Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-03-16


spirit OF liberty animates the body of a
people TO a thorough examination of their
affairs, it leads 10 the excision of every
excrescence which may have fastened
itself upon any of the departments of the
government, and restores the system to
| its pristine health and beauty. But the
reign of an intolerant spirit of party,
amongst a free people, seldom fails, to
result in dangerous accession TO the
Executive power-introduced and estab-
lished amidst unusual Professions Of de-
voIion to Democracy.
Before concluding, fellow-cltlzens, l
must say something to you on the subject
of the parties at this time existing in our
country. TO me, it appears perfectly
clear, that, the interest of that country
requires that the violence of the spirit by
which those parties are at this time gov
erned, must be greatly mitigated, if not
entirely extinguished, or consequences
will ensue, which are appalling TO be
thought of.
If parties in Republic are necessary
TO secure degree Of vigilance sufficient
10 keep the public functionaries without
the bounds of law and duty, at that point
their usefulness ends: beyond that, they
become destructive Of public virtue, the
parent Of spirit antagonist to that of
liberty, and eventually its inevitable
conquerer. We have examples Of Re.
pubIics, where the love of country, and
Of liberty, at one time we're the dominant
passions oflh whole mass of citizens,
and yet, with the continuance ofthe name
and forms Of free government, moi ves-
lige of these qualities remainin' in the bO-
som of any one of its citizens. 1t was the
beautiful remark of distinguished Eng
ish writer, that sin the Roman Senate,
Octavius had party. and Anthony par
ty, but the Commonwealth had -
Yet the Senate continued to meet in the
Temple of Liberty, to talk of the sacred
ness and beauty of the Commonwealth,
and gaze at the statues the elder Bru
tus, and of the Curti and Deci; and the
people assembled in the forum, not as in
The days of Camllus and the Scipios, to
to cast their free votes fol annual magis-
trates, or pass upon the acts of the Senate,
but to receive from the hands of the lead
ers of the respective parties their shares
of the spoils, and to shout for one or the
other, as those collected in Gaul or Egypt
and the lesser Asia would furnish the
larger dividend. The spirit oflberty had
fled, and avoiding the abodes Of civilized
men had sought protection in the wilds
of Scythia or Scandinavia. And so un-
der the operation Of the same causes and
inAue noes, it will fly from our Capitol and
our forums. A calamity so awful, not
only 10 our country, but to the world,
must be deprecated by every patriot, and
every tendency to a state of Things likely
10 produce it, imme diately checked. |
Such tendency has existed-does exist. /
Always the friend of my countrymen,
never their flatterer, it becomes my duty
10 say TO them, from this high place 10
which their partialty has exalted me,
hat there exists in the land a spirit
hostile TO their best interest-hostle to
liberty itself. 1t is spirit contracted in
is views, selfish in its objects. 1t looks
o the aggrandizOment of a few even
o the destruction of the interest of the
whole. The entire remedy is with the
'eople. Something, however, may be
affected by the means which they have
placed in my hands. 1t is union that we
want, moi Of party for the sake of that
'arty, but nnon of the whole country, for
he sake of the whole country. For the
efence of its interests snd its honor aga
nst foreign aggression--for the defencs
fthose principles for which our ances-
ors so gloriOusly contended. AS far as
depends upOu me, it shall be accom-
lished. All the influence that | posses
hall be exerted to prevent the formation
least of an Executive party in the
allsi of the legislative body. wish
If the support of no member Of that
ody TO any measure of mine that does
Of satisfy hisjudgment and his sense Of t
lty TO those from whom he holds his i
'pontment. Nor any confidence in ad- =
nee from the people but that asked for
I Mr.. Jefferson, "to give frmness and b
feet to the legal administration Of their 9
Fairs" .
The foregoing remarks relate, almost A.
,cIusiAeIy, 10 mallers connected with !.
Ir domestic concerns. 1t may be proper :
'wever, that should give some indca- P
his To my telIow-citizens, ofmy proposed al
use, ofcOuducl IN The management Of sc
e foreign relations. assure them, h,
ereiore, that it is my intention TO use ev-
means in my power to preserve the ~
endly intercourse which now so happily Ju
bsisrs with every foreign nation. And of
At, although, Of course, not well inform ri
as to the state ofpending negotiations :,
tn any of them, see, in the personal - -
aracters ofthe sovereigns, as we'll as in IN
: mutual interests of our own, and of ar
, (NOUOrp ,,;yb h L l..