The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-04-23
PRESIDENT TYLER,s ADDRESS,
To the People of The Uniied Siates:-

several Departments of the deeply regretted death
of WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, late President
oil the United States, Upon him you had CO nfer-
red your surages for the first office in your gh and
had selected HIN as your chosen ins umeat 10 cor
rect and reform all such errors and abuses as had
manifested themselves from time to time in the
practical operation of the Government. While stan
ding on the threshold Of this great work, he has, by
the dspensalion Of aR all wise Providence been re-
moved from amongst us,-and by the provisions OF
the Constitution the efforts to be directed 10 the ac
compshlng of this vitality important task have de-
volved upon myself The same occurrence has sub
ected the wisdom and suiliciency Ofour institutions
TO new test. For the first lime in our history the
person elected to the Vice Presidency of the United
States, by the happening Ola contingency provided
for in the Constitution, has had dcyoved upon him
the Presidential office The spirit of faction which
is directly opposed 10 the spirit of lofty PATRIOTISM
may find in this occasion for assaults upon my ad-
misraon. And in succeeding, under circumstances
SO sudden aud unexpected, and to responsibilities
greatly augmented, to the administration Of public
atlas, shall place in the intelligence and patriot
ism Of the People my only sure reliance. My earn
est prayers shall be constantly addressed to the adj
wise and all-pcwer'ul Being who made me, and by
whose despensation am called TO the high office
of President Of this Confedercy, underslandsngly to
carry out the principles Of the Constitution which
have sworn " TO protect, preserve, and defend"
The usual opportunity which is afforded 10
Chief Mag istrate upon his induction 10 office Of pre-
senting to his countrymen exposition Of the poll
cy which would guide his administration, Yin the
sorm Of an inaugural address, not having, under the
peculiar circumstances which have brought me to
the discharge of the high duties Of President Of the
United States, been afforded TO me, brief EXPOSE
ton of the principles which will govern in the
npt,,, It,., IF nut,t cnf
fairs would seem to be due as well TO myself as 10
YOU In regard to foreign nalons the groundwork
of my policy Will be justice our part 10 all, sub
hitting TO injustice from none. While | shall
duousy cultivate the relations Of peace and amity
with ole and al, il will be my most imperilive duty
TO see that the honor Of the country shall sustain no
bemish. With view to this, the condition OF our
military deiences will become matter ofunxious
soIiclude. The Army, which has in other days
covered itself with renown, and the Navy, moi IN
appropriately termed fine 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 arouched by history,
that the tendency Of all human Institutions is TO con-
'centra,e power in the hands of single man, and
that their ultimate downfall has proceeded from this
cause, deem it Of the most essential importance
that complete separation SHOULD take place be
tween the sword and the purse. No matter where
or how the public moneys shall be deposited, so
long as the President exert the power Of APP
pointing and removing, at his pleasure, the agents
selected for their custody, the commander n-chief
of the army and navy is in fac, treasurer, A per-
maneht and radical change should therefore be de-
creed The patronage Incident to the Presidential
office, already great is constantly increasing
Such increase is destined to keep peace with the
=, III
epcech, an army of office holders may be spread
over the land. The uneslraincd power exertcd by
Il selishy ambitious man. in order either to per-
pctua,e his authority or TO hand it over 10 some
savorile as his successor, may lead to the employ
nent of all the means within his control to accom-
psh his object The right to remove from office,
while subjected to ust restraint, IL nov o'"blo
designed to produce spirit of crouchims scrvilty
with official corps, which in order 10 uphold the
hand which feeds them, would lead TO direct and
active Interference in the elections, both State and
Federal, thereby sub ecng the course OF State leg
slntion TO the dicaton OF the Chief Executive Of
fcer, and making the will of that officer absolute
and supreme ] will at n proper time, invoke Ne
action Of Congress upon this subject and shall read
lis acqnesce in Ike adoption OF all proper meas
urcs which are calculated to arrest the evils full
of danger in their tendency. | will remove no in
cunlhent from office who shall faithfully and hon
estly acquitted himself Of the duties of his Office,
except 10 such cases where such officer has been
guilty ofan active partnership, or by secret means
the less manly and therefore the more objection
abe-has given his official influence TO the pur-
poses Of party, thereby bringing the patronage Of
the Government in conflict with the freedom OF ell
ections. Numerous removals will become ncces-
cary under this rule, These will be made by me
through no acerbi,y Of feeling. have had cause
;nl, al NIL; md c,alinuu tn,yurIc
but my conduct will be regulated by profound
sense of what is due to the county and Its insitu
tons; nor shall neglect to apply the same unben-
ding rule to those Of my own appointment. Free
dom Of opinion will be tolerated, the full enjoy
nent of the right of suffrage will be maintained as
the brh-right Of every American citizen, but say
omphaticullv 10 the official corps, thus far and no
further" | have dwelt the longer on this subject,
because removals from office are likely often TO
arise, and would have my countrymen TO under
stand the principle Of the Executive action.
In all public expenditures the most rigid ccono-
my should be resored to- and, las one Of its results,
public debt in time of peace be sedulously avoid
ed A wise and patriotic constituency will never
object TO the imposition Of necessary burdens for
useful ends; and true wisdom dictates the resorts to
such means, in order 10 supply deficiencies in the
revenue, rather than TO those doubtful expediants,
which ultimalng in public bebts, serve to embar-
rass the resources of the country and to lessen its
ability to meet any great emergency which may
arise. All sinecurcs should be abolished The
appropriations should be direct and explicit so as
to leave limited share Of description to the dis
bursting agents may be found compatible with the
public service. strict responsibility on the part
of all the agents ofthe Government should be NINA
tancd and peculaon or def,lcation visited with
immediate expulsion from Office and the most con-
dige punishment
The public interest also demands that, if any
war has existed between the Government and the
currency, it shall cease. Measures ola financial
character, now having the sanction of legal enact
meat, shall be faithfully enforced until repealed by
the legislative authority. But owe it 10 myself to
declare thu, regard existing enactments an I'M
wise and impotic, andin high degree oppressive.
shall promptly give my sanction TO any constitu-
tona measures which, originating in Congress, shall
have for its object the restoration Of sound circn-
laiing medum,'so essentially necessary to give