Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-04-20
OFFICIAL.
Tn ,he People Of Me United States.


ments, Of the deeply regretted death of
William Henry Harrison, late President
of the United States. Upon him you had
conferred your suffrage for the first Office
in your gift, and had selected him as your
chosen instrument 10 correct and reform
all such errors and abuses as had mani
tested themselves from time to time in
the practical operation Ofthe Govern
ment. While standing at the Threshold
ofthis 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 subjected the wisdom and sufficiency
of our institution to a new test For the
first time in our history, the persOn cleo
ted TO the Vice Presidency of the United
States, by the happening Of contingency
provided for in the Constitution, has had
devolved Opon him the Presidential Of
fee. The spirit of faction, which is di-
rectIy opposed to the spirit OF lofty pa
triOtsm, may find in this occasion for
assaults upon my administration. And in
succeeding, under circumstances so sud-
den and unexpected, to responsibilities so
greatly augmented, to the administration
Of public affairs, [ shall place in the in
telligence and patriotism of the People
my only sure reliance. My earnest prayr
shall be constantly addressed to the al
wise and the all powerful Being who made
me, and by whose dispensation lam call
ed to the high Office of President of this
COnfederacy, understandingly to carry
out tue principles of that Constitution
which have sworn 'to protect, preserve
and defeDd.'
The usual opportunity which is afforded
10 Chief Magistrate upon his induction
to Office Of presenting to his countrymen
an exposition of the policy which would
guide his administration, and the form 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 exposition
of the principles which will govern me in
Ahe general course of my administration
of public affairs would seem 10 be due as
we'll 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
shall sedulously cultivate the rela-
tions of peace and amity with one and
all, il will be my most imperative duty
to see that the honor of the country shall
sustain no blemish. With a view to this,
the condition ofour military defences will
become a matter Of anxious Solicitude.- -
The Army, which has in other days cover
ed itself with snown, and The Navy not
appropriately 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 replete with efficiency.
In view of the fact, well avouched by
history, that the tendency Of all human
institutions is to concentrate power in the
hands of single man, and TINT their ut-
ter downfall has proceeded from this
cause, deem il of the most essential i'm
portance that complete separation
should take place between the sword and
the purse. No matter where or how the
public moneys shall be deposited, so long
as the President can exert the power oi
appointing and removing, at pleasure,
the agents selected for their custody, the
Commander.in-chiefo Of the Army and Ma
w IS in fact the Treasurer. A perma-
nent and radical change should therefore
be decreed. The 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 office-holders may be
spread over the land. The unrestrained
power exerted by a selfshly ambitious
man, in order either TO perpetuate his au-
thority, or to hand it over to some favor
ite as his successor, may lead to the en-
ployment of all the means within his con-
troll to accomplish his object. The right
to remove from office, while subjected to
no just restraint, is inevitably destined to
produce spirit of crOuching servility
with the official corps, which, in order to
uphold the hand which feeds them, would
lead to direct and active interference in
the elections, both State and Federal,
thereby subjecting the course Of State le-
gislation to the dictation Of the chief ex-
ecutive officer, and making the will Of
that officer absolute and supreme. Twill,
at proper time, invoke the action OI
Congress upon this subject, and shall rea-
Oily acquiesce in the adoption of all pro-
per measures which are calculated to ar
rest these evils, so full of danger in their
ten ndency. | will remove no incumbent
from Office who has faithfullya and honest
ly acquitted himself of the duties OF bis
Office, except in such cases where sucn