Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-05-21
From the Giobf.J
PROGRESS OF tHISTOCRACy.


Under the disguise of diminishing Executive power,
the present Federal party aruly adding to it, by
rearing up around the Chief Magistrate, the power Of
an arstocracy. The plan las now pretty fully tcyel
oped) is to distribute ostensiby the Executive func.
tons among the high officers Of Slate, and powerful
incorporated classes, 10 relieve him from that response
bilty which the Constitution concentrates upon him,
and which was the only etectual bond to secure his
fidelity TO the popular will, of which he is the repre-
sentative and whose power he is supposed TO WELD
Instead OF doing the will Of the people, while exertng
their authority, the Presidents Office, under the new
order OF things is simply TO confirm that of his Secrc
taes, and the Secretaries that Of their subnrdna,es
The New York Standard thus a!ludes To the turn which
King (the Anglo American edor) gives to the action
of Chief Magistrate, 10 render him Irresponsible
like the British sovereign by devolvng his duties
the frs, step, on Ministers. The Standard says:
''The American speaks of the recent appointments
of Assistant Postmaster General as being made by the
Postmaster General. AS well might it be said, that
the collectors of the revenue appointed by
the Secretary Of the Treasury; the foreign ambns
sailors by the Secretary Of State; post captains by
the Secretary of the Navy; and major generals by
the Secretary Of War The American may be right
it this is indeed Consular Government, and it may
be such, until Congress shall meet the 3lst inst,
but after that, do hope Mr.. Tyler will be permit
ted by Messrs. Webster and Co., 10 exercise the Exc
cutve functions, Presidents have heretofore
ercised them
The National Intelligencer goes step further, in
the Secretary Of the burden of appointing his subord
mates. il will be that the official organ
Mr. Ewing from all responsibility for filling the custom
house at Philadelphia, with the gang ofppe layers, by
throwing it on Mr. Roberts, the collector. The COM
plants of those who put the President in power, are
all answered by saying that ' the objections had been
urged before the appointments confirmed by the
Secretary, we have no doubt he would have held them
up, until he could have heard and examined such OBJ
ections -"but in conclusion (says the lntegencer)
such he Qhe Collector) may have committed
respectfully suggest should be repaired by himself
on facts made known to him, and not by appeal TO
the head of the Treasury
The imposition attempted in this is garing the
absurdty of the suggestion founded upon it. How could
objections be urged before the appointments
frmed by the Secretary when they not
nounced until confirmed? The truth is, the Collec-
tor confers with the Secretary about his appointments
and only dominates such he is apprised will be ac-
ceptabe. When nominated they ore Immediately
confirmed, and no opportunity given the public to
monstrate.
To attempt to relieve the Department and the head
of the Government from the responsibility of making
bad appointments, which could not be made without
their assent is in perfect keeping with that sense of
Justice which would lay the blame the community
for not demonstrating before could be aware of the
grievance and which would finally, when apprlsed of
the wrong, turn to the original wrong doer for
redress instead of allowing its appeal to the superior
Of all the subordna,es who is elected by and ought 10
be held directly responsible TO the people.
To rid the President, who is the immediate repre-
sentative ofthe people, of his drec, obligations TO them
is the gsea. principle of Arstocracy every where II is
the basis Of the English Government. Al the first
step, all the crowns responsibilities are divided among
The ministers. They throw it off from themselves upon
the great classes associated with their respective de-
partmenls and in this way all allegiance ofthe Govern