The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-05-16

name for usurpation.
1t ought never to be lost sight OF, the
n in this country, the Sovereignty, in sui
stance, as well as in name, abides wit
a the Poop Ie that the powers of the gov
ernment are but emanations or portion
of that sovereignty impaired to such o
n the citizens as may be du y called TO ad
ministrative functions and that these
powers, while they are to be exercised
solely for the general welfare, must no
be exercised at random, but e0ithin Mt
limits marked out by the people Memssloei
an The Constitution. Should experience
prove that these limits ale too narrow, the
people, on being duly resorted to, will,
through their own fundamentally, the
States, enlarge them as they deem it ex-
pedlent. Meantime, The Nincon veniences
arising from powers thought to be too
much restricted, but which are suscepti-
Bile of so complete remedy, ought to be
patiently borne with for they are as no.
thing, when compared with the uncertain
lies, the disorders, the perils, the oppres-
sons attending government all at loose
ends, vacilIallng and distracted by the va.
rying opinions and conflicting theories Of
those who may successfully be called to
administer ii. Governments without
Number have been brought TO nought. bv
what is called liberal construction of
their powers; but few have suffered loss
by rigid one. The liberal construction
of to-day is not unirequently made the
urnupd ,uork IF liharol if
Ilcentious one tomorrow.
To your second question -'Snpposing
| it Constitutional, would you be favorable
10 annexation, on any terms?' reply, |
would not
The permanent success of govern
ment must have some relation to The ex-
tent of its territria Limits While they
may, doubtless, be too narrow for the
highest development of national pIosperi-
ty, so may they be too large. Without
saying that our territory is TOO large,
say, i, is large enough for all the just and
useful purposes of government.
know no good reason why we should
desire TO have Texas united to us. The
United States and Texas are not connect.
ed by large rivers watering both; nor are
they separated from other nations by des.
erts, or by chains OF mountains forming
joint barriers of protection and indicating
that they ought TO be ONE nation. If we
desire annexation because she is confer
minous with us-Texas once obtained,
we shall, for the same reason, burn for
IA bo IF Movi,n, shall
be able wholly to quench our thirst but in
he Oceans which wash on all sides the
continent we inhabt.
So far am from thinking the annexa-
ton of Texas would be beneficial to US,
wish she were reunited to Mexico, and
that, as one people, they were rapidly ad-
vancing 10 the highest grade of inlelectu.
al and political power 10 have such a
power oB our borders, one whose charac-
ter and whose rights we could not help
respecting, would most favorably affect
US, as think, in variety of ways. One
only shall allude 10 {: it would restrain
that wild, buccaneer spirit OF adventure,
unhapply existing to a great extent in
our country spirit that is at war with
all solid improvement and true clviIiza.
ton, and which, unless juster notions can
be made to prevail, will soon begin to set
at defiance the restraints of our own gov
eminent, and render the condition of weak
communities on our borders one of con.
slant insecurity and alarm.
As a private citizen, would do all that
ILL.,, oonld InIa,t Tho
of annexation. So would | in any other
public station than the one 10 which your
note refers The President is a DEPART
ment of the government, and stands IN an
altogether peculiar relation 10 the coun
try. Powers are entrusted to him, not
so much with view to his debating or
even leading in any particular line of pol
icy which wholly regards the ordinary
pecuniarV interests of the community, as
to his being the Conservator of the Con-
stiution and of the honor of the govern.
ment. Should he hesitate TO use these pow
ers to prevent violation OF the Consitu-
ton, or TO resist the Legislative bodies
acting under the impulse of an inhamed
constituency, misled and demanding Of
the government what it would be mani
testify unjust and dshonorabIe in the gov
eminent to grant-as, for instance, the re-
pudiatlon OF a national debt, or a fraudu-
lent evasions of the obligations of treaty,
he would prove himself unworthy of the
high trust reposed n him. Such Pres
ident as Washington, caring much for his
country, little for himself, would, in such
cases, breast the torrent with all his con.
stlluional might, trusting, that, in due
time, wisdom would be justified of her
children. But in matters purely Of &C.
pediency or policy, the Executive ought
not TO be expected to cherish the feeling,
or manifest the pertinacity that is gener.
ally considered allowable, if not commend
IL :. 1; lE. ,;.,..il =. 4