American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-04-02
Tho Presidency.
FOR THE wATcHMAN.
TO the Citi%sns Of the United Stato,
r no~.I.JaJ

arrest and confinement oil Mr., Loyaillirr /. = '"e
oil the Louisiana Legislature, and the seznrs 'O't
conveyance Of Judge Hall out of the citv sna au
yond the limits the encampment, forissuine ~
OF habeas corpus to liberate him, are the high cr;n
on which the enemies OF Gen. jackson have r.T's
chiefly to damn his haid and we'll earned r sm.
Neither he nor his warmest friends DENY tba, "
these acts he assumed dictatorial power un,v,.
ranted by the federal and Louisiana con,p,;os'
But why did he venture on such an assumntion -
power! Was it because it was cong email wrb II.
principles and feelings9 Was it because he ~ t.'
lighted in tyrannizing over his countrymen and n,o,
trs'ing their liberties? Was it because h. L.5
some object of unhalowed ambition 10 accomn;.h
which he dared not own? No my fellow ri,i,sn
he was actuated by other and nobler views. Nj
ther tyranny nor excessive ambition prompted Ill.,
to have recourse to what would appear hph.bandsS
Observation-Disclosures that we're Reluctantly na,ntl
Iy taken, but resort to which was imperiouSlv 70
CURED, by the threatening, perilous state OF thine.
at that time IN the place where he was Within a.,
we'll as without New Orleans, and its enyirons l..
had enemies TO contend with. The DESTROYER va,
at hand, and II was essential to the salvation oG h
place, to prevent communication with the n.
within and what might have been its result con.
sentaneous successful co operation 1t was bette,
that the people OF New Orleans should have soms
restriction imposed on their liberties for few day
or weeks, than be deprived OF them for long be.
Rod OF time, perhaps forever - that they should
submit to temporary suspension of part oil their
rights and prviegesthan be exposedby the capture
OF the city to the loss Of their property to the raw
lshment OF their and to the rule OF the pur
and WiSe, and rirtu0uS King OF England But the
evil OF the enemy's success would not have ended
here. The navigation of the Mississippi, the grea,
outlet OF the exports OF the western states and the
principal channel Of their commercial inerccurse
with the other states and with foreign countries,
would have been obstructed. large military force
would have been allotted to the defence of the place
all that ait could have effected in forlyng it, would
nave been done and great would have been the ey
oense OF blood and treasure with the British nau
super iority) beore it could havebeen retaAen coudi
-ecature have been achieved at all The ntuiye
mind OF Jackson perceived all this, and prescIibedo
Inn the course most proper TO be taken, and his de-
soul SHRINK not from the responsibility d
aklng It, But what ought to be regarded as proofO
us superior virtue and wisdom, s. merits the highest
praise, has been converted into subject Of repoach
~ the vipers who have assaed his reputation
When peace was officially announced, and martial
aw was no longer necessary, he ceased TO enforce
t. And when the attachment was served on him
0 appear before Judge Hall, to answer for the con-
'bey the civil process that had been issued for the /
elea'e OF Mr.. Loyalier, he appeared, in submis,
non to the civil authority, before the court, and paid
he tine which his wisdom and bravery had procu' /
ed his Honor the power OF inhicing The respon'
utility he assumed was dictated by dire necessity
which, whenever It occurs is paramount 10 all pos
i've law, and ought to be obeyed The evils Just
diverted to, with the possible. il not probable dis
nemberment oil the Union, in the event OF the
nemy's success formed the necessity which i'm
'eled him to adopt the course he pursued
curse, permit me to say, which Commander CT
ess abilities, and of less virtue, would not have
Jared to resort to. When great and populous
atty or state IS menaced by enemy with capture
ma conquest and when general seizure oil prop.
'rty, dehlement OF the matron and virgin, ahc
destruction OF the freedom and lives OF the peo'
lie, are the consequences apprehended; IT is no
ime to talk and dispute about constitutional rights
he military chieltan appointed by the governments
md on whom the people depend, for the defence
II all that is dear to them, if he understand his du
y, and have the frmness and fidelity to discharge
t, must, If circumstances require it, exercise AMI
olute sway; and il in the exercise ofit, the rights
nd liberties oil some individuals should be sacrlhceu'
ought not to be imputed to despoic domneer'
ng spirit in him, but to the imperious eSigehCy
the occasion. Such necessity is, in fact, one OF
atnres laws, and, repeat it, is Of superior obIga
ton TO all positive law.
The obligation of complying with necessity OF
he Kind commended for here in military transactions
felt, and admitted without hesitation, in other hui
can concerns. For instance, ship is overtakenl
y her voyage by storm, and her loss with thar Oh
II the lives on board can be prevented only py
hrowlng over part or the whole of the cargo anI
y order OF the master it is done Now il woua
ot be more unreasonable in the owner OF the car
Q 10 censure him for this necessary act OF sell,
reservation, by complaining that he had invaded
rs rights, in committing his property TO the waves
han il has been in the adyersaries Of Gen. Jackson
animadsert on his conduct in proclaiming mar
al law at New Orleans, and for depriving, during
short time, under its authority, Mr.. Lovallller o.
is personal liberty, and abridging that OF Judge
iall Tor attempting TO liberate him, by issuing