The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-03-23

lent and trembling submissonl Shall it be
received with acquiesceuce, or even with gra-
cious words of IemOnstrancel Or shall it
not rather be met with that prompt aud bold
rebuke, with that scornful defiance which ..
lone becomes the action and the character Of
freeborn men, determined yet 20 be freel
When the spirit of Gictation or of despo-
tism, shall become arrogant enough TO lift
its frowning form in these Halls, consecraled
| to liberty and free debate, and to demand
submissive obedience TO the high behests of
power upon the peril of Executive wrath,
even though it utter its denunciaions with
lorked and fiery tongue, if freemen would mol
basely surrender all that is worth living Tor.
and all that is worth dying Tor. they must
meet The monster AT the threshold; and.
without stopping TO calculate the dangers OF
the conflict, they must cast out the UNIV ell
come and insolent intruder at once aud forev-
er from their presence. 1t has been said.
that eternal vigilance is the price of freedom
| will superadG that eternal resistance to the
incipient and insidious encroachmen:s OF
power is the only guaranty Of public lib
| erty.
| Ii is the first time, and trust it may be the
last tire, that the President of the United
Sta es shall deem it in the line of his official
official duty, or among his official prerosa-
tives, TO charge, either directly or by appli
cation, the crime of treason against their
country, upon any portion of his consriruen.
cy, for the exercise Of a privilege guaranteed
TO every American citizen by the Conslitu-
ton under which we live. Such a charge,
enanaIing from some humber source, com
ing from some irresponsible libeller, from
some common revilcr, from some hireline
| #
black guard, might be passed by unnoricct
| The lowness of its origin wonld shield its au
thor from the notice of contempt. But.
| originating IN the source il did, and coming
in the form and manner it has come, dissent
mated as it has been through the length and
the breadth of the country, and reiterated as
it has been, and now is, through all the or
gans of detrlction and calumny. from the
highest TO the lowest, it rises TO the inpor-
lance. at least, of claiming from all indepen-
dent and honorable men united response of
universal and unqualified repfobation. The
obvious purpose OF the charge has been sig
nally defeated; and he Who made it mstook
the character and temper OF the American
| people. The author of the Name letter
knows better how TO deceive and to cheat the
people, than how 10 inimidate or cocrce
them. Itrequires the exercise Of different
and higher faculty to WELD the sceptIe OF au
thoriiy, than to play off successful trick.
He who should succeed as ii jugGler, might
fail as hero.
Sir, the imputaiion Of moral and conslruc-
live treason, or OF a want of Patriotism in
those who arraign the conduct of the AID
mnistraiion for waniony and wickedIy in
volving the country in an unnecessary war,
is a libel upon as pure, and highminded. &
| independent, and patriotic portion Of the
people as their calumnIator or his apoligists
| and defenders. Those who come within the
category of Executive denunciaiion NAV
claim al much regard for the rights and the
honor of the country. as is exhibited by those
who can ''see no wrong in the King" ho.d
that The patriotism OF those who stand with
out the pale of Executive dispensaiions; i,
quite as UNREASONABLE, and quite as far a.
bovc rcproach and suspicion anil is the
Wanted patriotism OF those who. standing
within the Kings gate, back in the sunshine
Of royal favor. and whose place; and whost
daily bread, perhaps, may be depending up
the degree of flaiery and subservi' ncy with
which they earn it, They may he less loyal
subjects, but they are not C 5 true patriots. il
they are not quite as loyal TO the crown.
they are quite Ms loyal 10 tho country. When
Chatham and Burke. and Fox. aud Cavcn-
dish and Wilkes and Richmond, and Hart
Iy, and Grafton, and Barre, and others, VI
tered the tIunders of their denuncalion in
The British Parliament against the conduc'
{. their own Government i'll the war with
these american colonies, were they wanting
in patriotism, and guilty If moral treason F!
Sir, | have not been thus taught Aud the
gentleman from New York. (Nir. Strong,
is the first man, American or lorci gner J er-
| err heard dcnounce the conduct. or Imrugn
the motives, the integrity, or the The patriot
ism of these men. Had the slanderous i'm
putation been cast into their teeth in The roy
al address by the occupant Of the throne in
England. il would have been at the hazard
of his crown. if not his head. We live in Il
practical despotism, n republic only in name
when these bold and high handed offences
against the highest privileges OF fee
men NAV be tolerated and passed by as Of
small moment.
We are The slaves and not frccmen, If we
do not repe and rcbuke them. Sir, this Is
nothing less than an authoraiivc attempt, on
the part of your President. 10 awe the people
into silence where they cannot approve The
acts of the Administration in relation 10 the
war in which they have involved the country
But the attempt has been most signally re-
| proved Dy lis nOst el9udl IuHu'ts - WIZ
not be likely 10 be repeated. 1t will form no
paragraph in another Presidential message.
il has not slfled The freedom oil debate. 1t
has not sienccd the voice off free press, nor
yet the voice OF free people, II has moi
suppressed the deep toned muttering oipop
lar complaint and Indignation against the
conduct of your Administration. 4ou might
as we'll attempt 10 hush the thunders ofNi
agara's roar. You nigh, as well whisper to
The troubled ocean 'be still" when lashed 10
fury by the storm. The popular judgment
is against the Administration, and against
lis whole system ofpolicy. and he is a poor
reader of the "signs Of The times" who does
not so interpret them. The sentence oil pub
lie condemnat ion has been pronounced upon
it, more decisive and more emphatic, indeed
than has ever before been visited upon any
adm inistration ofihis Government thus early
in its career. Its doom is already sealed.
1t is written out in characters Of glariDg light
no less paIpable, and ho less porteniious, than
The ''mene leke upharsin." upon the palace
wall orthe Babylon monarch. "They who