The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-11-09

gaveT TO them dtreet, abundant room would be
afforded to ascribe any exertions of mine TO
causes appertaininS exclusively to myself
lmputations thus made, would be extremely
irksonle to any person Of virtuous and iDde-
pendent feeling they would Certainly prove
so to me and hence the determination to
retire from situation where strong suspicious
might at least attach, and with great seeming
propriety. hasten, therefore, to tender this
my resignation into the hands of those who
conferred it, that, in the exercise of their con-
stitutional rights, they may conGde it to some
one deserving their confidence and approba-
tion.''
The first thing that we notice in this letter,
is the oft repeated slang, 1--WE know nc, better
name TO call IT'D of Gen. Jackson, about his
pre-eminent disinterestedness.. When the Lee
gislature of South Carolina, some three or
four years since, nominated the now departed
Lowndes for the Office of President, he said, in
his reply TO the Committee which announced
the nomination, that the office Of Presadent
was one which was neither to be sought nor
declined. This idea was seized upon by Gen.
Jackson, and afterward impressed into his
service, when the Legislature of Tennessee
nominated him for the same station, and he
has not failed to harp upon il, whenever op-
portunity presented, ever since.
This principle may, perhaps, be defended,
if applied to the Office of President only, but
when made of general application, as it is by
Gen. Jackson, it is manifestly incorrect. 1t
is the duty of good citizen, to seek an Of
fee for which he is conscious he is well quail
fed, if thereby one who is unsuitable will be
excluded; and be is equally bound to decline,
when his acceptance will exclude one who is
more worthy Of il.
But Gen. Jackson's practice does not cor
respond with his professions. Almost in the
same breath, in which he lays it down as a
principle to decline no office, he does decline
serving for four years in the Office of Senator,
to which he has been appointed, and avows,
as motive for SO doing, the desire that some
person may be appointed in his stead, who
may carry into effect the only measures that
can secure his appointment to another office,
(Which, however, he would have us believe
he does not seek,) without the imputation Of
personal or sinister motives. HeAlas, also, on
another occasion, declared that the new Ad-
ministration should be judged only by its acts,
and yet he is found, almost in its outset, con-
certing measures with the Legislature of Ten
nessee for raising the standard of opposition
to it.
But why all this afectation OF delicacy, and
fear of improper imputations, if Gen. Jackson
is a man of the frmness and independence
which his friends represent him to be? Dur
ing the last four years, John Quincy Adams
and William II. Crawford were placed in a
far more delicate situation than the General,
and went straight forward in the discharge Of
their respective duties, as far as they were
capable, without any Of this PalaUer on the
subject, either in communications to Legisla-
tive bodies, OF in any published correspon.
dence with their political friends.
One who is unacquainted with our political
history would be leo from perusal Of Gen.
Jackson's communications, to believe that he
afforded a peculiar and striking instance Of
disinterestedness and patriotism. Such an
imputation on the character of our public men
it is our duty to rerel. We have seen nc
instances of such peculiar self devotion, and
disregard to public favor. On the contrary
in whatever situation he has been placed, he
has, generally, either failed to shew any ex.
traordinary fitness for the place, OF has abused
the trust reposed in him
On the whole, if Gen. Jackson is to be tried
by the rules which he has laid down, he will
find Iekel inscribed on the wall, in hand
writing, neither to be misinterpreted or misun-
derstood.