"Should the Office of Chief Magistrate Be Awarded to One Distinguished for His Military Services Rather Than to One Distinguished for His Civil Services?" Debate Speech of
William W. Avery
for the
Dialectic
Society, June 22, 1836
1
Avery, William Waightstill, 1816-1864
Page 1
"Should the office of President of the U. States be awarded
to an Individual pre'eminent for skill in civil affairs, or to one
distinguished for military services–"
Mr. President,
The
American
People present to an admiring world a more sublime and magnificent
spectacle than has ever been exhibited by any preceding nation, But a few brief
years have passed away since the ancestors of those who now compose this widely
extended confederacy, were wandering
Pilgrims
upon the shores of
America,
seperated from each other by the intervention of wide extent of Country,
exposed to the depredation of wild beast and savage, destitute of many
requisites indispensible for the sustenance of life, and subjected to the
domineering power of a Government from which they were dissevered by the broad
expanse of the ocean—A Government claiming the exclusive privilege of
regulating their affairs with a view to their own interest, a Government which
had before succeeded in crushing the mangled remains of
Poland, and
disguised under the pretext of humanity was then attempting the subjugation of
every soil that bore a germ of liberty—Yet little more than half a
century has intervened since that period, and how different the aspect that
this Country presents to the world—A population of fourteen millions now
occupy the soil once inhabited by a few despairing deserters from the land of
Tyranny and oppression—Wealth, peace and plenty pervades every cottage,
every hamlet—Our commercial relations extends over every sea, the
legislative Councils
Page 2
of our nation are filled with
men eminently distinguished for Genius and intelligence—The influence of
our free institutions felt in every clime, in every Country illumined by the
lights of cvilization, exciting the apprehensions of some, But commanding the
respect and admiration of all—thus revelling in all the luxuries that can
render life desirable, that can make it a blessing rather than a curse, we
enjoy a degree of happiness and prosperity exceeding the anticipations of the
patriot in the moments of his wildest Reverie—how imperative, how
manditory then is the duty
which devolves on
of every American citizen, in whose
bosom there glows one feeling of national pride, the pulsations of whose heart
vibrates to a single sensation excited by patiotism and love of Country; to
preserve and perpetuate unsullied and unimpaired the free institutions of our
Country, to be ever on the watch [t]owers
2 of liberty
vigilantly guarding against encroachments on our rights from within as well as
without—Our Government is in it priniciples, its tendencies, its effects
not speculatively but practically Republican—all power, all sovereignty
resides in and is derived directly from the people; through their
Representatives in congress who are if I may use the term, But the echo of the
voice will of the people, all our political relations internally and externally
are transacted, they are thefore for a period of time
of vested with a portion of the
sovereignty of the people. Yet this sovereign power is
so limited and circumscribed that they cannot
infringe the inherent rights of the people with out violating the letter and
spirit of that instrument in conformity to which they have sacredly and
solemnly sworn to regulate their actions—
Page 3
Yet these agents at all times have the reins of Government
sufficiently under their controul to undermine and subvert by a common
combination, the liberty and independance of this Country—it is therefore
of momentous importance in order to ensure the security and permanency of our
Republican institutions that every American should exercise Judgment and
circumspection in the selection even of subordinate officers of Government and
how much more imperiously
are we called upon to
dvest ourselves of all personal predilections, to sarifice all local
prejudices, all selfish considerations on the shrine of our Country
s Good, in the selection of an Individual to occupy the
preeminently distinguished station of chief Magistrate of this Country, the
highest gift in the hands of the people, approaching nearer to supreme and
dic[t]atorial
3 power than any
other officer recognised by the
constitution, the office comprising within itself one of the
coordinate Branches of this Government.
It is with regard to the prudence to be exercised in the selection
of this executive Officer that I propose to submit a few Brief
remarks—The querry offered for our discussion presents two characters the
Statesman and Military
cheftain from which
two classes it is customary for
Republicks
to elect their presiding chief
Magistrate—I maintain unhestatingly and with entire confidence in the
validity of my position that the distinguished Statesman is more justly
entitled to the suffrages of a free and enlightened
4 people than the
ambitious and aspiring Military despot—Before I proceed to adduce the
arguments upon which this assertion is substantia[t]ed,
5 it may not be
foreign to the subject to enumerate a few of those
Page 4
characteristical qalifications which render an individual competent to
discharge the important functions of President, in order that we may determine
by this standard, after an examination of the respective merits of each, to
which the precedence must be awarded—The first interrogatory of an
American when enquiring with regard to the competency of a
n Candidate for the presidential office
should invariably be this—Iis he honest? is he capable? Iis he faithful
to the
constitution and laws of his Country, and should consider him
incompetent unless he sustains this character—The term honest here used,
here used does not imply that vague and
indetermined sense, merely securing us against pitiful frauds in the ordinary
transactions of life, But it is that determined and fixed principle, interwoven
with our very existence which preserves the mind pure and uncontaminated in the
hour of political tempta[t]ion,
6 when the
glittering and fascinating prize is suited to the taste, apparently worthy an
immense hazard, and for the attainment of which so many noble beings have
sacraficed [t]ruth
7 and honour and
principle—To be capable, at once suggests all those high natural
endowments and artificial acquirements which can possibly distinguish man from
man—a higly cultivated, and comprehensive intellect, extended and
diversified information on the science of Government, unimpeachable
integrity—highly virtuous and moral sentiments, and above all and
unprejudiced and impartial decision of Character—these are indispensible
qualifications, and I will proceed in the first place to demonstrate that the
intellectual and in[t]elligent
8 statesman must as
a necessary consequence ever maintain the ascendancy in these lineaments of
[fine] character over any military chieftain—
Page 5
To become proficient in any art or science it is absolutely
necessary that we thoroughly understand its primary and fundamental principles,
and there is no profession to which man addicts himself where this is more
essential than in the persuit of arms—it is therefore customary for the
minds of young men destined for the Army to be engaged at an extremely early
period in the investigation those studies preparatory for a military life, and
soon as they attain years of discretion that age when the habits the character
and the mind recieve their indelible impress to remove them from the restraints
of the paternal roof and throw them inexperienced and vacillating in character
into a corrupt and dissolute camp, where vice corruption and licen[t]iousness
9 reign
predominant arrayed in all the charms and decorations with they can be
invested, their horrid deformeties concealed by the manly appearance which they
seem to give to the dissipated libertine—And although the youthful
Officer may resist for a time the allurements and blandishments held out for
his distruction, yet his mind becomes ultima[t]ely
10 familiarised
to such scenes by their continued presentation, and yielding to the naturally
buoyant impulse of youthful feeling, he becomes at first perhaps a reluctant
but finally a willing participant, thus are many noble minds composed of
elements of extroardinary might and Grandeur, perverted and ruined; however
successfully their
11 possessors may
conceal their moral degradation from the public eye—
Page 6
But even admitting that they should escape this dark abyss ever yawning
for their reception, yet the constant occupation of their minds by their
military duties and the laborious discipline to which they are ever subjected,
will inevitably prohibit them from acquiring that extensive and diversified
information which render an Individual capable of discharging the duties of a
civil Officer—Amidst
the disorder
confusion and revillry of the camp, they seek,
not they find not an interval of time to devote to the
cultivation of those high and enobling studies, which exalt and dignify man,
which elevate him in conception, in sentiment in feeling above the common hero,
and which invest him almost with the attributes of the deity—these are
far too refined and
su too sublimated to
accord with their vicious and perverted tastes, rendered cruel and sanguinary
by the nature of the profession they persue, their Bosom dvested of almost
every moral and virtuous feeling, they are influenced and governed in all their
movement by the most brutal vilest passions of our nature—thus ignorant,
licentious vindictive and aspiring they bow in homage at no shrine; save that
of ambition and personal aggrandizement, imbibing the bilief from its universal
prevalence amongst military Characters that self advancement should be the main
spring to human
action; they exchange the
reputation of their Country
s benefactor for that of her
destroyer and tyrant with all the suddenness of chance and fickleness of
Caprice—
Page 7
The greatest danger to be apprehended from the accession of military
chieftains to the office of President is their inevitable tendency to become
arbitrary and despotick—Experience incontestibly proves that no country
can accomplish any great and noble achievements by means of armies, unless the
personage who acts in the capacity of Generallisimo of the forces be empowered
to exercise supreme control over the subordinate officers and common soldiery,
and that he must invested temporarily with almost sovreign power—and
there is no Individual so entirely freed from the common frailties, of mankind
as not to be elated by this unfettered, untrammeled power of exacting implicit
obedience from all who surround him—The feeling of exaltation it excites
induces him to exert his authority merely for the purpose exhibiting its extent
and its latitude, until a belief of his own infallibility his own inherent
right to command and to govern becomes a permanent and fixed principle of his
nature Remove him from warlike scenes, throw around him the glittering mantle
of executive chief magistrate yet his nature, his principles will remain
unchangeably immutably the same—the
constitution of the
United
States having clothed him with the right of removal from office, he
rewards by immediate dismissal the services of those refusing to obey his
imperious mandates, and substitutes in their place sycophantick and servile
minions,
12 who willingly,
humbly acquiese in all his dictations, who are conducted in their
Page 8
meanderings through the political labyrinth by no
light, save the brilliant coruscations emitted from the executive mansion,
bright and dazzling indeed, yet serving like transient gleams of lightening or
a dark and [t]empestuous
13 night to lead
them farther and farther astray—this commingling poison with the water at
the fountain head, he consummates the objects of his wishes, by annihilating
the liberty and independence of his Country—A brief reference to the
history of bygone and even existing nations conclusively prove the truth of the
above assertion that military cheftains will become tyrants and
despots—The Roman Republick became and remained supreme mistress of the
world, whilst she entrusted the administration of her cvil affais to wise
learned and sagacious statesman—But no sooner had she removed from these
the badge of office, and reposed confidence in the professions of military
Chieftains,
14 than she fell
from her lofty pinnacle never to rise again—
The
first of the
Caesars at the head of an invincible army having subdued the enemies of
Rome and extended
her conquests to every clime, returned triumphant to the seat of empire, amidst
the acclimations of his Countrymen—The infatuated multitude dazzled by
the pomp and pageantry of his triumph, and intimidated by his show of power,
tendered for his acceptance the glittering diadem—the temptation was
irresistible—yet ere he recieved the proffered prize, the poniards of
twenty patriots had penetrated his bosom—But their noble efforts could
not revive their expiring Country the auspicious moment was seized and
despotism established on the wreck of Roman liberty—
Page 9
The efforts of the French patriots of 1798 to exterminate despotism
were partially successful
ly, and aided
by our example, success might have crowned their glorious undertaking, had
there not suddenly arose amongst them a spirit, born it would seem to ride the
whirlwind and direct the storm—Whilst the Friends of liberty throughout
France were
exulting in their apparent emancipation from the shackles of despotick
authority—
Napoleon
Bonaparte made his appearance on the arena, professing himself to be an
enthusiastick advocate for constitutional liberty, and promising to restore the
rights of an injured and oppressed people, he was recieved with open arms, and
having soon developed the powers of his extroardinary intellect he was elected
commander in chief of the United forces of
France—After
his elevation victory followed victory in rapid alternation, conquest marked
the progress of his footsteps, and he became so resistless and powerfull that
nothing short of absolute and supreme power both civil & military could
satiate his ambition; his usurpations were at first gradual but increasing in
proportion to his victories, he was finally crowned Emperor of
France—thus
was that Country again enslaved by the very power which she had created for the
preservation of her liberties—had
Bonaparte consented like the immortal
Washington after having subdued the enemies of his Country
to re[t]urn
15 his delegated
trust to those who gave it, a monument of everlasting renown might have been
rected as commemoration of his actions; But victory at the
Marengo of
his fortunes urged him to destruction at their
Moscow
16 —
Page 10
I have selected from
the History of
nu
numerous others the creer of
these two celebrated personages, as strikingly illus[t]rative
17 of the danger
to be apprehended in elevating a military chieftain to the highest office in a
Government—But unfortunately for
Americans
M
r. President it requires no reference to the History of
Bygone nations to prove the direful effects of reposing confidence in the
declarations of a military chieftain,—The last few years have afforded us
oracular demonstration too plain and too palpable to remain impercieved
by even by those whose vision either
mental or physical is the most obtuse—
The Hero of New
orleans
crowned with laurels nobly won, was elected to
the office of
Pres President by the
almost unanimous voice of his Countrymen, economy and simplicity, retrenchment
and reform were the words as his motto, and the political milennium was
predicted as being already at hand But how wofully how sadly have the patriots
of our land been dissapointed—the first prominent measure which
charaterised his administration, was an attempt to prostrate by a military
edict one of the sovreign states of this Union—The second important act
knowing full well that money is power, was the removal of the public monies
from the place where
Congress had
deposited them; which excercise of power has been pronounced by the wisest Body
of men collected in the world a flagrant violation of that instrument which he
had solemnly sworn to protect and defend—already have we narrowly escaped
a sanguinary controversy with one of the most powerful nations of
Page 11
Europe, the contest brought on and maintained by
the impatient and fiery spirit of this infatuated old man—and last but
not least he has assumed the highest prerogative of princely potentates, in
nominating as if by hereditary right a successor for the elevated state which
he now occupies—thus has this military chieftain assumed
& practically maintained the
power inherent
right of determining as to the extent of his own powers—thus has he
passed the first stage of his progress towards despotism by rendering the
executive department of our Government paramount to the constitution to
congress and to the hightest tribunals in the land—these Examples which I
have adduced,
is are to my mind evidence as confirmatory as proofs of holy
writ, that it is impolitick, that it is inimically dangerous, for Republicks to
elect their presiding officer, from that class of eminent men styled military
Heroes,—the peculiar circumstances under which they solicit the suffrages
of a free and a grateful people renders their popularity too extensive and
unlimited the influence they exercise is too uncontrouled—the people are
blinded and dazzled by their admiration for their servises
18 and are unable
to make an impartial decision, with regard to their errors and defects—it
is true that their popularity springs from one of the noblest principles
implanted in the heart of man—Gratitude to the deliverer or defender of
his Country, yet we would assuredly be acting in direct opposition to the
intentions of him who bestowed upon us this
grateful sense of sensation of gratefulness—if we we were
to confer upon him who rendered the important service the power of inflicting a
tenfold injury—
Page 12
To prevent all these calamities let our President be chosen from the
distinguished statesman of our land, from those gifted spirits who adorn and
render illustrious the legislative Councils of our nation the whole tenour
whose
lives have
19 been a
continued preparation for the occupance
of
this elevated of this elevated station—it is
the the statesman who in every age in
every country has been the first to signalise himself in attempting to dethrone
the Tyrant and the despot—it is to him in hours of great national peril,
that all
classes resort as one who is capable
of deciding on the destiny of nations—it is he who in the midst of cvil
commotion and discord s[t]ands as firm and undunted as "a rock in the
ocean that stems a thousand wild waves on the shore"
20—and it is
he that we should and must elect as President of these
United
States—Let
Americans
then adopt this as a cardinal unperishable maxim, and they may confidently hope
that our free institutions will coextensive coeternal with the existence of the
world, But should they continue as the Symtoms of the times too plainly
indicate,
to elect individuals distinguished
for naught save courage and intrepidity in deeds of noble daring, to use the
lan impressive language of the greatest
orators of this or any other age, "there now exists the Individual who
will write the history of the Republick from its commencement to its
close—"