Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-08-02
THE PRESIDENCY.

The Office of Chief Magistrate, by what
ever name or title such Office might be cal
led, has always, in all countries been re-
garded as the post of honor, beyond which
ambition could see no worthy object of po-
lical aspiration. The simple fact of occu-
pying position which officially took rank
of all others, has invested the sovereigns of
the old world with sort of Fictitious impor-
lance, which has produced in the popular
mind deep veneralion for the persons as
well as the stations of their chief rulcrs.--
Hence, in spite of the innumerabIc proofs of
the frailty of kings as well as of peasants,
there has always existed a sort of romantic
creduli,y, which either saw or imagined in
the person of royalty a collection of all tho
virtues and talents which could adorn hu-
mani'y. The faults Of the man were con-
ceacd beneath the splendors and the digni-
~ of his relation to the people over whom he
ruled, and tie wish being father to the
thought, the sovereign has been generally
supposed to be what the true theory of mon
archy made him, the greatest and the best
man in the nation.
But that theory was the offspring Of UNI
sophisticated times, and the history of the
race is every day demonstrating its total
want Of adaptation TO the necessities of man.
By its own blind mode of succession it has
visited the nations with despots, IDIOTS, ruff
fans and sensualists, instead of wise and vIr-
tuous sovereigns, and the insolcnce of ire
sponsible power has too often overborne the
good intentions of men suddenly elevated
beyond the reach of human cons,raint.
Safety therefore requires that instead of
an arbitrary rule of succt ssion, the power of
regulating that matter should be placed
where It will be least liable to abuse, and be
often called into exercise {: that instead Of
possessing irresponsible power, the chief Of
flee should be limited and hcmmed in by
safeguards against the fraillics of humanity,
and tina, he should, as far as practicable be
selected for the actual possession Of those
qualities which have long since ceased, in
general, to be even supposedly attached to
the hereditary rulers of the old world.
Such is the wise plan originated by the
trainers Of our Incompatible system of gov
eminent. Who is to be our Chief Magis-
,rate, is not a thing to be determined by the
accidents of a certain family. When vir-
tuous father dies, we are not obliged to take
his stupid and depraved offspring, and set
him to rule over US. When any man be-
comes our chief magistrate, we are under no
necessity of retaining him till his second
childhood, that regent may rule while the
old man is lettering to the grave. All these
humiliatlng concomiiants Of hereditary pow
er, we are spared from enduring. Out of all
the wisdom, all the virtue, all the experience
Of vast nation, free and untrammeled, that
vast nation itself chooses its chief man.
What qualities then, ought to be looked
for in the fortunate man, to whom the eyes
of such nation are turned for an occupant
of its highest post the receiver Of its lofiest
honors
Should he be small man, of limited ex-
perence and capacity, with prejudices boun-
dcd by the lines Of a petty section Of the
nation over which he rs TO rule Should he
be narrow soued s,cklcr for the ascen-
dancy Of party, against the welfare and
prosperity Of the whole people ! Should he
he an obscure man, whose fame was not fa-
miar throughout the land; obscure not for
lack of the opportunities of fame, but for
lack OF ability to improve them? Should he
DO false hearted man, who could descend
to the infamy of pretending to hold difieren.
opinions on tho same subject IN diifren'
regions of the land, to court the popular Ia
vor Should he be man chiv 4, recon,
mended To notice BY being the pea Of Wa
dicINe old man who had before, been S|''
sen chief magsIratp, should he 30 '"~
avowed advocate Of Tho perpet ''''''' %
W,lAsdaea, aud opp.eaalon ia his ''''S "'''