Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1841-03-27

/ ~ #EB& TIE NftS88T 'FNy A'1E
the intrinsic difficulty. in many instances, of q
err'aiuiog the intentions of the trainers of The COZ
s%tltu,ion, rather than the Influence Of any sinist
Or u,ttatfioiic motive.
But the great danger to our Institutions dot
not appear 10 me TO be 10 a usuipn,ion by III
Goternntfnt Of power not granted by The pcoIl
bu, by the accumulation 10 one Of The department
Of that which was assigned to others. Limited d
are the powers which lave been granted, sti
enough have ficep granted to~cons'i,ute a despo
,isn, If concentrated In one Of the departments
This danger ia greatly heightened az i. has bee
always obser 0able that men ate las jealous ofen
cfonehmenis Of lone department upon another tina
npon their own reserved rights. a f.
When tho Cotstilptions of The United State
frat came from tho hands OF The Convention whicl
formed il. many Of Tho slcri chi republicans Of NJ,
| day were alarmed nj the extent OF tho petve
WHICH bad been arantstl 10 the Federal Cavern
ment, and more particularly Of that portion which
had been a signed TO tho Executive brspch.-
There were IN j. features which appeared no, Il
be In harmony with the idens Of q simple ripe
sentative Of Democracy, or Republic. And know.
ing the tendency Of pnwer to increase itself, par.
iicnlarly when exercised by a single individual
predictions wcre made that, as 30 very remote
period. the Government would Terminate in vjYtu
al monarchy. II would not breome me to soy
that the fears Of these pattiots have brcn already
realized. Bot, ms ! sincerely holicve, lint The
tendency Of measures. and Of men q opinions. Tor
sotne years past, has been IN that direction, il Is,
I conceive. strictly proper, That should take this
OCCASION to repeat the assurances | have hereto
fore given, OF my determination to arrest The pro
gtesa of that tendency, il i, really exists. and re-
store the Government to it's pristine health and
vigor, rs far as this can be effected by any lcgiii"
mate exercise Of he power placed in my hands.
! proceed 10 state. in as summary a manner as
] can. my opinion of,he sources ofthe esils which
have been 90 extensively complained Of, and tbe
ccrrectives which may be applied. Some Of tho
former arc unquesiionably to ba found in the d..
fccts Of the constitution; others in my judgment.
arc attributable 10 tho miscons,rnction Of some Of
it's provisions. OF the former, is the eligibility Of
the sam individuals TO u second term Of the Pres.
idency, The sngacious mind Of Mr. Jefferson
carry saw anu htbtHteu tiiIo sGttb', ~ s'iCHIpiN
Save been made, hitherto without %succeas, 10 ap,
ply the amendatory power Of the States 10 lis coz
e -
As, however, one mode Of correction is in The
power Of every. President, and consequently in
mine, il you'd he ufhleas, rsa ~pefaapa nsit.ions,
10 enumeraie The evil. Of wlieh. IL tbs cpiniel Of
Inaty If our fellow ~cilizcps, this error, Of tie sa-
ses who framed the Constitution, may have bepn
The source. and the bitter fruits wlira ~c are Still
10 gather from il, if il continues 10 disegnrc our
system. 1t may be observed, hssseyer, "a Q gem
ntal remark, that Republicans can comfni. no
greater error than to adopt or continue airy faa.
lure i. their systems of Government which may
BIZ calculated to create or increase the love of pew.
an, in the hosums If shoae TO whom necessity oh
them 70 commit the management Of their aE
fairs. And, surely, nothing IL mere likely 10 pro.
luce such o state OF mind than the long coniinu-
,nce of an office of high trust. Nothis g can be
more corrupiing. Nothing more Destructive Of
hose noble feelings which belong to the eharac-
Ter of devoted republican patriot. When this
pas-iou once takes possession of the
,unan mind, like The love Of gold, it becomes in
1t is the never dying worm 10 his bo-
grows with his growth, and strengthening
With the declining sears of its siciim. Ifthis is
rue, it is the part Of wisdom for a republic To lin
/ The service of thai, officer. al least. to whom she
las entrusted the management of her foreigD 70.
ations, the execution Of her laws, ard the COM
nand Of her armies aad Davies. to q period SO
hort as to prevent his forgetting that he is the
accountable agent. not the principle-the servant.
.ot the master. Until and amendmen, ofthe con-
can be affected, public opinion may Sc
ure the desired objec. l give my aid to it, by
enewing the pledge heretofore given, that under
10 circumstances, will l consent TO serve a second
erm.
Bot il there is danger to public liberty from the
acknowledged defects Of The constitution, in The |
rant of litnii to the continuance Of The Execu~
i've power in the same hands, there is, ! appre-
,end. not much less from a demonstration of
bat instrument. as i, regards the powers actually
iren. i cannot conceive that, by a fair consiruc-
ion, any or either of lis provisions would he
,und TO constitute the President. 3 part of the le-
isla,ive pnwer. 1t cannot be claimed from the
owe TO recommend, since, although enjoiued az
duty upon ,hitD.i. is a privilege which he holds in
with every citizen. And although there
,ay be something more Of confidence in the pro
riely ofthe measures recommended in the one
ase than in the other, in the obligations Of uiti-
decision there can be no difference. In the
,nguaee Of tho constitution, ssa'l the legislative
which it grants .are vested in Tie Con.
ress Of the United States" 1t would be a sole.
ism in language to say that any portion Of those
not included in The whole,
It may be said. indeed. that TIE Consultation
as given TO the Executive the power TO annul the
cts of the legisla,ise body, by refusing TO them
is ascent. Sc a similar power has necessarily re
,lted from that instrument 10 the judiciary, and
Ell the judiciary forms no part of the Legislature.
here is, it is true, this difference between these
ran,s of power; the Executive can put bis neg
i've upon he acts of The Legislature for oiaer
,use than want of conformity of The constitution,
hist the Judiciary can only declare void those
hich violate tha, instrument. But the decision
the judiciary is faai in such a case, whereas in
instance where the veto OF the Execu,ive.is
npiied, it may be overcome by a vote of two
.irls Of both houses of Congress. The negatiV,
poi The acts of the legislative by the Executive
and that ia the hands OF one individual.
ould seem to be an incongruity in our system.
ike some others of a similar character, horeser,
appears TO ssbe highly expedient, and if used
Nv with the forbearance, and i'll tbs spirit @hich
as intended by the author, it may be productive
great GOOD, and be found one Of The best safe
.srds TO the Union. Al shs period Of lie for
~. ,,;nn tba ,,, a,ss NJ,