Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-02-23

likes the naDlL anu uttSIIhtueS the 0lfec-
lion Of governments. Against the alarm
lug doctrine OF unlimited discretion in our
military commanders, when applied even
Ito prisoners of war, he must enter his pro-
TEST 1t began upon them; il would end
lon us. He hoped that our happy form OF
government was destined to be perpetual.
But if il were to be observed, it must be
by the practice Of virtue, by justice, by
moderation, by maguanimity, by great
ness Of soul, by keeping watchful and
steady eye on the Executive; and, above
all, by holding TO strict accountability
the military branch of the public force.
We are fighting, said Mr.. C. great
moral battle Cor the benefit, not only OF our
country, but of all mankind. The eyes
of the whole world are in fixed attention
upon us. One, and the largest portion OF
il is gazing with contempt, with jealousy
and with envy; the other portion, with
hope, with confidence, and with affection
Every where the black cloud OF legitima-
Icy is suspended over the world, save only
one bright spot, which breaks out from
the political hemisphere of the West, To
brighten, and animate, and gladden. the
human heart. Obscure that, by the down
fall of liberty here, and all mankind arc
'alshrcuded in one universal darkness. To
you, Mr.. Chairman, belongs The high
privilege of transmitting, unimpaired, to
posterity the fair character and the liber-
~ of our country. Do You expect to
execute this high trust by tramping, or
suffering TO be tsampled down, law, JUS
tics, the constitution, and the rights OF
other people? BY exhibiting examples
of inhumanity, and cruelty, and ambition ?
When the minions of despotism heard, IN
Europe, of the seizure oil Pensacola, how
did they chuckle, aud chide the admirers
Of our institutions, tauntingly pointing to
the demonstrations of spirit Of injustice
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT made by our country,
~ the midst of amicable negotiation.
Behold, said they, the conduct OF those
who are constantly reproaching kings.
You saw how those admirers were as
founded aud hung their heads. You saw
too, when that il!ustrious man, who pre-
sides over us, adopted his pacific, mode
rate and just course, how they once
more lifted up their heads, with exultatiou
AID delight beaming 10 their countenances.
And you saw how those minions them
selves were finally compelled TO unite IN
he general praises bestowed upon our
government. Beware how you forfeit this
exalted character. Beware how you give
fatal sanction, in this infant period of
orr republic, scarcely yet two score years
old, to military insubordinations. Re
member that Greece had her Alexander.
Rome her Caesar, England her Cromwell
France her Bonaparte, aud, that if We
would escape the rock on which they
split, we must avoid their errors.
| How different has been the treatment
lof Gen. Jaeksns, and that modest but he
roic young man, native of one of the
smallest states in the union; who achiev-
ed for his couptry Oh Lake Erie, one of
he most glorious victories of the late war.
Ia a moment of passion he forgot himself,
and off red an act of violence, which wa.
repented as soon as perpetrated. He was
tried and suffered the judgment pronounc-
| ed by his peers. Public justice was
thought not even then to be satisfied. The
Press and Congress took up the subject
Ny honorable friend from Virginia, (Mr.
Johnson) the faithful and consistent cen
incl Of the law and of the constitutions.
dsapproved, in that instance, as he does
in this, and moved an inquiry. The pub
tic mind remained agitated and unappeas-
ed until the recent atopement, so honora
bly, made by the gallant commodore. Aud
was there to be distinction between the
| officers Of the two branches of the public
service? Are former services, however
eminent, to protect from even inquiring
INTO recent misconduct? Is there to be no
limit, no prudential bounds to the national
gratitude He was not disposed to cen.
sure the President for not ordering a
court OF inquiry or general court mar
lial. Perhaps, impelled by sense of that
gratitude, he determined by anticipation,
TO extend to the general that pardon which
he bad the undoubted right to grant after
sentence. Let us, said Mr.. G. not shrink
from our duty. Let us assert our coDsli-
tutional powers, and vindicate the instru-
ment from military violation.
lie hoped gentlemen would deliberately
survey the awful position on which we
stand. They may bear down all opposi-
non; they may even vote the general the
public thanks: they may carry him tri.
imphanIiy through this house. But, i'll
they do, in my humble judgment, it will
DC triumph of the principles of insubor-
dination-a triumph of the military over
the civil authority triumph over the
powers Of this house--a triumph over the
Constitution Of the land. And he prayed
most devOutly to heaven, that it might