The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-30
THE PRESIDENT AND THE OPPOSITION.

THE PRESlDENT AND TdE OfTOSlIlON.
The position occupied by the President in virtue Of his
Office the considerations that necessarily influence his
administration of public affairs so essentially different
from the position and the influences that those who
compose the opposition him. that they deserve careful
and dspassonate examination to subserve the ends of JUS
tce and to promote the public veal.
The Presidents position is wholly national made SO ny
the character of his office and the duties it enoins He
represents all matters the national sovereignty and in
terest He can limit no object anything less than
its general bearing upon the whole country directly or in
directly There is connection and continuity that must
necessarily extend to the entire federal Union lie must in
all things official, be national
His functions are derived from his Office, and their fulfil
n, &; the measure Of his duty He has authority to
make them less than the constitution has made the nor
n make then, more than the constitution limits. He is
hedged in on all sides by tie constitution and cannot take
one sep beyond its boundary without ncurrng its fearful
consequences.
lie holds this weghty trust in view of tie great response
bities it imposes and the momentous accountability 10
which he amenabe He holds it under all The infu-
ences that can stimulate honest ambition and all the inee
lives that can bind fidelity duty He stands alone in the
scr,ue of his sphere and the limits of his obligations
Tho o,ssion as it a termed is by the force of crcum-
lta
concrete without any of the afnities of permanent cohe
son and inevitably dissolve from the nature Oh i
elements
Its phases are SO variable and fs body 80 segregated
hat Il ees thorough classification its position is nte
grail and local. without any national unit q
obligation 1t is governed by volition without limit or
restraint and without accountability 1t exists ~ puohc
and in private life-some to extent and some to
inf opd potu poDo
for one object and some for others without concert or
unity of purpose.
section Of this opposition is composed Of politicians,
lin the ordinary acceptaon of the term They are SO
surroupded by mere personal considerations and inn-
enced by selfish Objects that national obligations and in-
eress are only secondary In the absence of all accouna-
biity practising upon the largest liberty their patriot
ism is the counterfeit presennent of their character
There are some in this opposition who have scarcely
habation or name, less indignant and clamorous
than the boldest the hastings They are constantly
watching the direction of the currents that they catch
the drwood Of the reshets and for the accomplishment
of this aoaisg capital they would sacrifice the President
and the country
large portion OF the opposition made up of antago
nsm in the original formation of parties They are there
by sort of political necessity OF their own, under the d
ranks of the opposition who find themselves there by the al
urements of hope the sting Of disappointment the desire OF
revenge the specuatons of ambition and the inhrmities
that carry some minds to universal oppugnaton
1t will thus he seem in this matter of great public con-
Germ the President party TO the ISSUE is unit in the
federal centre representing the entirety OF the nation under
absolute and specified powers and the most binding ob
cations The opposon the other party to the ISSUE is
;rd;v ;Jo taox Mt md
powers responsibility, obligations partaking OF every
shade of opinion variety motive end latitude of action
The President from necessity is acting upon and within
the constitution The opposition act ad hbit"m without
the njuncons the constitution any recognised obi
CATION The President is acting for the country in ODE
dience to his high commission The opposition may act
against the country, and they may act as they please
Who will the sovereign people holding the appellate
power suppot Will they sustain the responsible head of
the government who is there by their election and who
can have no object separate from the best interests and
honor of the country and the faithful performance Of every
duty or will they by their countenance strengthen the
disturbing and dangerous nueoce of factous maynard
and irresponsible opposition
These few remarks thrown out suggestive of the
importance and amplitude of great question: for public
consideration.
IOWA RECOVERING.