Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-04


lavouie coulter for the sueceSso-shp-an evil stiil
more to ee deprecated, since il would virtually de-
prNe The people Of the right OF selecting their own
ruler, even while they were quadrenni,y passing |
aroosh the iorns OF an election. D,vest The Prsti
uensiH othee OF potion Of the aud annually
increasing patronage, which now renders its in1u-
enee so formidable and so perous, and ii becomes,
TO that eN;en less likely to trench upon the rights
oil the CO ordinate departments oil the Govern nent,
less abe TO corrupt the agents OF the PEOPLE, and
| comparatively impoten, in any medit,ted ass aut
upon the liberties Of the country. Mr. Scott &C.
companied his resolution by short but admirable
speech-condensins, in brief space, arguments OF
the weishtiest and most solemn import He was
listened 10 with an attention rarely exhibited in the
taii,-at once tribute TO the ability oil the speaker
anu 10 the absorbing interest cfhs theme You will
nave seen, before this letter reaches you the pro.
| posed amendments as we'll rs n remarkably Sceu-
rate sketch oil Mr. Scotrs remarks in the Wing. IL is
to be hoped that, in the consideration of Them all
party feelings will he discarded and that the subject
| may be discussed in the spirit Of candor which be-
comes the descendants OF the great men who be-
quoalhed us the Federal constitution not as per-
iect piece OF Workmanship, in which experience
would expose no defects, but the outline Of a
grand anu stupendous fabric, which they expected
10 be retrenched and improved, us in the progress
OF events, Its defects either OF omission or commits.
SION, might be rendered apparent. Il seem. TO me-
that all men, OF oil parties, whether approving or
oisapprovns of the leading measures of the late and
present Administrations, cannot doubt, that in the
anxiety OF the Executive TO procure for those mea-
sures the sanction of Congress md of the People
It's power and patronage have been inlexibly and
unNsrynsy welded TO conSummaie its purposes
IN despite OF every obstacle. Let us contempt ,te
IL. The Executive has claimed TO DC the custodian
oil the public purse as ofevery other species of pub
lie property-lt has assumed the right to set aside
positive statute, and to do what the laws which
u was It's duty to execute, and to revoke posi-
lively forbade-ii has asserted the rsti, and init
mated, by no means ohscurely equivocally lis
| fnt g.. 4.
precepi of court dead in the hands OF its marshal
It has exercised the power OF appointment with less
reference TO the qualification and integrity OF its off,
GERS Than TO their ability and willingness to play the
part OF jealous and active partizans in behalf of
Their employers; while, on the other hand, the
power OF removal has been employed capricious.
~ and despotlca ly-proscribing faithful and COM
petent officers for no crime saving the exer-
csc OF the liberty Of speech, and tie freedom of
opInaon! IL Is sufficient, indeed, without beinS
more specific, 10 point to the passage of the Sub.
Treasury Bill ITSELF as pregnant illustration Of the
dangerous ascerdancy of Executive inhuence--n
measure, originally condemned by three fourths of
the very party under whose auspices after n three
years struggle between the reluctance of the REQ
pie and Executive obSnacy il becomes law Of the
land Couple with this slight glance at recent
events the facts that every government ancient and
modern, having the least semblance of freedom
which has been perverted or overthrowp has been
thus perverted or cvethtown by the gradual and sue
cessive encroachment of the Executive which
from its unity, possesses capacities Of mischief in
hn'teiy greater than all the other branches of gov
eminent combined-and the inference its Irresistible
that this is the weak point in our system which ex.
perience has developed, and which it is our oemn
duty to fortfy against farther abuse. In the deci
sion OF this question no party considerations should
enter-tor none such are legitimate. II is the in
terest oil all alike 10 guard against the gradual nc
creton, to any man or set of men, of powers not
conferred by the constitution, and ncompatiblc with
lis purity, If not with It's exisieuce-for if in Tie
course of events, IT should be discovered that. in
despite oil the pTecautlon OF its trainers, the Co sti
tuition practically eonfers upon the President mowers
and pIerogdtives which no limited monarch in Eu-
rope dane assert much less exercise the peop'e must
sit down quietly and behold the utter destruction of
their hopes, or they must effect a change in their
system by Revolutionary violence. These alteua.
;lves may be prevented by nirping the thre7ten, d
evil IN the bud: And let not The friends of the pre-.
| sent Administration, in their devoted attachment
either 10 its men measures, lose sight, in their
decision upon this point, OF ono mos: important con-
sideraion. IL IS thls-that we are not certain that
the power and patronage now exercised by the
| Federal Executive, and which the Richmond En-
quirer told us, three years ago, co strong for
n Republic" will always fall into thehands of honest
| men, tho will them solely for the public good
| Although they may feel well assured that General
Jackson and Mr.. Van Buren, never contemplated
for a moment, their own individual aggrandiEement
by the enlargement OF thtir power, and its perpctu
dtin through line Of Executive (avoriies vet they
! Try will be blessed with Presidents so unambous
SO unsefsh, pat lotto as they. May not the pow
ers hch their favortes have " ded as they beevr
for the public veal, be mighty Instruments of mis-
chiefin the hands Of others less worthy to be trust
ed with such dangerous diScTeilon7 This they can
not question, will they deny. Is il not wise,
then, IN them, to unite with us in building up new
buwarks for tie defence OF public liberty-n erect
| ing ADDITIONAL barriers over which high -ynuiing
ambition cannot leap, and which nsidious dema.
nd. hem I1aa. IL.
yond the transient passions and :he Tety inter-
| ests Of the hour, and FIX .heir minds upon the
long and indefinite period, perhaps of ages upon
ages, which they hope their free institutions will
endure, and they cannot but admit the vital i'm
portance of diminishing the tendencies TO corrup.
ton, and of booking up the roads TO arbitrary
power, which unfortunately have heretofore been
leit unchecked, or thrown wide open, leaving tie
priceless gem OF a nations freedom a prey 20
the slow poison of decay, or 10 the more sudden
assaults of violent and bloody usurpation.
confess, however, that almost despair of effect
ing any amendment of the federal constitution how
ever obvious may be its proprety and imporlance
for, although the mode provided by that instrument
Tor its amendment. seems 10 admit Of its essy ac-
complishment, yet we have had so many instances
OF failure heretofore, not from hostility perhaps to
the change proposed, but from mere insdyerIence
or indifference IN the members Of Congress and the
State Legislatures, that we have no reason 10 ex-
pect different result hereliter-unless indeed the
people, IN their primary capacity, be induced TO
demand action upon il, and thereby to stimulate
their Representatives 10 the prompt discharge of
this one OF their highest and most delcatey reSpon-
sbe functions. For one, shall not lose sight Of
this amendme,, believing rs do that the abridg-
nent of Executive power is the weighiiest duty
which deyolves upon this seneTaon-a deh. due,
in gratitude, 10 iilustrous ancestry, and ega-
cy which, It We sequeath it to postery will he
far more valuable than goyernmen; Of boundless
power and splendor, swsying tic scepiTe over a
subdued and lmPoverish people An! it should
not be forgotten, in this connection, that the party
which asks for this diminuon Of power and patron.
age, Is now about TO commence the administration
OF public affaiTs-They thus furnish the strongest
evidence of the depth and sincerity of their owl
conviction Of the importance of the principle which
they are endedvorng to establish and in which they
invite the concurrence and assistance Of their poi,i-
ca opponents But, having already said more than
designed when introduced this subject, ! defer
farther remarks for a future occasion.
JOHN LEEDS KERR (whig) was elected on Thurs.
day, by the Legislature OF Maryland TO he a Sen
ator Of the United States from that State, to hI the
vacancy occas.oned 10y the decs0se Of Dr.. SPENCE.
The joint vote vas for Mr.. KERR 20, blanks 10,
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