Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-05-07
PRESIDENT TYLER'S ADDRESS
To the I,e01lc Of the United States.

was made to you by the officers presiding over
the several departments, Of the deeply regret
ted death of VIM Henry HARRisoN, late
President of the United States. Upon him
you had conferred your suiirages for the first
office in your gift, and had selected him as
YOUR chosen instrument to correct and reform
all such errors and abuses as had manifested
themselves from time TO time In the practical
operation of the government. While standing
at the threshold of this great work, he has, by
the dispensaton of an all-wise Providence,
been removed from amongst US, and by the
provisions of the constitution, the efforts to be
directed to the accomplishment OF this vitality
important task, have devolyed upon myself
This same occurrence has subjected the wis
dom and sufiiciency Of our institutions to new
test.
For the first time in our history, the person
elected to the Vice Presidency of the United
States, by the happening of a contingency pro-
vided for in the constitution. has HAD devolved
upon him the Presidency The spirit of fac
ton, which is irectIy opposed 10 the spirit OF
lofty patriotism, may find in this, occasion for
assaults upon my administration. And in sue
ceedng, under circumstances too sudden and
unexpected, and to responsibilities SO greatly
augmented, to the administration Of public at
fairs, shall place in the Intelligence and pat
rotism of the people. my only sure reliance.
Nv earnest prayer shall be constantly address
ed to the all-wise and all powerful Being who
made me, and by whose dispensatlon | am
called to the high Office of President OF this
confederacy, Understandings to carry out the
principles of the constitution which have
sworn TO "pro,eet, preserve, and Defend
The usual opportunity which is afforded to
Chief Magistrate upon his Induction into Oh
fee, of presenting to his conntrymen an expo
sition Of the policy which would guide his adj
ministration, in the form of an Inaugural ad-
dress, not having, under the peculiar clrcum-
stances which have brought me to the dis
charge Of the high duties of president Of the
United States, been afforded me, briei eX-
position of the principles which will govern
me in the general course Of my administration
of public affairs, would seem to be due as well
10 myself as TO you. In regard 10 foreign nd
tons, the ground work OF my policy VIII be
Justice on our part to all, submitting to injus-
tce from none.
While | shall sedulously cultivate the rela-
lions Of peace and amliy with one and all, 1t
will be my most imperative duty to see that
the honor of the country shall sustain nc
blemish. With a view TO this, the condition
of our military deiences will become a matter
of anxious soliciude. the army, which has IN
other DAYS covered itself with renoWn, and the
navy, not inappropriaie'y termed the right arm
of the public defence, which has spread light
of glory over the American standard In all the
waters of the earth, should be rendered replete
with efficiency.
In view of the fact well vouched by theory,
that the tendency of all institutions is TO con-
centrate power in the hands of a single man,
and that their ultimate downfall has proceeded
from this cause, deem it Of the most essen
tal importance that complete separation
should take place between the sword and the
purse. No matter where or how the public
moneys should he deposited, So long as the
President can exert the power CT appointing
and removing, at his pleasure, the agents Sc
lected for their custody, the commander-ln-
chief of the army is in fact the Treasurer. A
permanent and radical change should therefore
be decreed. The patronage incident to the
Presidential office, already great. is constantly
increasing. Such increase is destined 10 keep
pace with the growth Of our population, until,
without a figure OF speech, an army OF office
holders may be spread over the land. The un-
restrained power Of selfshly ambitious man,
in order either to perpetuate his authority or to
hand ii over to some favorite as his successor,
nay lead to the employment OF all the means
within his control to accomplish his Object
The right TO remove from office, while subject
to no restraint, is inevitably destined to pro-
duce spirit of crouclIing servllliy with the
official corps, which, in order to uphold the
hand which feeds them, would lead to direct
and active interference in elections, both State
and Federal, thereby sublecing the course Of
State legislation TO the dictation Of the chief
executive officer, and making the will Of that
officer, absolute and supreme.
will at a proper time invoke the action of
Congress upon this subject, and shall readily
acqulesce in the adoption of all proper meas
ures which are calculated arrest THESE evtis,
so full of danger in their tendency. will re-
move no incumbent from Office who has faith
fully and honorably acquitted himself of the
duties of his office, except in such cases where
such officer has been guilty of an active parti-
zanship, or by secret means-the less manly,
and therefore the more ohjectionable-has CIV
en- his official influence to the purpose of party,
thereby bring ing the patronage of the govern
ment in conflict with the freedom Of elections.
Numerous removals may become necessary
under this rule. These will be made through
no acerbity of feeling. | have had no cause
to cherish or indulge unkind feelings towards
any, but my conduct will be regulated by a
profound sense of what is due To the country
and its institutions, nor shall neglect to APP
ply the same unbending rule to those Of my
own appointment. Freedom of opinion will
be tolerated, the full enjoyment of the right Of
suffrage will be maintained, as the blrthright
of every American citizen, but say emphat-
cally to the official corps, thus far and no
farther" ! have dwelt the longer upon this
subject, because removals from office are like
ly often to arise, and would have my coun-