The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-04-12
FYom our Country Edition Of Saturday
70 THE PEOPLE or THE UNITED
STATES.

TO THE FASOfLE VI AnH ~
STATES.
FELLow-C CITIZENS Before my arrival al inc
Seat of Government the painful communication
was made 10 you by the officers presiding ose,
the several Departments OF the deeply reg1e''eu
death of WILLIAM HsNRy HARRISON, iaie rresi-
dent Of The United States. Upon him you had
conferred your sufffages for the first ofhce IN
vour pif. 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
Government While standing at the Threshold
of this great work, he has, by the dispensation
of an al-wise Providence, been removed from
amongst US, and by the provisions of the Constl-
tuition thee efforts to be directed to the accomplish
ingofthis vitality important task have devolvedup
on myself. This same occurrence has subjected
the wisdom and suffciency Of our institutions 70
new test For the first time in our history the per-
son elected to the Vice Presidency OF the United
States. by the happening Of . contingency pro-
yided for in the Constitution, has had devolved
upon him the Presidential Office. The spirit OF
faction, which is directly opposed to the spirit
Of lofty patriotism, may find in this occasion
for assaults upon my administration. And In
succeeding, under circumstances so sudden and
unexpected, and to responsibilities so greatly
augmented to the administration Of lublic al
fairs, shall place in the intelligence and patriot
ism Of the People my only sure reliance My
earnest prayer shall be constantly addressed to
the all-wise and all-powerfnl Being who made
me, and by whose dispensation ! am called to
the high Office Of President Of this Conftderacy,
Understandings to carry out the principles of
that Constitution which have sworn ITO pro-
tect, preserve, and defend"
The usual opportunity which is afforded to a
Chief Magistrate upon his induction to Office Of
presenting to his countrymen an exposition OF
the policy which would guide his administration,
in 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 the general course Of my ad-
ministration of public affairs would seem to be
due as well to myself as to you. In regard to TO
reign nations, the groundwork of my policy will
be justice on our part to all, submitting to njus
tce from none While shall sedulously cult
yate the relations Of peace and amity with one
and all it will be my most imperative duty to see
that the honor Of the country shall sustain no
blemish With view to this, the condition Of
our military defences viii become matter Of
anxious solicitude. The Army, which has in
other days covered itself with renown, and the |
Navy, not appropriately termed the right arm
of the public defence, which has spread 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,
aud that their ultimate downfall has proceeded
from this cause, deem it Of the most essential
importance that a complete separation should
take gass between the sword and the purse No
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
Commander-in-chief Of the Army and Navy is
in fact the Treasurer. A permanent and radi-
cal change should therefore be decreed. The
patronage incident to the Presidential office, al
ready great, is constantly increasing. Such in
crease is destined to keep pace with the growth
Of our population, until, without figure of
speech, an army of oficeholders may be spread
over the land. The unrestrained power exerted
by selfshly ambitious man, in order either to
perpetuate his authority or to hand it over to
some favorte as his successor, may lead to the
employment Of all the means within his con-
troll to accomplish his object. The right to re-
move from office, while subjected to no just re-
straint is inevitably destined to produce spirit
of crouching servility with the official corps,
which, in order to uphold the hand which feeds
them wouldlead to direct and active interference
in the elections, both State and Federal, thereby
subjecting the course of State Legislation to the
dictaton ofthe Chief Executive Officer, and max
ing the will Of that officer absolute and supreme.
! will, at proper time, invoke the action of
Congress upon this subject, and shall readily ac-
quiesce in the adoption of all proper measures
which are calculated to arrest these evils, so full
of danger in their tendency. | will remove no
incumbent from Office who has faithfully and
honestly acquitted himself Of the duties Of his
office, except in such cases where such officer
has been guilty of an active partisanship, or by
secret means--the less manly, and therefore the
more Objectionable given his official influ-
ence to the purposes Of party, thereby bringing
the patronage of the Government in conflict with
the freedom of elections Numerous removals
may become necessary under this rule. These
will be made by me through no acerbity of feel