The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-16
The Presidcncy-No. i.

citizen of the country. The state Of the world ia
such to make the inquiry, Who shall be the Ex
ecutive head of the great Republic Of the world
ono OF unusuaf importance. This Republic may, 4,
and probably will, be called upon during the next
Presidential term to enact part, as one of the
| family of nations, requiring great wisdom. tho
rough understanding Of her rights and duties.
combined with patriotic and unhinchng deter
mination to maintain those rights and discharge
those duties.
AT home, too, we are TO bear in mind that the
| area OF our country has increased beyond all anti
cipation at the time OF the adoption of the Constu
ton. No ordinary wisdom, experience, and skill
will suffice to extend iederative system as TO
unite this vast whole, and preserve it in harmony
| Of interest and feeling. Union is as of much i'm.
portance now as it TO the preservation OF
liberty yet the Union ID not now what it was WI hen
the States have increased from thirteen TO thirty
one, with vast territories out OF which States
| must soon be formed to swell this number. 1t il
the duty OF the citizen who presdcs over the Gov
| ernment of this country not only TO see that its
laws arc faithfully executed, but TO recommend 10
Congress the Legislation required for the good OF
| the whole. Can any man say that ordinary capa-
city and experience sufficient for discharge
| Of these duties?
| Again: No observing citizen can fail TO see that
under the lead Of the modern doctrine Of ayailabl
iy in the choice OF officers elected by the people,
| our balls Of Legislation, State and National, the
high executive officer Of our State government,
and the benches Of the judiciary itself, have, for
| the most part, come to be filled with inferior
men-inferior in abilities, in learning, and in mo
| raj character; and il has become absolutely neccs
4 sary, in order to rescue republican governments
from contempt, to elevate the tone of public scnti
ment, and to demand those qualifications. in the
| L.
shall enable the people to look up them, and not
| compel them to look do~n upon them. In every
profession, in every science, and III every art,
| there have been rapid advances towards perfection
| in this country.
Among agriculturists, mechanics, inanuiactur-
crs, and members of the learned professions, the
! number Of intelligent, we'll informed, bright ac-
tive, and efficient men, ID far greater than it was
a few years ago-the masses OF the people bet
ter educated; but will any candid man say that our
legislators, our magistrates, our Judges, our gov
ernors, our presidents, bear a favorable compari-
son with those who filled the same offices in the
carly days of the Republic? Certainly not. Ger
| tainly not Higher qualifications demanded in
agents Of every description now than formerly
but the agents Of the people to whom for season
is committed the sovereign power OF State-in these
the standard of qualification is lowered.
brought popular elections by the French nation
in the choice OF its chief magistrate. What, then,
shall be done by us? Shall not show to the
world that republican America can and will elect
her most eminent, her most deserving son, TO the
highest political position under her Government
w hat can more o1ectually wipe away all reproach
from republican governmens3 This easily be
done If active men-the men of business OF the
country-will take the matter earnestly in hand.
Let them be persuaded, entreated, admonished to
suspend, for a brief season, their selfish pursuits
n them abatc their ardor to clutch the fruit which
IN the tree of liberty, and devote short
he protection and defence OF the tree
its>
Inv. considerations, it would seem
that is u. beyond any that has precc
ded it, that the It TO seek to realize the
description, as just 'fnl, of patriot
President contained in the ''etcb, drawn
by a master hand in the city q.
"a patriot President of the UNI,
guardian, the protector, the friend oi
in them lie should be- and he is, no mana
but the supporter and the protector Of all and
citizen, so far as such support and protection
pend on his faithful execution OF the laws. But
there is especially one great idea which Washing
ton presents, and which governed him, and which
should govern every man in high office, who
means 10 resemble Washington; that Is, the duty
of preserving the Government itself; OF suffering,
so lar depends on him, no one branch to inter
fcre with another, and no power to be assumed not
belonging to each. and none abandoned which per-
tains each; but TO preserve II and carry II on IN
harmed for the benefit Of the present and future
generation.
"A wise and prudent shpmaster makes il his
fret duty to preserve the vessel which carries him
and his passengers, and all that is committed TO
his charge; to keep her ahoai, TO conduct her TO
her destined port with entire security Of property
and life; that is his first object, and that should be
al. e.f a a..
United States who has proper appreciation of his
duty. His fret and highest duty s 10 preserve the
Constitution which bcsrs him, which sustsins the
Government, without which every thing goes to
the bottom; to preserve that, and keep it, with the
utmost Of his ability and foresight off the rocks and
shoals and away from the quick.ands; to accom-
plisb this great end he exercises the caution Of the
experienced navigator. lie suffers nothing TO be e
tray his watcbfulness, or to draw him aside from
the great interest committed TO his care; but is al
ways awake, always solicitous, always an ous, for
the safety OF the ship which is TO carry him through
| the stormy seos.
"'Though pleased to see the dolphins play,
lie minds the compass and his way;
And oft he throws the wary lead,
| To see what dangers may bc hid
| At helm he makes his reason sit,
| Ills crew OF passions all submit.
| Thus thus he steers his barquc, aud rails
| On upright keel to meet the gales
| Now, n patriot President acting from the im.
| pulses Of high and honorable purpose, may reach
|
raise high the public prosperity, to help to fill up
| the measure OF his country's glory and renovn;
and he may be able to find n rich reward in tho
thankfulDcss Of the people.
"'And read his history in a nations eyes "
| But where is the man who can come up to this
description For whom is the portrait drawn
| We hope our country contains many citizens who
| might sit for il. But, without disparagement TO
| any, there is one whose lincaments IL describes
with peculiar accuracy. Who is hei Read the
description in the Normal School in this city, in
every college and higher seminary Of learning, in
every large public school of the country, and ask,
| Who is the man thousand voices will cry out.
DANIEL wrpsTEa. TIE very children Of the land
know his character by heart.
In my next shall pursue the subject.
WING FROM TIE START.
SrGcIk At NEw YoRK.---Americon gold. old
coin, loo a 1867; American gold, new, 100 n 100,
half dollars, l0l l0l.; Spanish dollars, lO7 a los;
Spanish quarter dollars, 1907 lOl; Carolus dollars
i07 l0S heavy Guinea, 500; Mexican dolsrs
lila.