The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-11

that would indicate the result.
OUGHT THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF THE ARMY OF THE U. STATES
TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM THIS
COMMAND TO THE PRESIDENCY!
| This is a question now submitted to the
American people for their decision; and il
the history of all past republics is to be a
warning and guide. the question will be
easily answered. From Caesar to Crom-
well, and from Cromwell to Bonaparte, all
Republics have been destroyed by en-.
trusting the highest civil power to The Com
mander.in- Chief of their armies Now,
although we believe that Gen. Scott, as
President, could not, if he would, destroy
our liberties; yet the precedent may prove
highly dangerous in after times, when our
people shall have become more corrupt and
less jealous OF their rights. That the mil
itary should be held in strict subjection to
the civil power is maxium indispensable
to the existence Of all free Governments.
One of the grievances set forth in the dec
laration Of independence, against the King
of Great Britain. is that "he has affected
to render the military independent of, and
superior to the civil power" Liberty must
ever be guarded with watchlul jealousy,
and our revolutionary fathers. deeply i'm
pressed with this truth, took the greatest
pains in the Constitution, which they
framed to secure the superiority Of the
ciril over the military power. How would
those sturdy patriots have been grieved
and mortified, if they could have forseen
the time when their decendents would elect
the actual Commaader-in. Chief of the ar.
my to The supreme civil magistracy!U
No precedent exists in our past history
for any such suicidal attempt. Washing
ton, Jackson and Harrison, had, for years
before their election to the Presidency, been
plain farmers and private citizens. Gen.
Taylor held subordinate command in the
Army; and was reserved for Gen. Scott to
desire to march from the head quarters of
the army, his sword by his side. his chapeau
on his brow, and surrounded by all the
pomp and circumstance of war, into the
White House, at Washington. lie has
not had the grace to resign his commits
sion, even at the eleventh hour, though
this would not greatly have diminished the
danger Of the precedent. He holds on to
the honJo and emoluments of the Office
with the grasp Of fate; and we consider
this alone, if there were no other object
tions, conclusive against his election.
But there is special point Of view in
which the nomination OF the Commander
in.Chief Of the army for the Presidency is
in direct conflict with the genius OF our
institutions.
In case OF contested election for this
the highest Office on earth. the Consttu.
ton has prescribed no method of deter
mining the question. Should the case oc.
cur, and the Command Chief of the
army be one Of the inhamed and ardent
contestants for the honor, is there no dam
ger that it may be decided by the bayonet?
At such dangerous crisis, ought not the
highest military officer TO be personally
disnterested In regard 10 the result, and
ready to obey the commands of the civil
power in its efforts 10 preserve peace and the
Constitution! Instead Of this. if you make
him party 10 the contest, what can you
expect! Suppose, at the time of the con-
ested election between Jefferson and Burr,
the latter had been at the head of an army
devoted to his interest. does any person
suppose he would have yielded peaceiullyl
We know Gen. Scott to be patriotic, though
obstinate, self.wiled, and wholly untitled
for civil affairs; and whilst we honor him
for his distinguished military services we
firmly believe his election 10 the Presiden-
cy would be serious evil to the country,
and would establish precedent which
may prove destructive TO its liberties and
its constitution. We invite ourlellow citi-
zens to consider this question in these
highly dangerous aspects.-Investigator.
& TuIE