mate exercise OF the power placed IN my
haniS.
| proceed - slate. la Us summary a man.
her is | can, my opinion OF The sources Of
the evils which have been So extensively
complained of. and the correctives which
may he applied. Some of the former are
rnque>iI'nablv :" be found IN the defects of
10 Constitution; Others, IN nv Judgment.
ne ttributI1le Id Il mISconStrucllon oi some
ii is pr,vI>Inls. o. the former is the eIipi.
hIlItv at the sumo individual to Il second term
III rha Presidency. The sagacious mind Of
VIZ. J'|i' >on 'i:fr <rv and llmented this
riiof, and attempts h,d been made, hitherto
Mia Success. I" apply the anendatory pow.
rr ii the States Ia It's cnrreCiIun. As, how
ever. one mode al c"rreciiun is in he DOW
"r al every President. and consequent, m
mae. 1t Would hc useless, and perhaps in
''tuDus. t. enuncrate the evils of which, IN
'he OPINION OF many OF our feilow-cItIZcnS.
ini> error o! the Sages who framed the Con-
may have been the source, and the
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