The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-06

no care that be used ia the construction Of OF,
Government, division ofpowers no distribution 81
checks IN It's several departments, will Prove efectua
Keep US free people, II this spirit is suffered 10 de-
= cay; and decay II will without constant nurture To
the neglect of this duty the best historians agree ia
Z airibnting the Iuin Of all the Republics with whose
! existence and fall their writings have made Va ac-
= quainied. The same causes will ever produce the
same effects and long the love of power is a
dominant passion Of the human bosom, and as long as
: 'ne understandings OF men be warped and their
= ase.ons changed by operations upon their passions
anu PhJuuces so long will the liberties OF people de-
hd on their own constant attention its preservation
me danger 10 all well-estahlished free Govern
men's arises from the unwillingness of the people TO
signing men, diverng their attention from The quar-
Ter whence u approaches To source from which II
can never come IhIs Is the old trick of those who
would usuIp the government Of their country In tho
name of democracy they speak warning the people
against the influence of wealth. and the DANCER ~
arstocracy History ancient and modern is iul Of
such examples. Cesar became the master of The
Roman people and the Senate under the pretence Of
supporting The demoe ratio claims Of the former against
the aris,ocracy of the latter Cromwell in the char
acter of Protector Of the liberties of the people be-
came the Dictator of England, and Bolivar possessed
himself of unlimited power with the title of his coun-
uys Lberator here Is, on the contrary, single
Instance on record of an extensive and wele stab-
i,shed Republic being changed into an Aristocracy
ne tendencies OF all such governments, in their de-
cine, IS to Monarchy and the antagonist principle
"hch assumes the character, and in times Of great
excitement imposes itself upon the people as the pe
hume spirit Of freedom, and, like The false Chris,s
whose coming foreloId by the Saviour seeks ami
were possible would impose upon the true and most
iahul disciples Of liberty Il is in periods like this
that behooves the people 10 be wachu Of those
to whom they have entrusted power. And although
there is at times much difficulty in Distinguishing the
aiso from the true spirit, calm and dispassonalr in
yesligalion will detect the counterfeit well by the cha
fncer of lis operations as the results that produced
nc true spirit OF libery, although devoted persever
inr bold, and uncompTomising in prnciple--thnt
secured--s mild and tolerant, and scrupuous as 10
70 means it employs; whilst the spirit OF party, as.
su ming to be that OF liberty harsh vindciiye and
inolerant and totally reckless 10 the character
OF inc allies which 1t brings TO the aid of its cause
When the genuine spirit oberty animates The body of
people 10 thorough examination Of their affairs il
leads 10 the excelsior of every which may
nave fastened 'sel upon any OF the departments OF the
government and restores the system pristine health
and beauty. But the reign Of IN nloerant spirit of
party amongst free people, seldom fails result in
dangerous accession TO the Executive power-intro-
duced and established amidst unusual professions of
devotion to Democracy.
he foregoing remarks relate, almost exc us,c civ to
matters Connected with our domestic concerns IL
may De proper, however that should give some in
dcaons to my fellow citizens Of my proposed course
OF conduct IN the management Of foreign relations
assure them, therefore, that il my use
every means IN my power To preserve the friendly in
iercourse which now so happily subss,s with every
well informed 10 the state of pending negotiations
with any OF them see, in the personal characters of
the sovereigns as well as IN the mutual interests OF
own, and OF the Governments with which our rela-
lions are most intimate pleasing guaranty that the
harmony important To the interests subjects
as well as of our citizens will not be interrupted by he
advancement of any claim preiension upon their
part TO which our honor would permit yield.
Long the defender my countys rights in tie field,
trust that my fellow citizens will see, my
nest desire to preserve peace with foreign powers any
indication that their rights will be sacrificed or
the honor OF g nation furnished, by any admission
on the part of their Chief Magistrate unworthy OF their
former glory In our intercourse with aboriginal
neghbors the same lberaly and justice which mark
ed the course prescribed to me BY two Of my ius,rious
predect ssors, when acting under their direction in
the discharge Of the duties of Superintendent and
Commissioner, shall be strictly observed.
ceive OF no more sublime spcctacle-none more likely
to propitiate impartial and common cieator-than
rigid adherence to the principles Of justice, The
part OF powerful nation IN its transactions with
weaker and uncivilized people, whom circumstances
have placed at its disposal.
Before concluding fellow .citize MS Unjust say some
thing you the subject of the parties this time
existing in our country To me it appears perfectly
clear that The inerest of thai rcnrirss thn
If parties in Republic are necessary 10 secure
degree of vigilance sufficient to keep the public iunc-
within the bounds of law and duty at that
point their usefulness ends beyond that they become
destructive Of public virtue, the parent OIL spirit an
tagonist to that OF liberty, ana eventually ~ ie
lie conoucror We have examples OF Republics where
The love of country and OF liberty at one time were me
dominant passions Of the whole mass OF QUEENS nho ye
with the ofthc and forms OF tree gov
eminent not yesye fthese qualities remaining IN lhe
hosoms Of any one fits citizens II was the beautiiu.e
mark ofa English writer thai IN me ho
man Senate Oclayius had party, and Anthony par
~ but tile Commonwealth had none. fet inc oeh-
nte continued TO meet in the Temple oil Liberty, 10
talk Of the sacrcdness and beauty Of the Common,
wealth and gaze at the statues OF the eiufr Dlu'' ~
Of the Curlii and Decii and the people assembled IN
the forum, not as IN the days OF Sa'hn'us aiu .'
Scpios TO cast their free votes tor annual nasstres
X ss pon the acts of the Senate but Ia receive from
Inc hands Of the leaders of the respective parties tns
share Of the spols and TO shout for one or me
oher as those collected in Gaul or Egypt ana inc
laser Asia would furnish the larger dividend Inc
sn;rit Of liberty had fed and avoiding the abodes
civilized man had sought proiecoh ~ ,hc VIM. -
Scythia or Scandinavia. And so under me opofauoh
of ,be same causes and influences II will fly from our
Capito and our forums. calamity 50 a~iui, nor
only to our country but to The world, uust NC oePie
Gated by every patriot, and every tendency 70 S,
things likely TO produce immediately checked ouen
.ncncy has xsted--does exist Always the irienu Vi
~ coun,rymen ne or their hatteer,i becomes my duty
To- saw to Them from his high place to when theif
,iahty has exalted me- that there exists IN the iahu
suirit hostile TO their best interess-hoslie 70 psy
;,rs.lf u,sa spirit contracted in its vews-selhsh IN
! IL objects II looks to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT oil ie"
even 10 the destruction of the interest OF ,he Woe.
| The entire remedy is with the people oome'hine,
however may he effected ny the means wnion VIZ,
i hny
no, OF party for the sake Of that party, but union
f The whue country for the sake OF the mole coun
-. E,,r mo defence Of It's interests and lis honor
ADAMS, foreign aggrcssion-for the defence OF those
nT,nctnes 70, which our ancestors so gorlcusly Con-
tended As fr as il depends upon me, u snail DC ac-
| complished IN the influence that possess snai %
ar,s 10 proyen the formation al least o an E1ecu-
tive party in the hall, of the legislative body wish
for the support of member Of that body 70 any
measure Of mine that doas not satisfy his Juusnehi .
and his sense of duty TO those from whom 90 hoios
hi. sppoin,mcnt. Nor any confidence 10 advance