Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-02-28
From The .4ierandri1 Gazette.

House of RepreSentatireS.-Lu events, and the
constantly deterorating influence and standing OF
the House Of Representatives. of the United Sta
les, are calculated 10 create serious apprehenslons
in the minds of the people OF this country as 10
the practical working of the machine Of Govern
ment set in operation by the Constitution. Be-
youd n doubt the House of Representatives was
designed to be the guardian especially OF the rights
and liberties ofihe people, and TO oe, therefore,
especially. the tavDurte organ of the people It's
power and weight in the operations OF the Gov
eminent were intended not 10 be only based upon
popular opinion, but 10 be sustained and propelled
by popular affection. 1t was TO be, with us, our
Commons House, rejoicing i'll being the exponent
of the national will, the embodiment of the ma
Iional dignity, and the emblem of The national pow
er. For years ii realized all the expectations OF
the sages and putriots who framed the Constitution,
aud many of them left the scene OF their earthly
labors flied with the blissful hope of having per-
fecled plan which allowed II Representative Re-
public to contain within itself all the useful prn-
ciples of democracy without amy OF lis fierce
ness, anarchy, or disorder. The voice OF every
man was to he heard in the Assembly of the Peo-
pie but il was TO he heard, temporarily, calmly
aud fairly through his Constitutional Representa-
tive, speaking for him in order and dignity, ms best
BELTS Republic where Law and Liberty prevail.
We have heard those who have gone before us
saw that in the earlier and better days oiour coun-
try, although there was a difference ga natural
aud eXcusable and perhaps even proper uliicr-
ence, TO be seen, between the Senate and House
OF Representatives yet, even III the latter body,
the sense of elevation, of dignity, OF self respect,
of popular opinion, prevailed in times Of The high,
est excitement, and evidently regulated il il did
not entirely control all lis deliberations Draw
lers, nountobanks, and, we are sorry 10 use the
word-but it is good old English and expresses
what we -biackguards were not then sent
to the House, or if they got there, were at once
awed into silence, by finding themselves siIrroun-
ded by gentlemen who would not permit the Hall
of Legislation 10 be desecrared 10y unDanery and
indecorous language and behaviour, much less by
open violence This happy state continued, gen
orally, until the era OF the Jackson dynasty-"he
fruitful source OF all our woes'-ior We believe
that nearly all the evils that alllict the com
try, may be traced directly TO the election Of Cen
eral Jackson to the Presidency, and the establish
ment Of his system of Administration. From
that day, to this, matters have been getns from
bad TO orse, until, ms we have remarked, mt the
| commencement of this article so manifest is the
! decline fine influence and standing of the House
! of Representatives, that serious app ehensons he
gin to be excited, in the minds of many ns 10 the
future successful operation Of the Government lis
originally designed by the trainers of the Cons
! tuition