Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-03-15
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Who Governs
In the earlier days of the Republic, there
was a general consciousness that the people
were sovereign. The sovereignty of the people
was a principle that did not admit of argument.
1t was a principle which it would have been
considered treason to dispute, and which the
people had asserted and established in opposi-
ton to the one man sovereignty Of the British
monarchy. This sovereignty represented by
the United States Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, was admirably symbolized in the
early Independence and dignity of those bod
les. The executive respected that independ-
snce and dignity, and was therefore, itself re-
spectacle and respected. But it is now seri-
GUS question in the public mind, whether or
not popular sovereignty is not practically sub
yerted. Whether or not the executive has, by
the exercise of a daring mendacity and the
employment of its patronage, besides the ad-
ministration of the national laws, the control
of the Lawmakers.
According to the constitution each State is
in itself sovereign. 1t has exclusive control
of its own municipal affairs. Yet we have
seen high official of the Central government,
boldly interfere IN the elections of sovereign
state and threaten with official prescription,
all who dared to exercise their suffrages &C.
cording to their will and conscience. This
outrageous infraction of State sovereignty and
popular liberty, was not met as our fathers
met the imperial ukases of George the third.
The mendacious politician who did this thing
was still retained in the position which he
had disgraced, in spite of the people whose in
dependence and sovereignty he had outraged
Again we see proposition to abolish the
Missouri compact brought forward in Con-
gress; proposition which is in direct con-
fict with the national falkland in defiance
Of the public sentiment of the nation. The ex-
cutiye, placing itsefin direct conflict with the
people, sustains this measure, and openly
threatens and cajoes the peoples representa-
tives He demands that those representatives
shall disregard the will of their constitu-
ents, and shall obey him. If they become PHI
ant tools, and ''crook the pregnant hinges of
their knees he will reward them with Of
fee; if they do not he will 'visit them with
his august displeasure." History tells US that
Charles the first of England was beheaded, be-
cause he attempted to do the very thing that
Frank Pierce is doing. He attempted to con-
troll the Legislature; but such members of the
brave old parliament as he could neither bride
nor intimidate, hurled him from his throne,
and made him expatiate his treason on the
block. 1t would be well for our country, if
the people were only as jealous Of their rights
and as conscious of their just relations to the
executive as were their old Puritan ancestors.
But, so long as $52,OOO,OOO are annually
placed at the disposal of ambitious and un-
scruplulous men, SO long will there be corrup-
ton in the Government, and general demon
alization, and obsequiousness among the poll
ticians. The people should take the means Of
bribery from the hands of the President, and,
instead of having central organ of despotism
at Washington, we shall have representa-
AfO VAAoAg WINS II Nc IldNc bredb ld1cuIo duQ
great virtues, will obtain all the power he
ought to have; and who, if he is a mere adj
venturer, will not have the power to bride,
corrupt, and demoralize, the whole host of
government officials.
The people are the source of power, and
they alone should have the right of selecting
their own servants. Experience has shown
that it is not safe to delegate this power to a
man who may be temporarily at the head Of
the nation. And we hope and trust the time
may not be far distant, when men of all par
ties will see that it is of the utmost Importance
to the maintenance Of true republican liberty,
to incorporate in their political creed, that
truly democratic resolve, which was adopted
at Buffalo in lS48, at the organization of the
Free Democratic party, which demands "a re-
trenchment Of the patronage of the Federal
Government, the abolition of all unnecessary
Offices and salaries, and the election By the peo-
ple, ofall civil officers in the service of the gov
eminent so far as pracible.'