American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-04-19
THE COLUMBIAN OBSERVER.


THE COLUMBIAN OBSERVER.
A new paper under this title, recently established
in Philadelphia, commences its career in bold and
somewhat rude tone against those gentlemen who
have been named candidates for the next presi-I
dency. The editor denounces them by wholesale,
as demagog,tes who have nstigaed their PERSONAL
factions to an unreasonable onset in the struggle"
There is self suficiency in this language very
common TO young journalists and young men.
Like bottle of new ale, they open with an explo-
sion indicating an abundance of froth and fume but
great want OF body. Without Offering AN opinion
upon the merits of the several candidates alluded to
under the term " demagogues.' we conceive that
they at least entitled to be spoken of with the
common courtesy due from gentleman to an.
other.
1t is Vulgar error to suppose that patriotism
consists in abusing men in office, merely because
they are in Office. We know not in what political
dictionary the editor has discovered that such men
as are named in the list of candidates for the pres-
dency, given bellows are to be termed demagogues
They may be intriguing men, disciples oil Machi-
ave, or of any other master in the arcana of poll
tcal management; but they certainly have none of
the characteristics about them Of that low, clamor
ous factious character, usually called demagogue
They are admitted on all hands, to be men Of great
abilities; and correct and gentlemany at least, in
their department.. Whatever therefore, NAV
| be the feelings of the editor towards these per-
sons, he has certainly fallen upon wrong word to
express them; and would advise him to recall it
and search his dictionary for one more suitable.
If every thing were called by its proper name,
these gentlemen would not have been termed demo-
lgogues; would John Randolph have been styled
| by the Columbian Observer, statesman scarcely
second to the first in the country. 1t is scarcely
credible at this day, that any writer of common
sense and common information, would attempt TO
hold up that ignis 5auuS John RandoLh as states.
man that dignfes and adorns the present age oil
/ American politics and enLghfen8 the deliberations
| of the national legislature by his qvisdom and eo.
lquence J" as one who " holds station at once emil
nent, brilliant and useful; and while his abilities en-.
title him to high resfiect and his principles of con
stitutional liberty to hroound esteem and confidence
the long term OF his services as representative oil
he people, mark HIM as shecial object Of our De-
neration and gratitude" When we Grst perused the
Particle OF which this is specimen, we thought il
intended as buFlesque upon the eccentric person
i age whom 1t beolaubs so unsparingy and can
scarcely yet suppose that the writer is serious in
i speaking thus Of man whose political inconsisten
lcies glaring and whose eccentricities are
wildly irregular, to leave his admirers and friends
no other excuse for his conduct than the presump
ton of his INSANITY. In the whole course of our po
u cal experience, we remember but one subject or
which John Randolph has displayed any thing like
consistency, or soundness of political Judgment
We mean the Yazoo question striking that out o
the account, his political course at least during X
Years past has been wild, cratic and in many in
Istances mischievous Petuent, overbearing and in
lsulting in debate with all his powers Of oratory hi
has lost all the weight he had in congress ant
: never now influences single vote. He rails a
Ievery measure and abuses every man but neve
e attempts to correct public by suggesting am
useful measure himself His name will serve
L "To paint moral and adorn tale,"
fl and he himself will be regarded the most extra
Iordinary instance on record, of man who, will
: great powers entrusted to him by nature, marre
the bounty of his creator, and rendered himself ut
j. tery insignificant by his own folly.
al LIST OF Observation-Disclosures John @. Adam
AL New Fork, Dewitt Clinton, Rufus King, Smith Thomson
! d. D. Tompkins. Pennsylvania, Henry Baldwin. Obi
d VIM. Ii. Harrison Virginia, James Monroe, Spence
al Roane. Kentucky, Henry Clay. North Carolina Nathan
e Macon Tennessee Andrew Jackson. South Carokn
" John C. Calhoun, William Lowndes. Georgia, VIM. |
e Crawford.