Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-01
EXECUTIVE DICTATION AND CON-
GREssIONAL PREsUMPTIoN.

GREsSIONAL PRESUMPTION.
Andrew Jackson came into power upon the
overthrow Of Congressional caucusses, and in
augurated the convention system. There was
much wisdom in taking from such intriguing
cabals the control Of interests so important to
the common veal of the country. The abuses
that have gradually crept into the latter sys-
people, will prove that we have only snapped
"devil for WITCH" for we find now, harmo-
nously blended, the Executive with some Of
the National Legislators, for the purpose of
sitting the popular voice, and making the crea-
lures the dictators Of the sovereign. To this
we object; we demonstrate against 1t as anti
epublican-subversive of the approved sys-
tenn Of our Government, and in positive default
of the spirit of our free Institutions. We hate
demagoguism especially that kind OF dema-
goguism that seeks to govern the popular will
by dattery, hypocrisy, and deceit. Appeals to
the passions and the prejudices of the people,
have too often their foundation in the msera
bic objects and purposes OF political tricksters
This is the other extreme, which IS equally re-
prehensible. But it is our purpose, this morn
ing, to show how entirely the people have parted
with their immunities as the only sovereigns
Of this free land Of ours, if they shall fail TO
be aroused from their lethargy and resent this
modern but most offensive mode of their po-
litical representatives who presume to dictate
to them the man whom they shall have to rule
over them. OF Executive dictation we have
before spoken. Indeed, so insolently has it
run riot, that it has not been content with the
base employment Of the peoples money to sub
jugate the peoples aoiil, but it has been deemed
necessary to resort even to the personal pledges
Of the President himself to effect its nefhrious
ends. Nor does it seem to have made the
slightest impression upon the public mind,
that these personal pledges of our Presidential
lobbiest have not only been dsregarded, but
absolutely had never the least foundation for
them IN fact! The law which Furnishes the
man who obtains money under false pretences,
does its mission but there is a blank in the
political statute book, which allows to go un-
whipped of justice the political felon who pros
titutes even his private honor for his political
designs This may not be amended; but as
long as We have the power to drive quill, we
will hold up all such monsters or lusuS nature
to popular Indignation and popular horror
There is no morality in squirting at these de-
formities, because, forsooth, they exist in the
President OF the United States. Nor is it
valid or reputable excuse, to say that the IN
terests # the party require US to pass them
without notice The Democratic party has
lost all its charms for us when it shall inaugu-
rate into its platform any such hideous princi-
pie. 1t is because we believe in its integrity,
that we come thus to its rescue from the do
minion Of the personal and political corruption
in its present rulers. Let senators and mem
beers Of the House repose, if they can, quietly
upon the couch Of consolation which bids them
hope that the scales will not fall from the eyes
of the people, their only Legitimate rulers !
Those scales shall fal!-that film shall be re.
moved, evenif we have to be the political ocu-
list and we alone, to remove them. We do not
intend to allow recommendations, manifestoes,
pamphlets, bulletins, pronuncimentoes, worthy
Of Mexican or Costa Rican braggart rulers, to
90 out TO their constituents without exposure
from us Is that man fit to be President Of the
United States who has not the personal conf
dence Of one-twentieth Of the members Of the
rt,Y o,tbor brrro e a
Has not each one tale to tell Of the personal
bad faith Of Franklin Pierce to him? Let our
amiable neighbor, the Washington Union who
has been so kind TO notice US after nearly three
years Of sullen silence, answer. Some timid
and shaky, but honest friends say to US, "don't
strike PROSTATE man. Franklin Pierce is
dead" To such, we say now and once for all,
that we know he is dead-we know he is pros
trate but we do not intend to allow his corpse
TO be galvanized into life with another form
Our tomahawk and implements Of war are
sharpened and frightened for the first man
that attempts to rise upon his unburied politi
cal ashesl We will war upon him more siren
uously than upon the present evil. Take
any other shape but this!" And hence it is
for The reason that we desire 10 see none Of the
eminent men Of our party, whose names have
been SO prominently mentioned in connection
with the nomination at Cincinnati, blind
enough to their own, their country's, and their
party's interest, to walk into such dead. fall!
So much for Franklin Pierce and bis /" Ere.
ctHiUe dictatioR."
We nov come to the Legislative, or congress.
sional branch Of our criticism. We term thi
Congressional presumption" Is it not SO
Scarcely day passes that some member Of
Congress, Who instead ofattending 70 the more
direct interests Of the country and bis consti-
tuents, prcsumes to dictate to the latter, how,
and for whom, they are expected, By his high