Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-10-07
For the SPECTATOR.
United, We Stand; Divided, We Fall.
No. 5.

Tie conservative features of the cousti-
tuition which wisely provide against ez-
cesses and mistakes, and give eff ;iency and
stability to the government, are assailed
by the veriest tyros in the science, because,
forsooth, it appears popular in the estima-
ton of those who do rot know or see the
important ends to DO served by them in
shielding their very heads from the blows
of ambition and unrestrained avarice.-
President Andrew Jackson, who throttled
the Monster Bank Of Nicholas .Biddle,
which was being used as an instrument OF
oppression in contracting and then ex.
panding the currency to favor the sharp
speculators in the crops of the country, and
in placing money to suborn members OF
Congress, brought down upon himself the
denunciation of the hydra.headed corpora
ton with its multitude of dependents and
retaiDers, who in their rage at his temerity
| epdeavored to paralyze trade and bring
financial disaster on his friends and the
sections of country which sustained the
| President in the exercise of his constitu-
tional duty to the whole country. A
tremendous outcry was afterwards made
against the veto power and an amendment
to the constitution was insisted on and
made plank in the platform of tina oppos
| ing party. Time has shown the wisdom
and patriotism of "Old Hickory jackson
| in scotching the monster which was over.
| shsdowing the government and corrupting
the politicians. Modern wiseacres would
amend the constitution, to dispense with
the safeguard of electors in the choice Of
President; they would elect the judges by
the outburst of the popular voice; they
would elect the Senators who are designed
to be chosen with great care and considera.
ton Oh account of their patriotism, learn
ing, ability and long acquaintance with
public affairs at home and especially abroad
to constitute them fit advisors of the Presi
dent in passing on treaties with foreign
governments and in confirming or rejecting
the appointees by the President OF Judges
foreign Ministers and all the other higt
and important functionaries. Here is the
exercise of most delicate and responsible
public trust. which is too often overlooked
BIZ Legislators, or undervalued in the choice
of Senators as at present elected. Tn,
United States Senate stand at the side o
the President to protect the country from
the passionate and hasty legislation of thu
House, and to counsel the President in hi
!, responsible appointments. A striking il.
lustration of this safeguard was furnished
last winter, when the turbulent and defian
mad majority of the House of Representa-
tives, led on end Infatuated by the notori.
GUS Speaker Reed, to the passage of tn
Ubiquitous and dangerous "Force Bill,
filled the Southern country with alarm ant
t apprehension, and shocked the patriot
sentiment of every section, there stood t.
the rescue not only the Democratic Sena
tors to a man, but patriotic Republican
Senators refused to allow the outrage t.
, pass, to the joy and peace of the country
And now, eAcaped from this dire calamit
for the present, we see incorporated in tn
! platform of q new third party, composer
= largely of Southern Democrats, a plank t
, change the Constitution and make Senator
,, elective by popular outory, whether it b
sscrucify him cruelty him ~ or hail t
, the head devil, who would stride over tn
, liberties of PROSTATE people for brie
authority for which he is Incompetent an
totally unworthy.
Must the lost liberties embodied OF al
r the ages rise up in ghastly array and re
buke the consummate folly and stupidit
of men who "know not what they do?'
Would they have the conservative Senate
the central figure and safeguard of tn
Constitution taken from the Legislature
and brought under the dominion of 9Th
Force Bill?" Let every friend Of Washing
, ton and his compatriots; every friend o
the Constitution; every friend of the coun
try and liberty forbid. Let that Almight
: Hand, to whom Washington SO often ap
, pealed in behalf of his country, forbid tina
, they shall lay their impious hands on tina
sacred instrument CITIZEN.