American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-05-04


and you may assured that his friends are numerous N
this part of the county, by inserting in the Wachman the
following examination of the merits and pretenons OF
Gen 7rdrev jackson, candidate for that Office, from
the Cincinnati Gazette
.lEdd2etO7pn, Del .9tril2
The question of the Presidency is one addressed
10 the reason and not to the passions of the people
requires the exercise Of their sound discretion and
most deliberate judgment. They are about to act
only for themselves, bot incidentally for genera
ltions yet unborn. The example which they now
set whether good or bad, will reach the remotest
posterty How important then is it, that prejudice,
passion and excitement should be thrown aside, and
that all our proceedings as a nation OF freemen,
should be based on pnnciple proceed from dispas-
lsonate examination, and conform TO the spirit and
Igerius oil our government
But Hurral General Jackson for ever say his
advocates; That is, excitement among the people
has commenced; keep it going inject in your
counties, townships and villages and blindly follow
in the wake Of the Harrisburg convention We
sincerely trust the people OF this state will reflect
seriously OF the mater before they TO such a
Idecison.-They have no reason to follow the voice
of Pennsylvania unless that voice coincide with the
principles they profess.-There other candidates
besides general Jackson, and the question Of their
Icomparaiiye merits and abiites is in no respects
Iaered by the nomination at the convention. Let
mot then the ground OF investigation be toreclosed by
Ia precipitate deter mination to support the will OF
Pennsylvania. The citizens oil Ohio can think and
act for themselves They stand on imposing ground,
and have respectable weight to throw into the scale
Those who advocate The election of general Jack
son have assigned two Tor their prefer ence
which it may be proper 10 examine. One is, that
he merits the Office from the hands Of The people
for services rendered 10 his country land the other
lis, that he will reform the government, or in the
words oil his parzans Twill cleanse the Augean
stable.o In our examination oi these reasons we
shall not attempt 10 derogate from the character of
general Jackson as military man. We entertain
as high respect for him in that capacity believe
as most of his conntrymen. It is not necessary in
order to show the ncorrectness of the positions taken
in his favor to fitch from him his good name or 10
tarnish his glory in arms. No one disputes his
bravery. No one denies that he saved New Or
leans and no one doubts the holiness and sterDl
decision Of his character. Blu, there are mary and
we would lain hope majority, who have serious
doubts, whether all Of these traits together, qualify
him for the Presidency Of The United States. This
presents question for examination, and notwith
standing those who are enarmoured Of military
parade and are carried away by their admiration oil
heroic deeds, can draw no distinction between the
qualifications OF warrior and those Of a statesman
and President, still there is ride difference which
for the sake OF the example to posteriy and for the
permanency the government, we hope will always
be recognized and kept in view by a majority of the
American people. We wish no military man, in |
consideration merely Of his services as SUCH ever 10
be elevated to the first Office in this nation
But to return to the reasons offered in favor OF
the generals election. He merits it say his friends
for his important services TO the nation. In what
sense is this declaration TO be understood? Is the
Office to be given him as remuneraiion-as pay !
men for those services? If so, the nation has con.
tracted debts with thousands of public officers which
she never can pay. II this doctrine of meritiRg Of
fees is TO be introduced into the United States, the
sinecure system Of England, its necessary concomi
tan must also be introduced. The principle goes
thus far-when there more applicants than
places, Offices must be created TO honor and sup
port those who have done the state some service
Will any republican contend for practice Of this /
kind? We presume not. The system Of granting
out Offices in the United States proceeds entitely
upon different principle and although it has in
some instances procured for republics the reputation
Of ngratitude STILL it is consistent with the nature
Of our government aud ought never to be abandon 1
ed. Offices are here created for the good Of the 1
public, and not for the advantage of the ncumbents
tits true, they receive the honors and emoluments
attached 90 them and il they promoted to higher
stations, it is not the Of remuneration but
because they have exhibited that kind Of knoULedre
talent, and integrity which fit them for the dis
charge OF the duties to which they are appointed.
How, then, does general Jackson merit the office of
President OF the United Statess He received
generals command, and acquitted himself with A
honor--with unusual eetat, for which be has gain
ed name and received the plauds and CALCULATIONS
Of his countrymen. But is he entitled to additional
pay? Is he to be made an exception to the general
rule, that talents and &nomedge, and not claims are
the necessary critera for promotion? I'VE should
apprehend not.
But il may be commended that general Jackson
though not entitled to the Presidency strictly on the
score OF remuneration, claims upon the people,
is nevertheless entitled to it, because his past seryi-
ces evidence In him macmillan ahitles 10 dlscharre