New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1864-01-29
DANIEL WEBSTER ON ARBITRARY
POWER.

DANIEL WEBSTER ON ARBITRARY
| POWER.
1t is we'll, in times like these, says
the Dubuque Herald: to take counsel
Of those who have successfully pio'ed
the Ship Of State on her former vova-
ces, and who have received the just
comne1latlons Of the people for their
devotion to the cause of good govern
mcnt. One of their successful pilots was
Daniel Webster an American who, rs
much as any other. strsve to study th"
great chart by which the American
Ship Of State was to be guided in her
course, and one who, perhaps more than
any one else, has Jeen commended for
the knowlege he acquired of that chart,
and the use he made of it, for the bene-
fit of the Americas people.
Mr.. Webster, on the occasion Of his
addressing his fellow citizens of
Richmond, Va. gave the American
people the benefit Of his study of the
Constitution, and Of his observation of
parties ia this country. We give an
extract from that speech, and commend
it, not merely to the attentive perusa J.,
but to the careful consideration Of cur
readers, and through them to such as
can be induced to profit by the wisdom,
experience and patriotism of the great
statesman, Webster:
There are still other rodes by
which executive power is established
and confirmed. The first thing it
seeks to do is to draw strict lines of
party distinction, and then appeal to
the party feelings of men. This is a
topic which might lead me very far in
to an inquiry al to the causes which
have overturned all popular govern
nents. It is the nature ofmen to be
credulous and confling toward their
friends. Ifthere exists in the coun-
try powerful party and if the head
of that party be the head of the gov
ernment, and, avowing himself the head
of that party, gives thanks for the
public honors he has received, not to
the country, but to his party, then we
can see the causes in operation, which,
according to the we'll known character
and tendencies of man, lead US to give
undue trust and confa ence to party
favorites. Why, gentlemen, Kings and
Queens Of old, and probably in mod
eren times, have had their favorites,
and they have placed unbounded trust
in them. Well, there are sometimes
among the people persons whe are no
wiser than Kings or Queens, who have
favorites also, and give to those favori-
tes the same blind trust and confidence.
Hence it is very difficult, nay, some
times impossible, to convince party
that the man at its head exercises an
undue am cunt of power. They say,
He is our friend; the more power he
wields, the better for us. because he
will WELD it for our benefit
There are two sorts Of Republicans
in the world one is very good sort;
the other, I think not. The latter care
not what power persons in Office pos
sess, if they have tho election of those
persons. They are quite willing their
favorites should exercise all power. and
are perfectly content with the tendency
of Government to an elective despo-
tism, if they may choose the man at
the head of it, and more espe cially if
they have a chance of being chosen
themselves. That is one sort of Re
publicanism. But that is not our
American liberty; that is not the Re-
publicanism Of the United States. and