Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-07-18
An old-Time statasman On Some National
Dangers.

The New York TriitEe printed, the other
day, heretofore unpublished letter written
Just twenty wears ago by Josiah Quincy,
then in his eighty-scventh year and the last
of the great Statesmen of the early days Of
the republic. liz letter is the more inter
csting from the fact thai Mr.. Quincy WAS in
he councils of the great leaders OF the time
magma par, fE'-and his word may be
taken as absolutely representing their views
on a question which is daily rising in impor-
lance In respect /" the concluding portions
of his letter, if Mr.. Quincy to9k view to
pessimistic twenty years ago, with what
horror would he look upon the condition Of
affairs to-day and if he thought 50 poorly
of political management and civic virtue
then, what would he think if he could look
upon the nation now: But though the
mutations of time have not yet abolished the
old forms Of party strife" and civic ambi-
ton is yet held lower than self-aggrandize-
ment, undoubtedly Mr.. Quincy's hope in
Time and Providence will yet he justified and
his prophecy he fulfilled. Mr.. Quincy's
letter is as follows:
Whether the trainers of the constitution
ever expected and intended To infer by its
language tnt theelcctoral colleges should act
independently and unintluenced by the will
of the Legislatures which appointed them,
unintimid,ied by party and irresponsible to
any but God and their country, may, think,
he REASONABLY questioned. They made the
best provision for the mode of elccting the
chief mag sratcs the nature of the case per
mitted. But they understood into what
hands thu construction of the powers vested
by the Constitution would fail that inter
ests depending upon the selection of candi-
dates wGe all-absorbng; that ambitious as
well as vrtuous spirits would he on the watch
for asccldancy, and the opportunity To APP
point electors would he seized upon and used
to sccur, the appointment of men subser-
Went to he prevailing faction of the time;
and thai whatever the terms OF the Consti-
| tuition night intimate the practical result
would IL that the respective electoral colleges
would lc nothing else than mnutll-picces OF
the PREVAILING faction in each State, chosen
for that purpose and acting under pledge To
! that ell 'ct previously given, or getting under
the influence al prcIominating affinities.
Undoubtedly, time, emigration and facilities
of intercourse have ln,yraScd the number
and power of corrupt inue4ccs
But such have always eXis,cI from the
| first movement of the government although
in degree far less gross and oilensl,o than
, tho=c We at this day realize. Circumstances
In the early periods of the Constitution gave
Ia the sound n.cr Tic Eaxiaul elements
which exist in rvcry political association a
predominancy they do not naturally enjoy.
In the first Presidential election the over
whelming popularity of Washington makes
that election anomalous yet evenin it party
spirit and intrigue were seen, in the case of
id4n,s, aha was run ON the same ticket
with Nashingion-i Interfering with and con
'-nililg tho Independence Of the electoral
COLLEGES 10 .''slc assurance doubly sure that
his vote should not Il, Haiial ~ thai NJ WASH
ington. In the second election It was lhe
same. Party spirit and prejudice combined
for the same purpose TO influence the inde,
pendent action of the electors. in The th,ru
election every influence was Applied
pamphlets were written. addressed to them
in effect as the organs III party and
10 direct them into paths which
party spirit required this, too, by men
second to none in point of efficiency
in framing the Constitution. In the fourth
Presidential election, party spirit and in
trigue did their perfect work Long before
emigration and facilities of communication
had enlarged and strengthened those in
fluences they had power enough not only TO
make the President, but to give direction
to the whole course nf The Government for
fifty years. and it is yet to he proved not to
be- perpetual Aaron BUR-, who was little
else than the pcrsonification OF political in-
trigue, was, politically speaking, the creator
of Thomas Jefferson. Burr raised him to
the Presidency. Ir the cNerciRa OF that con-
summate, unprincipied intrigue 81 which
Burr was master, he cOntrived 10 vest III his
own hand the power of the whole electoral
college Of New York With this under his
control he travelled to the South negotiated
with Jefferson, and in result. by the votes OF
that electoral college raised him 10 the Presi
dency. The newspapers of the day scented
the result OF his journey. I'VE under
stand, they said. ''ihai Burr is rolling
southwark there is question Fiere r'H
stick hut the general opinion is that i .tiH
stick 1t nothing" an expression which com
presses the character oi such political in
triguers in = nutshell.
Such were the workings of the Coastitu-
ton in its earliest times President making
will be the absorbing business of all future
time, as it has been of all past The chance /.
it presents..to cupidity and ambition is tenn
iation absolutely irresistible-too dazzling |
and corrupting for human virtue TO bear in !
its purest state. What hope, then, in the ,
actual state of public Virtue:
Is there any hope in the change of the |
constitution Who must effect that change .
the people? But they are divided in fac /
ions, To each of whom the will of the leader is /
aw. to whom the hope is of victory. Can
I be hoped that they will support a diminu-
ion of the means Of success or OF the num-
Der and value of thu spoils The leaders pre-
er things IA they are AMI the multitude
nave neither voice nor thought but in coinci-
icncc with their leaders
But is there no hope? believe hut in Nv"
Time and PrOridtHrt. The first will show
he designs Of the last, and lie shapes the
nds' of Nations as well rs OF individuals,
trough hcw them ~ We will" The Consll-
ution must he permitted to act as il is until
t clears itself by the action of that public
'irtuc which, although it slunbrrs exists in
he body of the people, or until the move
ncnt Of the machine becomes So uhstructrd
" official corruption and sclfishncss that
aturc cannot Longer endure it, and by spas
hodic cNrriinn relieves ibr Constitution of
IS Instructions.
TmE New York EremiAg Pest one nt the
most careful and conservative OF papers and