Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-06-23
p o l. TIC AL.
FROM THE BosTo5 cENrISEL.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE crs1lNEr.
SIR
In discussing the last question with which
proposAto trouble the public--the compare.
tive dement, Of the opposition subsequent to The
war IN Massachusetts, and other places; regard
an inquiry into the policy of the war itself a.
foreign to my purpose. With the multitude
IN all countries, success is the test of wisdom.
and in this country our escape from iInpcnd-
ing calamities, of protracted war, is consider
ed blythe war-nakers,as equivalent to success,
though peace could not be made until our
ministers were expressly instructed to aban-
don the great object Of ontenton-impress-
ment; and though we were left with AN
hundred millions of additional debt, to say
nothing Of loss from other sources.
But conceding for the sake of argument,
(what is a very ample concession) that success
is merit--tbat " .tiraiss eOrOnat opas,n and as
the war was wise, the opposition was of con-
sequence impolitic and unjustiiablc come
to the comparison between the conduct of 3D.
position in Massachusetts, and in other places.
meaning to maintain, that the character mr.
moral quality of this opposition is not disin.
guIshable from that which prevailed in other
places, and was supported by those, the puri-
ty OF whose motives and love of country is not
questioned by their political adversaries.
his, however, seems to be entering upon an
immense field, and were it necessary TO sur.
vey it in its full extent, should desist from
the undertaking TO execute it would he IN
write history of the war.--But persuade
myself, thata few plain and undenable post
uiates. and as many examples, will enable me
satisfactorily to establish the position. or at
least to put those who wish to 20 further. in a
way to satisfy themselves.
itmust be allowed me then. that the char.
acter of an opposition to an administration.
consists in the moral quality of the PRINCIPLES
on which il is founded.
When such opposition is confined TO qrorar
the language of opposition, and that onlv. af.
fords evidence of its principles.
When the principles of such an opposition.
situated in different parts Of country. are ex.
pressed in language which imports similar i.
IDEAS, the character of that opposition in all
those places must be considered as The same
The proclaiming of those principles, more or
less frequently-wth more or less of zeal or
Internationally greater or smaller numbers.
and with various phraseology, so long as The
ideas expressed are alike, does not vary the
character OF the opposition, wheresoever sit
uated.
IL is moreover material 10 determine clearly.
ioF what species ofopposition State or PEG.
pie is larry responsible. A Legislature GER
fanny Is not accountable for the doctrines OF
the pulpit or the press, further than they are
adopted ny itself. The people of State are
not so, further than appreciation of them ex-
pressed in popular meetings, or in their cloc-
tions. amounts to an indication of their eener-
al sense. Persons entirely destitute of the
confidence of their party may push sound
principles to an indefensibe extreme.-Per-
sons possessing that confidence in full meas.
ure, Frequently write or speak under impulses
by which they would not permit themselves
TO be governed when called TO act. Neither
state or People are to he tried and convicted