Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1912-06-14
Daniel Webster on Rooseveltism

Daniel Webster on R0OScveltiSm
Address at Bangor, Me-, in 1885, reprinted in
New York Sun.
Another object of the Constitution
take to be such as is common to all
written constitutions of free govern
ments, that is, to fix limits to delegat-
ed authority, or in other words to
impose constitutional restraints on
political power. Some, who esteem
themselves Republicans, seem to think
no other security for public liberty
necessary than a provision for
popular choice of rulers. If political
power be delegated Power they enter
tain little fear of its being abused.
The peoples servants and favorities.
they think may be safely trusted.
Our fathers certainly were not of this
school. They sought to make assur-
ance doubly sure by providing, in the
first place, for the election of political
agents by the people themselves at
short intervals; and, in the next place,
by prescribing constitutional re-
straints on all branches OF this delc-
ated authority. 1t is not among the
circumstances of the times most
ominous for good that diminished
estimate appears to be placed on these
constitutional securities. A DISPOSE
ton is but too prevalent to substitute
personal confidence for legal re-
straint; to put trust in men rather
than in principles; and this DISPOSE
ton being strongest, as it most OBJ
viously is, whenever party spirit pre-
walls to the greatest extent, it is not
without reason that fears are enter
tanned of the existence of spirit
tending strongly to an unlimited, it it
be an elective, government.
Surely, gentlemen, this Government
can go through no such change.
Long before that change could take
place the Constitution would be shat
tered to pieces and the Union of the
States become matter of past history.
To the Union, therefore, as we'll as to
civil liberty, to every interest which
we enjoy and value, to all that makes
Us proud of country, or which renders
country lovely ir our eyes, or dear
to our hearts, nothing can be more
repugnant, nothing more hostile,
nothing more directly destructive,
than excessive, unlimited, upconstitu-
tonal confidence in men; nothing
worse than the doctrine that official
agents may interpret the public will in
their own. way, in defiance of the
Constitution and the Jaws; or that
they may set up anything for the dec
| laration of that will except the Con-
stitution and the laws themselves: or
that any public officer, high or low,
should undertake to constitute him
self or call himself the representative
of the people except SO far as the Con-
stitution and the laws create and de-
nominate him such representative.
There is no usurpation so dangerous
as that which comes in the borrowed
name of the people. If from some
| other authority Or other source pre-
negatives be attempted to be forced
upon the people, they naturally OPP
pose and resist it. 1t is an open
enemy, and they can easily suddue it.
But that which processes to act in
their own name, and bv their author
lty, that which calls itself their SER
want, although it exercises their power
without legal right or constitutional
sanction. requires somethi ng more OF
vigilance to detect and something
more of stern patriotism to repress; ;
and if it be not seasonably both de-
tected and repressed, then the republic
is already in the downward path oil
those which have gone before it.
l hold, therefore, gentlemen, that a
strict submission by every branch o.
the Cover nment to the limitations anG
restraints of the Constitution is o.
the very essence of all security for the
preservation Of liberty, and that nc
lone can be a true and intelligen
friend of that liberty who will Con-
sent that any man in public station
whatever he may think of the honest,
of his motives, shall assume to ex
ercise an authority above the Con
stitution and the laws. Whatevel
government is not government O
laws is desp 'tism, let it be called
what il may