Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-07-18
BY GEO. II. BEAMAN.

dislkod public speaking, but it has been
public speaking, in legislative halls, on
public measures affecting the welfare Of
my country, or before the tribunal, Of jus
tiee /. has been public speaking, in which
! there was precise and well defined oblcc,
10 be pursued, by a train Of thought and ar.
eument, adapted to ITS attainment
Without presumlng TO prescribe to any
body else the course he ought 10 pursue IN
forming his judgment upon political parties,
public measures, and the prncipl,s which
ought to guide us, will state my own. In
respect 10 political parties, ofwhich have
seen many, in this country, during life
which is now considerably protracted, be-
lieve in the main, mos, OF them think, or
| have persuaded themselves 10 believe, that
1 tbev are aiming OF the happiness OF their
country. Their duties their Interests, well
understood, must necessarily urge them TO
promote ITS welfare They are, it is true,
often deceived, deceived by their own pas
sions and preludices and still more by in
teres,ed demagogues, who croak and con.
cea their sinister designs, Political par.
ties, according TO my humble opinion OF
their legitimate sphere Of action, ought 10 be
regarded as nothing more than instruments,
or means, subordinate, bu, important inS,ru-
men,s or means, in efectlng the great pur-
poses Of wise administration of Govern
men, ; highly useful when not factious and
controlled by public virtue and patriotism
but, when country is lost sight OF, and the
interest ofthe party becomes paramount 10
the interests ofthe country, when the gov
eminent is seized BY party and is not ad-
united for the benefit Of the people, and the
whole people, but to advance the purposes
and selfish aims of itself, or rather of its lea.
ders, then is such party, whatever may
be the popular name, highly detrimental
and dangerous. | am Wing warmly at.
tached to the party, which bears that re-
spected name, from thorough persuasion
tina, its principles and policyar are calculated 10
secure the happiness and prosperity Of our
common country; but if believed otherwise,
If were convinced that it sought party or
individual aggrandsement, and not the pub
lie good. would instantly and forever abln-
I don it, whatever might be the consequence
| to myself, or whatever the regrets which |
might feel in separating from veteran friends
My opinions upon great and leading meas
ures Of public policy have become settled
convictions and am Wing because that
party seeks the establishment of those meas
ures In determining with which of the
two great parties of the country ought to
be connected have been governed by a
full consideration, and fair comparison, OF
the tendency of their respective principles,
measures, conduct and views There is
one prominent and characteristic difference
between the two parties, which eminently
distinguishes them, and which, if there was
no other, would be sufficient to decide my
judgment And that s, the respect and
Difference uniformly displayed by the one,
and the disregard and contempt exhibited
| by the other TO the constitution, TO the laws
and to public authority In country,
where free and selcgovernment is estab-
Iished, it should be the pleasure, as II is the
bounden duty, of every citizen to stand by
and uphold the constitution and laws, and
support the public authority; they are his
cons.u,ion-his laws, and the public au-
thority emanates from his will Having
concurred, by the exercise of his privileges,
in the adoption of the constitution, and in the
passage of the laws, any outrage or viola.
ton attempted of either ought to be regar.
ded as an offence agains, the majority of the
people.
In an arbitrary and absolute government,
the subject may have some excuse for eva
ding the edlcts and ukases of the monarch,
because they are not only promulgated
without consulting his will, but sometimes
against the wishes and interests OF the poo
pie. In that species Of government, the
power Of the bavonet enforces a reluctant
obedience TO the law. With free people,
the fact that the laws are their laws, ought
10 supply in prompt and voluntary rally
to the support Of the public authority, a
force more peaceful, more powerful, and
more reasonable than any deviable from a
mercenary soldery.
1t is far from my intesiion or desire TO do
the least injustice TO the party 10 which |
an opposd but think that in asserting
The Characteristic difference between the two
nar,ies which have done, am fully borne
out bv facts. 10 SOME ofwhich, only, on this
occasion, can refer, ana these shall all be
of a recent nature.
The first to which shall call your al
tenton, has occurred during the present ses-
sion of Congress. The variety in the
mode Of electing members TO the House of
Representatives of the United States, some
being chosen By whole States, other by sep
araie districts, was a subject Of deep aud
general complaint 1t gives TO the States
unequal power in The councils OF the nation.
Mississippi or New-Hampshire, for exam
pie, by general ticket, securing the cleo
ton OF its members to the Houne OF Repre-
sentatives, all OF one political party, might
acquire more power, in that House than
the State of New-York, which, elec,ing It's