Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-09-22
From the Alb.ny Daily Advertiser.
PRESIDENT JACKSON'S NOTION OF a
CONSTITUTION.

Mr.. Orestes Brownson, though a so newhat
eccentric yet undeniably an able and irdcpen-
dent man, having for some years given the sup
port OF his str, ne pen to the party called "thc
democracy and to its leaders, has, within the
year, Undergone some very material changes OF
opinion in relation TO the topics referred TO, and
in the Democratic Review in a succession of ar
ticles he has been engaged in setting forth his
new and more matured views, not only OF the
action Of the s~o.cailed democratic party and OF
the character and policy of its leaders, but ofthe
essential spirit of tina, party, its aims and the
tendency Of fits influence, as well as his ST.
IN re elements views OF the principles of our
American institutions and the grounds and OBJ
jects OF government in general.
We have heretofore given from these articles
some passages on the disorganizing tendencies
of the action and spirit of the party mentioned;
and we now copy a short, but very pregnant
paragraph on Ex .Prcsident Jackson's notion of
constitution.
"The grand maxim of Gen. Jackson in his administra-
ton, as ! collect from the history of that administra-
ton, was, THE people are sovereign i'll gain their
sanction it is enough Heappears in his administra-
ton 10 have regarded the people as above the Consli-
tnlion and laws, and to have held that he secured the
highest possible sanction for his acts when he secur-
ed the popular appreciation, formally or Informally ex-
pressed"
On this passage the National Intelligencer
makes the following m
An admirable description! We could almost sit at
the feet of this democratic philosopher for the UNI
daunted love OF truth which urges him on to speak
such unwelcome things OF he Grelt Idol in lis very
tenplc-"Ile Democi attic Rev. w'-iustuad Of cry
Ing forever Great is Damn Of the l1lrsans."
But he might have added, that, a. the great musi-
clan loves his instrument, 81 Gen. Jgetson loved the
people, only because he could play upon them what
tune he liked. He set the peoples pleasure above the
law, andit was Constitution enough, for him, because
,ciat he triiied the people were ready to sanction and
where they might have differed from him, the terror
OF his popularity held most men mute. So that hi,
uiH, seeming to be the peoples, became so, and stood
the sole aurhorily-the only law, the only Constitu
ton, and If he had chosen) almost the only Gospel.
Both these passages have our full assent
Text and comment both, IN the deepest convic
tions of our mind, we hold to be true.
We believe that Gen. Jackson nevsr had any
sound Ineligible idea of The real design arid oh
ject of a constitution, nor any true sense of duty
on the part Of such an officer as the Chief Eye
cutive Magistrate under our constitution, of ODE
dience to the law either as enacted by Congress
or signed by the President, or as interpreted By
the Judiciary. He not only held that the Exc
cutive was distinct from the other two co-Ordi
nate branches, but wholly independent Of then
and above them, so far as his own official actio
was concerned. lie seemed never to have bee.
able to distinguish between his personal opin
ions of n law, or q provision Of the constitution
and HE proper authority and obi legations as
public functionary and agent of the constltutio
and the laws; and therefore held that he, q
such functionary, had TIE full right to interprt
them for himself, and so he acted.