Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-22


hand Z. then. il shall be decided that the noaaiaa.
ton Of the Treasurer and Postmaster General shall
be taken from the President there will be little diff
heulty In placing the appointment in the hands oil
Congress. Withdrawn. as the members will be, from
all sinister influence and placed on the high ground
OF honoured representatives. OF free people, We shat
have the surest guarantee for proper appointment
Congress will still be the highway to Distinction
The magnet" although Il have TO attraction for
the base matter cast up 10y political fermentation
viii draw 10 itself the generous aspirans Tor honest
lame. IL will be the theatre, on which he who
sspr,s to higher honoss, may display qualities that
Will attract nations admiration and require =
putation that will endure. With such men, We
may hope that public interest will be the motive Of
action, that appointments will be made with view
to the public good, and that honesty, capacity, and
attachment to the Constitution, will be the qualf-
cations tor Office, not fidelity to party. The ne.
cessty Tor assigning cause for removals, the open
investigation of its truth and sufhciency, will
prevent the sacrifice OF honest and capable public
servants; whilst the facility with which those of a
| contrary description may bc removed, will insure
| accountability aud faithful service. The emolu
ments OF Office being longer the spoils OF polti.
cal victories, We may hope again to the ailics
| ot the nation conducted with dignity and safety,
and society le TO pursue the ordinary avocatioas OF
! life, in peace.
The amendments which deem most essential.
arc those which propose the limitation OF the exc
euve service TO one term, the Disqualification Of the
members OF Congress for office, and the separation
OF the purse from the sword by the appointment of
| treasurer by Congress. These are not novelties
The proceedings oil the Federal Convention show
| that similar propositions advocated IN that
body, and for n long time favorte measures of
| the majority. The arguments upon them, furnish
the most interesting portion Of the history Of the
formation OF the Constitution. They relate to the
structure OF the Executive Department. the most
difficult OF adjustment in all Governments
| Asystem was TO be devised which would secure
the greatest degree OF personal liberty, compatible
with public safety; which would guard against vio-
Las N-,n,
which would avoid the evils of too much power IN
the head and shun the vices OF democracy in the
| mass. The expressions inflicted 10y the British
yoke, stimulated against the one; the fate o. all
former republics, the nnarchy, confusion and dcspo
tsm IN which they ended, warned asains, the othcr.
From the deliberations OF the convention IL j. ma
nliest that the latter of these influences more
strongly occupied the minds OF the maiorty-some
check was supposed TO be necessary TO resist the
democratic tendencies OF the legislative department
| and repress popular encroaehmenis, and this could
be only found in strong Executive. Il is not sur
prSns, therefore, that under this influence and the
circumstances OF the times, IN the distribution OF
powers an undue proportion was given 10 the exc
| eu,ive department. Experience had not then shed
its isht-darkness and uncertainty. doubt and spe
culation, pervaded the minds Of all; but now the
experience of fifty years affords its lessons the
workings OF tho system have developed its ten
denotes, and II cannot escape the observation Of
the most casual observer, that the department
which was expected most 70 check democracy has
itself the strongest affinity for its vices The Exc
eu'ive Magistrate, owing his elevation TO popular
favor, armed with the power OF patronage bes,Jw.
ing. at will, honors and emo uments Acknowledges
no control submits 10 no check, but, like the popu.
lar iivorite OF some anccnt republic, wie,ds with
despoIic sway, the power Of the mass.
Against the assaults of mag isiraic thus armed
and supported, we have seen the barriers o. the
constitution yield; we have seen 4 subservent Lee
gislature register the edicis Of master and con.
hiding people look tamey on, until, in the place OF
the constitutional government which the framers OF
the constitutions intended, with its checks its ba
iances, and jealous guards, we have experienced
| practically, the government of democracy, Of
french D'm0eraey-ihe government Of the people
| by one man.
That the Constitution has not fulfilled the d.,
sign OF It's iramers, is manifest. Tha, the active
| energies OF the Executive Department is fast en-
| sulphins, IN Its vortex, powers not its own and
transforming the Government into Il practical
Monarchy isqually true. These evils of the svsten,
| though unseen at first, time has disclosed; though
hidden formerly, they manifest now: and il be .
hooves US, If we would cherish the institutions of
our iahers and secure TO posieri,y the blessings of
heerty, assduously 10 apply ourselves 10 search
out the correeiives. As the evils have their origin
IN the frame work of the system, the remedy is only
TO be found in its modification. The Constitution
| itself prescrlbes the mode; the resolutions and
amendments under consideration indicate the means;
the curtailment OF executive power, the reduction
OF It's patronage, the independence. Of Congress.
objects desiring the attention of all Sir, the sub
Ject Is not exhausted; but the hour admonshes me
4 10 bring my remarks 70 4 close. | have tresnassed
already too long upon the patience Of the House; but
o@ioTe resume my seat, p.rnit me TO give i brie
no:iee TO remark which fell the other day from
the gentleman from Louisa. In the course OF
another discussion, that gentleman rather travelled
| out oil ms way to assaIl my resolutions. He said
| INA. ne was opposed TO any amendment OF the
Constitution. lie thought tho government good
| enough, II II was well administered. How did the
gentleman intend to be understood Did he mean
70 say there was noihlns IN the administration of
| the government he desired 10 see alieredl Look
| ing back 10 its history, since the formation OF
the Constitution, did he mean TO affirm. that i, had
fulfilled the expectation OF It's founders? That the
balance eslab ished between the departments re-
mains still IN equipOsel Did he mean 10 DENY that
already powers hal accumulated in the Executive
department, vastly beyond what was ever contem
plated; and that the tendency still is TO the accumua
ton Of morei II such was the gentemln's mean.
Ing, beseech him 10 pause and reflect we'll before
he makes that opinion the guide Of his action be.
seech him to to the history Of the Cons,itu.
ton; 70 that history furnished by the illustrous
Madison, IN the debates Of the Convention which
framed u; TO behold there, in a mirror of truth
the objects which the Constitution designed TO &C
compllsh-the good TO be secured the evil TO bn
avoded, II beseech him, then, 10 contemplate the
operation of the government, and, tracing il down
TO the administration which came into power, IN
1929, 70 behold the stride thai the Executive took
on the march to power. Strong in the affections of
the people, with what absolute sway he controlled
the popular branch OF the national legislature
with what ease he welded the legislatures OF the
States and chlGng n the check OF u contumacious
Senate with what reSstless force he ovcrlhreyy IT,
But If the gentleman does not mem to expre,s
an approval Of the measures 10 which I have al
luded, and many others Of a like character which
belong to the same time, but only to assert thew
were the offspring Of a vicious administration and
TINT the evils which flowed from them would have
been ayoIIed 10y better administration beseech
him, STILL to pause and reflect upon the consequences
Of the principle which he avows. What form of
sovenment could ingenuity devise, that would not
work well II wisely ndmnstercd2 II all the rules
OF the world were wise aud yIrtuous Il thew had
the wisdom TO perceive, and tho virtue TO pursue
right, MI governments would work wel' and the
greatest amount Of blessing be conferred upon the
world II well administered, the government ol
/ Russia would be good enough, where all power is
centefed IN an Autocra. II Prince could be found
wise aud vriuous, possessing q knowledge OF the
wants and interests OF hts subjects, there - not a
doubt that the form OF government, which won ID
confer The greatest happiness upon oil, would be-
that IN which all the powers should centre IN his
hands. But 1t 10 because rulers are not thus wise
and vrIuolis because they partako Of the weakness
aud imperiecton Of nature; because they have pre-
Iudife TO sway, passion 10 msiead, vica and wick.
ednes5, that the checks Of constitutions are re
quiredi and that form of government is mos, per
| feet which, by means Of its checks and guards
and distribution Of powers, most eTecluilly secure,
| against the abuses of IT, rulers, which most effect
ually represses the evil tendencies Of their nature.
Tired according 10 ia test, the constitution must
be condemned; abuses under Il do exist and those
who would reform these abuses and repress Their
recurrence for the future vgnufI conf.r