New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-03
AMERICAN POLITICS.

TION-ACTIvE SUPPORT OF THE CONSTITUTION
THE DUTY OF CONSERVATIVE MEN.
Iron AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBOShl
NEw-HAyEy, April 29.-Prof. W. G. Sumner Ne
Gently delivered an address before the Kent Cino
of the Yale Law School, and though the subject was
ANDREW JaeksOn's Administration" as annOunced'
yet it was in fact a practical lecture on present
American politics. Because Jackson's AdmiIllstra-
ton was 80 rich in interesting facts for poItlcai
and social philosopher that subject was cnoseh' Duo
the point of the lecture was in its application.
Prof said that the misfortune OF social anu
political science is that It is burdened with the ignorance
and concet that have been expelled from the physical
sciences the methods which have been pursued are
correct any is able without previous care OF study
strkesout the solution Of difficult social problem for
which solution he give guarantee TO anybody else
then the social sciences given TO endless ana
contemplate wrangling and unworthy Of the time
and attention OF sober But the science OF human
life is not mass OF guesses a tangle Of dogmas or
bundle OF sentiments and sohearted wishes Only by
scientific methods and sound results be gained
Under FORMS history and statistics, are the pne
of social science presented Our misfortune ana
humiliation are that history Is yet unwr1ten,
the only attempts worth mentioning are by Foreign
scholars in foreign tongue or these periods JaoBsons
Administration is the most fruitful coming as II dld
after the las. OF the Revolutionary generation OF Pres
dents and the transition period Of Monroes second and
John Quincy Adamss Administrations, or the ERA OF
good feeling" when parties generally were broken up
That such peace not Of great advantage 10 the co
try deprecators OF party strife would argue Is
plainly proved by the personal qarres in politics ana the
foureornered Presidential contest that followed. In
1924 the nomination OF Crawford Of Georgia by the
Democratic Congressional caucus, came a loud outcry
against the tyranny OF King Caucus and demands that
the people should elect directly though method for
this proposed. Crawford had been Secretary OF
the Treasury, and his in financial management
and toward the United States Bank made him many
enemies. A large party was already opposed to the
bank. New-Engands candidate, John Q. Adams the
candidate OF the West Henry Clay and Of the South
John c. Calhoun the others regularly in the field.
Andrew Jackson the fifth candidate put forward by
the House Representatives OF Tennessee Ills previous
history politics in brief, this Educated lawyer,
he had sat the Tennessee bench member Of Con-
gress WashngtOns Administration, noticeable for his
violence speech and action had become popular by his
victory NewOreans and by his resistance in obeyng
writ of habeas corpus for which he fined 1000,
had violated peace with spain by invading Florida in
the Seminole War OF 1918, and had added to his popu
arty by ordering the execution in the same campaign,
OF two British subjects suspected OF beng SPIES only one
Of whom was condemned TO death by c0urtmartal.
Two widely different opinions were held OF aim,
his opponents thinking him violent, self-willed'
ignorant unframed credtng him with soldiery viz
and mperectons, but denying his qualifications for
ruler while his supporters admired him a. military
hero praised his violations OF international law, APP
proved his hangings recognized IN hun Kindred spirit
with equal contempt for history law and European ira
ditiOns and liked his blunt, rough manners. Jackson
was in sense OutgrOwth Of his times. JettrsOnian
ideas had been rapidly spreading, ideas which had be-
come fixed in political phrases which soon became poiu
cal of which the moiety of truth disappeared and
the falsehOOd became the badge OF political orthodoxy
Great prominence given to the idea OF the denoc-
racy the the ballot and the rule OF the numerical
majority. The Will OF the people" held paramount
to the Constitution; which is nothing more than saying
that to do az you choose superior doing you have
agreed and it had become political dogma that If there
are only enough Of you together when you do you
have mind to- you do right. Substitute the
present the past here and the IL true Gen
popularity and influence were not created by
him ALL but because he exactly fitted as leader
into the rising class OF persons with small property no
and crude notions OF politics and finance, OF
which class he the leader long as he lived an
illustration OF the wider historical generalization that the
prominent man and his surroundings always act and
act On each other The old question to which causes
the other Is idle.
A convention OF BlOunt Comfy. Tenn, supporting
Jackson showed him 10 have vigorous following, and
he was soon acknowledged the candidate. In
the Electoral College, Jackson had 80 votes Adams, 81
Crawford, Al, and Clay 81, Calhoun having with
drawn altogether in favor Of Jackson expecting the next
term himself as Jackson pronounced himself FOL only
term. Clay being shut out from the vote IN the House or
Representatives, his friends voted for Adams, who re-
ceived OF 13 states to for Jackson and Tor
Crawford friends then advanced the doctrine
that a. he had plurality OF the votes Of the Electoral
College il was the will Of the people that he should be
elected This doctrine opposed the clause Of the Con
sttuton which provides that the House OF Representa-
ves shall elect President from the three highest cand
dates cases sharply defines the anagonsm be-
tween permanent specification OF the Constitution
and the m0meniary will OF the people-between sober,
dispassionate judi nsnt To what generally wise and
a special Inconvenience disappointment. 1t is the
same conflict whether in the efforts Of individual TO
his wayward impulses by general principles OF
OF great democratic republic seeking 10 obtain stability
and imperial majesty by binding the swaying wishes OF
the hour under broad and sacred constitutional pro-
visions 1t was he opening OF that issue which vital
to tns republic the which parties must ever re-
turn ana about which they will always fOrn long
this experiment lasts, the issue OF consututlonaism
versus democracy, OF law versus sewi the question
bond IL the loyalty Of the individual citizen TO the Con
stutiOn and the Avs or democracy IN when al any
the laws and the Constitution may give way 10 what
sli ,,,,in lI1 evre 4ed Cen Iafk.an was from the
time OF his election, the exponent Of the latter theory
nonn1arv understood Political history and tradition
nave tte continuity with us, but the Jacksonian doc
tre has perneated whole community tar TOO deeply
True i M Az ~, tr nc Sla ~ ,Io
citizens Is what now needs explaining and enforcing
the solution OF the great problems which,
as We are told every side, Deset the republic.
JACKsoNs ADMINISTRATIONS.
After four years campaign, during John Quincy
Adans's Administration, Jackson elected In 1s2s by
Us votes ~ So for Adams Immediately sO-ca!ed
forms began. Removals from office were made
for the benefit of the Presidents friends, although
before this the tenure OF office in the public service had
generally been during efficiency or good behavior not
withstandng many removals when Jefferson went into
neciency and corruption steadily and Justly Increased
acksOns first Cabinet consisted OF obscure men, remark
able only for their loyalty 10 the person Of the President
The appointments 10 the inferior offices generally
OF public