The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-01-05
VOL. A. NO. 13.

tions, the equilibrium ri Q system must
be destroyed, and solidati,n, with the
most pernicio"s results, must ensue--a
con'olidation of onchecked, /, despotic pow
er exercised by majori,ies Of the Legisla.
tive branch.
Tie Executive, legisla,iye and judi:
c, al, each constitute az, yfate co-ordi-
nate department Of the GS:ernment; and
each is Independent of the other, and id
the performance of their respective du-
ties, under the constitution, neither can
in its action, control the others. They
each act upon their.several responsibili.
ties In their respective spheres; but If tho
doctrines now maint aimed be correct, tha
Executive must become practically sub.
ordinate TO the Legislature, and the Judi.
ciary must become subo rdinats to botb5
and thus The whole power of tho Govern.
ment would become merged in a single
department. II ever this occurs, our glo.
rious system Of we'll regulated self govs
ernment will tumble into ruins, to be sue.
ceeded first by anarchy and finally BY
monarchy or despotism.
l am far from believing that this doe.
trine 10 the sentiment Of the American
people, and during the short period that
remains for me to administer the Execu.
tive department, it will be my aim to
maintain its independence, and discharge
its duties without infringing upon the
powers or duties fthe other departments
of government. The power Of the Exec
utive, as exercised by the first and most
ilustrious of my predecessors, and by
four of his successors who preceded me id
the administration Of the government, it
is believed, in no instance prejudicially
to the public interests, was it ever exerI
cised. No President would ever desires
unnecessarily, to place his opinion ia
opposition to that of Congress, he muse
always exercise the power reluctantly.
and only 10 cases when his convictions
make it matter Of { ern duty which hs
cannot escape. Iudeed there is more
danger that the President, from the res
pugnance he must always feel to comd
into collision with Congress, may fail to
exercise it in cases where the preserva-
tion Of the Constitution or the public good
may demand it, than thathe will exercise
it unnecessarily or wantoIly.
During the period have administered
he Executive department, great and ims
portant questions of public policy, for
eign and domestic, have arisen, upon
which it was my duty TO act. II may in5
de cd be truly said that my administers
ton has fallen in eventful times. have
felt most sensibly the weight of the high
responsibilities devolving upon me. With
no other object than the public good, and
the enduring fame and permanent pros
periy of my country, have pursued the
arbitrament of enlightened public opin.
ion in the PRESENT and in the future, will
determine how far the public policy l
have ma 10 aimed, and the measures h,ve
recommended, may have tended to ad.
vance or retard public prosperity at homs'
and to elevate or depress the estimate OF
our national character abroad.
Invoking the blessings of the Almighty
up on your deliberations at your present
important session, my ardent hope is, that
10 a spirit of harmony and oncession you
may be guided TO wise results; and such
as may rebound to the happiness, the hons
or and glory of your beloved country.
JAMES X. POLK.
Washington, Dec. 4. ls49.