The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-04-24
President Tyler's Address.

EICSAuCut yHCh
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE U. STATES,
FELLow-CIr1zENs Before my arrival
at the seat of government, the painful
communication was made to you by the
officers presiding over the several depart
ments, of the deeply regretted death of
William Henry Harrison, late PRESIDENT
of the United States. Upon him you
had conferred your suffrages for the first
office in your gift, and had selected him
as your chosen instrument to correct and
reform all such errors and abuses as had
manifested themselves from time to time
in the practical operation Of the govern
ment While standing at the threshold
OF this great work, he has, by the dispen-
sation of an all.wise Providence, been
removed from amongst us, and by the
provisions of the constitution, the efforts
TO be directed to the accomplishing of this
vitality important task, have devolved upon
myself This same occurrence has sub
jected the wisdom and su0icicncy Of our
institutions to a new test.
For the first time in our history, the
person elected to the vice presidency of
the U. S., by the happening of a contln-
gency provided for in the constitution,
has had devolved upon him the president
office. The spirit Of faction, which IS
directly opposed to the spirit of a lofty
patriotism, may find in this occasion for
assaults upon my administration. And
i'll succeeding, under circumstances too
sudden and unexpected, and to response
biities so greatly augmented, to the adj
mnistration of public affairs, | shall place
: in the intelligence and patriotism of the|
people, my only sure reliance. My earn
est prayer shall be constantly addressed
to the all-wise and all-powerful Being who;
made me, and by whose dispensation II
am called to the high office of president of
this conIederacy, Understandings to carry
out the principles Of that constitution
which have sworn ''to protect, preserve
and defend"
The usual opportunity which is afford !
ed to chief magistrate upon his induction
into Office, of presenting TO his country
men an exposition of the policy which
would guide his administration, in theI
form Of all inaugural address, not having,
under the peculiar circumstances which,
have brought me to the discharge of the|
high duties of president of the u. S., been
afforded to me, a brief exposition of the
principles which will govern me in the
general course of my administration of
public affairs, would seem to be due as
well to myself as to you. In regard to-
foreign nations, the groundwork of my
policy will be justice on our part to all ]
submitting to injustice from none.
While l shall seduously cultivate the
relations of peace ana amiiy with one and
all, it will be my most imperative duty TO-
see that the Nor of the county shall
sustain no blemish. With view to this,
the condition of our military defences will
become a matter Of anxious solictude.
The army, which has in other days COW
cred itself with renown, and the navy not
inappropriately termed the right arm Of
The public defence, which has spread a
light of glory over the American standard
in all the waters of the earth, should be
rendered rcplete with efficiency.
In view of the fact, well vouched by
theory, that the tendency of all human
institutions is TO concentrate power in the
hands of single man, and that their ult-
mate downfall has proceeded from this
cause, deem it Of the most essential i'm
portance thata complete separation should
take place between the sword and the
purse. No matter where or how the
public moneys should be deposited, so
long as the president can exert the power
of appointing and removing, at his plea
sure, the agents selected for their custody,
the ommander-ln-chief of the army and
navy is in fact the treasurer A perma-
nent and radical change should therefore
be decreed.-'rhc patronage incident to
the presidential Office, already great, is
constantly increasing. Such increase is
destined to keep pace with the growth Of
our population, until, without figure OF
speech, an army of oilice-holders may be
spread over the land. The unrestrained
power exerted by seldshly ambitious
man, in order either to perpetuate his au
,hority or to hand it over to some favoriit
as his successor, may lead TO the employ
ment of all the means within his contro
to accomplish his object. The right Il
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