Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-31

your recollection, of his public life. But l
yr.s greatly deceived in my Judgment If they
nroyed him to be endowed with that prudence,
femper, and discretion, which are necessary
Cor civil administration. 1t was in vain to re-
mid me of the illustrious example Of Wash
;noton. There was, in that extraordinary
person, united q serenity of mind, cool and
Collected wisdom, q cautious and deliberate
Judgment, a perfect command of the passions,
and throughout his whole life, familiarity and
acquaintance with business and civil transac-
lions, which rarely characterize any human
being. No man was ever more deeply pene-
trated than he was, with profound respect for
the safe and necessary principle Of the entire
subordination ofthe military to the civil autho-
rity. hope do no injustice TO General Jack
son, when say, that could not recognize,
in his public conduct, those attainments tor
both civil government and military command,
which contemporaries and posterity have alike
unanimously concurred in awarding rs vet on
" to the father of his country. was sensible
ofthe gratitude which the people Of this coun-
try Justly felt towards General Jackson for his
brilliant military services. But the impulses
of public gratitude should be controlled, tap
peared to me, BY reason and discretion, and
was not prepared blindly to surrender myself
TO the hazardous indulgence ola feeling, how.
ever amiable and excellent that feeling may
be when properly directed. II did not seem
10 me to be wise or prudent, If, as solemnly
believed, General Jackson's competency for
the Office was highly questionable, that he
should be placed in situation where neither
his fame nor the public interest would be adj.
yanced. General Jackson himself would be
the last man to recommend or vote tor any
one for place, for which he thought him un.
fit. I felt myself sustained by his own reason
ing, in his letter to Mr.. Monroe, IN which
speaking Of the qualifications OF our venerable
Shelby for the Department of War, he re-
marked: "I am compelled to say to yo,l, that
The requirements of this worthy man are not
compctent to the discharge Of the multiplied
duties of this department. l therefore hope
he NAV not accept the appointment lam
f,arf,l. if he does, he will not add much
snlendor TO his present well earned standing
as a public character" Such was my OPINION
of General Jackson, in reference to the Presl-
dency. His conviction of Governor Shelby's
unftness, by the habits of his life, for the APP
pointment of Secretary of War, were not more
honest nor stronger than mine were OF his own
want of experience, and the necessary civil
qualifications to discharge the duties OLA Pre-
sidcnt If the United States. In his elevation
70 this office, too, thought perceived the
establishment ola fearful precedent; and am
mistaken in all the warnings of instructive his
tory, if erred in my Judgment. Undoubt-
odly there are other and many dangers to
public liberty, besides that which proceeds
from military idolatry, but have yet to &C
ouire the knowledge Of il, if there be one
rnora ~ rilons 0r more freOuent
Whether Mr.. Adams would or would not
have been my choice of !, President, if had
been left freely to select from the whole mass
Of American citizens, was not the question
submitted to nv decision. / had no sueh IL
berty: but was circumscribed, in the selec-
ton had to make, to one OF the three gen.
tlemen, whom the people themselves had
thought proper to present to the House OF
Representatives. Whatever objections might
be supposed II exist against him, still greater
appeared to me to apply to this competitor
OF Mr.. Adams, it isbut truth and justice to say,
that he is highly gifted, profoundly learned,
aud long and greatly experienced in public
sffa rs, at home and abroad. Intimately con-
versant with the the rise and progress of
every ne gociation with foreign powers, pend
ing or concluded; p, rsonally acquainted with
the capacity and attainmentS of most of the
public men of this country, whom IL might be
proper to employ in the public service; ex-
tensively possessed of much Of that valuable
kind of information, which is TO be acquired
neither from books nor tradition, but which
is the fruit of largely participating in public
affairs; discreet and sagacious; he would enter
on the duties ofthe office with great advanta-
ges saw in his election the establishment
G. in the
contrary, only conformity to the safe prece-
derts which had been established in the in
stances of MIR. Jefferson, Mr.. Madison, and MIR.
Monroe, who had respectively filed the same
Office from which he was to be translated.
A collateral consideration OF much weight
was derived from the wishes of the Ohio dele
cation. Amajority OF it, during the progress
ofthe session, made up their opinions to sup
port Mr.. Adams, and they were communicated
to me. They said, SOHO supported the can
didate who was the choice of kentucky. We
failed in our common exertions to secure his
election. Now. among those returned, we
have a decided preference, and we think you
ought TO make some sacrifice to CRAFTY us. -
Was not much due to our neighbor and friend'
1 considered, with the greatest respect, the
resolution of the General Assembly of Ken
IuCkN, TcquSSllnS liS oSASSSoVh ~ WV IVA
General Jackson. That resolution, it is true,
placed us III peculiar situation. Whilst eve
~ other delegation, from every other state in
the Union, was left by its Legislature entirely
free TO examine the pretcnsions OF all the cam
didates, and to form its unbiased judgment,
the General Assembly of Kentucky thought
proper to mterpose and to request the dele
cation to give its vote to one of the candi-
dates, whom they were pleased TO designate.
i felt sincere desire to comply with re-
quest emanating froma source so respectable,
Ill could have done so consistently with those
paramount duties which owed to you and to
the country But, afterfull and anxious con-
sderation, found it incompatible with my
best Judgment of those duties to conform to
the request of the General Assembly. The
asserts, that it was the wish OF the
people of Kentucky, that their delegation
should vote for the General. 1t did not inform
me by what means that body had arrived at a
knowledge of the wish ofthe people. knew
that its members had repairedto Frankfort be-
fore departed from home to come to Wash
ington. / knew their attention was fixed
on important local concerns. well entitled by