The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-19

participation h 81 ne advantages which
lloW from tie Government The acknowledge
Ed property ofall, The American citizen de-.
rives l no charter granted by his fellow
man. He claims them because he Il him.
SELF man, fashioned ~ Tie Almighty hand
aslhp rest of hia species, end entitled 10 the
foil share 81 the blessings with which he has
endowed them. Notwithstanding the Inns
ted sovereignty possessed by the People Of
the United States, and the restrictive grant
of power to the Government which they
have adopted, enough has been given 10 &C.
compliah al The objects ID which II was Gre
ated. II has been found powerful ii war,
and hitherto, justice has been administered,
an intimate union effected. domestic tran.
guilty preserved, and personal liberty secu-
red TO the citizen. AsWas 10 BE- expected,
however, from the defect of language, and
the necessarily senteniious manner ii which
the Constitution IS written, disputes have a.
risen as 70 The amount Of power which i has
actually granted, or was intended to grant.
This Is more particularly the case in relation 70
that part Of the instrument which treats Of the leg
islativo branch. And not only as regards the ex-
erclse ct powers claimed under generous clause,
giving that body the authority pass all laws ne
cessaFy 70 carry into effect the specified powers,
but n elation 70 the latteE also. & Is, however,
consolatofy TO reflect, that osg Of the instances 81
alledged departure from the latter Of spirit Of the
constitutions have ultimately received the sane
ton. Of minority Of the people. And the fact
that many oE our statesmen, most distinguished Tor
talent and patriotism, have been az one time Or oh-
eT Of their political career, on both sides OF each
Of the most warmly disputed questions, forces up
on ne the inference that the errors i errors there
were, are attributable to the intrinsic difficulty IN
many instances, of nscertang the intention Of the
trainers Of the constitution, rather than the ntiu-
ence of any sinister or unpatriotic motive. But
great danger to our institutions does not appear
to me to be in usurpation by the Government Of
power not granted By the people, but by the ac-
cnmulation in one Of the departments, fthatWhlch
was assigned 10 others, Limited as are the powers
which have been granted, still enough have been
granted to constitute despotism, II concentrated
IN one of the departments. This danger is great
y heightened, % Is has always been observable
that men are less jealous Of encroachments Of one
department. upon :he other, than upon their own
reserved rights.
When the Constitution Of the United States first
came from the hands of the Convention which
formed il many Of the sternest Republicans Of the
day were alarmed al the extent ofthe poWerwhich
had been granted to the federal government, and
more particularly Of that portion, which had been
assigned lothe executive branch. There were in
i features which appeared not to be In harmony
with their ideas of q simple representative DEE
mocracy, or Republic. And knowing the ten-
dency Of power to increase itself, particularly
when exercised By single individual, predictions
were made that, at no VERY remote PERIOD the gov
eminent would terminate in virtual monarchy. il
would not become me to say hatthe fears OF these
cerely believe that the tendency of measures, and
Of mems opinions, for some years past, has beenin
that direction, il is, conceive strictly proper that
] should take this occasion to repeat the assuran-
ces have heretofore giyens Of my determination
20 arrest the progress Of that tendency, Il is really
health and vigoT, far as this can be effected by
any legitimate exercise Of the power placed in my
hands.
/ proceed to state, in as summary manner as
can, my opinion of the sources of the evilp which
have been 50 extensively complained Of, and he
coarectives which may be applied. Some Of the
former are unquestionably % be found in the de-
ects Of the Constitution, others, in my Judgment,
are, attributable to misconstructon Of some Of lie
provisions. Of the former is the eligibility OF the
same individual 70 second term Of the Presiden-3
cy. The sagacious mind Of Mr.. Jefferson early
saw and lamented this error, and attempts have
been made hitherto, without success, to apply
the amendatory power Of the States to correction.
As, however, one mode Of correction is IL the
power Of every President, and consequently ~
mine, L would be useless, and perhaps lnsialon
to enumerate the evils of which, in the opinion Of
many Of our fellow citizens, this error OF the sages
who formed the Constitution may have been the
source and the bitter fruits which we ale still 70
gather from il if Il continues to dshgure our sys-
tenn. It may be observed, however, az general
remark, that Republics commit no greater error
than to adopt or continue any feature in their sys-
TENS Of Government which may be calculated TO
create or increase the love of power in the bosoms
Of those to whom necessity obliges them to COM
nit the management of their affairs And, surely,
nothing is more likely to produce such state of
nafh
trust. Nofhingc can be more corrupting. Nothing
more destructive of all those noble feelings which
belong 70 the character of devoted republican /
patriot. When this corrnpting passion once takes
possession Of the human mind, like the love Of
yoId IT becomes Unsuitable. lt is the never dying
worm IN his bosom, grows with his growth, and
the declining years OF it's victim.
Il thfsis true, ID is the part of wisdom Tor Re-
Dubliclo limit the service of that ofceTs at least,
D Wild she has entrusted the management Of herI
oTeikn relations, the execution OF her laws and
he command Of her armies and nayles, TO PERIOD
short as to prevent his forgetting that he isthc
accountable agent, not the principal; the servants
ot the master. Until an amendment Of the Con-
.itulion can be effected, public opinion may se-
uFe the desired object. give my aid to Is By
snewing the pledge heretofore glyens thats under
. circumstances viii consent TO serve second
But if there Is danger to public liberty from the
81 nowledred defects of the Constitution, il the
ant 0f limit to the continuance THE Executive
ever In the same hands, there is appTehends
Of much less from INSTRUMENTATION Of that in-
runlent. as it regards the power actually given I
cannot conceive that, by fair construction, any
eitherOf its provisions would be found 10 con-
itufe the President part ofthe Legislative pow
i Itcannof Be claimed from the power tore .
,xmend, since, although enloined as 9 duty uE-
on with ever other citizen. And although there
ay Be something more Of confidence Ia the pro- 3