Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-03-10

2 neighbOrs, the same iberahty and Justice
which marked the course prescribed to
? me by two of my llustrious predecessors.
when acting under their direction in the
discharge Of the duties of Superintendent
; and Commissioner, shall be strictly OBJ.
{ served | can conceive Of no more sub
lime spectacle-none more likely to pro-
pitiate an impartial and common Creator
-tiian a rigid adherence TO the principles
} ofJastice, on the part Of powerful ma
ton, III It's transactions with weaker and
uncivlIzed people, whom circumstances
have placed at its disposal.
Before concluding, fellow citizens,
must say something 10 you on the subject
Of the parties at this time existing in our
country. To me itappears perfectly clear
| that the interest of that country requires
that the violence of The spirit by which
those parties are at this time governed.
must be greatly mjtigated, if not entirely
extlngulshed, or consequences will ensue
which are appalling 10 be thought Of.
If parties in a Republic are necessary
10 secure a degree Of vigilance sufficient
to keep the public func6onar,es within
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 lis inevitable con-
queror. We have examples of Republics,
where The love Of country and of liberty
at one time were the dominant passions Of
the whole mass Of citizens, and vet, with
the continuance of the name and forms of
free government, not vestige Of these
qualities remaining in the bosom of any one
lis citizens. 1t was the beautiful remark ofI
a distinguished English writer, that, SIN
the Roman senate, Octavius had a party, |
and Anthony a party, but the common
wealth had none" Yet the Senate con-
tinued to meet in the Temple of Liberty, /
TO talk of the sacredness and beauty ofI
the Commonwealth, and gaze at the sta /
tues Of the elder Brutus and of the Curtii |
and Decii; and The people assembled in
the forum, not as in the DAYS of CamilIns /
and the cCipios, to cast their free votes for I
annual magistrates, or pass upon the acts
OF the Senate, but to receive from the
hands of the leaders of the respective par
ties their share of the spoils, and to shout
for one or the other, as those collected i'm
Ganl or Egypt and the lesser Asia would
furnish the larger dividend. The spirit
of liberty had Aed, and avoiding the abodes
OF civilized man, had sought protection
In the wilds of Scythia or Scandinavia
And so under the operation Of the same
causes and influences it viii fy from eur
Capitol and our forums. A calamity SO
awful, not only to our country. but to the q
world, must be deprecated by every pa I
-rlot, and every tendency to a state Of
things likely to produce it. immediatel,
checked. Such tendency has existed
ioes exist Always the friend of my conn- {
rymen, never their fatterer, it becomes 4
ny duty to say TO them, from this high &
place to which their Partiality has exalted o
ne, there exists in the land a spirit hos n
iIe to their best interests-hostie to lib. ;,
,rty itself. Itis spirit contracted in its :,
'iews-sellish in lis objects, II looks TO
he aggrandlzement of few even to the :
destruction Of the interest Of the whole. II
The entire remedy is with the people d
jomethng, however, may be effected, by ci
be means which they have placed in my S
lands. 1t is union that we want, not of .,
party for the sake of that party, but = =
nIon o. the whole country, for the sake ~
{ the whole country. For The defence {!
{ It's interests and IFS honor against foreign Ell
ggression-for the defence of those prin- B
lples for which our ancestors so glorious. Sc
I contended. As far as it depends upon pa
le, it shall be accomplished. All the In do
nence that | possess shall be exerted to
revent the formation at least of an Exc
alive party in the halls of the legislative Ie
1dy. wish for the support of no mem at,
er Of that body 10 any measure of mine OF
at does not satisfy his judgement and ~ nll
5 sense of duty TO those from whom he no no
lids his appointment. Nor any conf.
nee in advance from the people but that
ked for by Mr.. Jefferson, "to give firm Br
ss and effect TO the legal administration qu
their affairs sid
deem the present occasion sufficiently the
portant and solemn TO justify me in ex- lsn