Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-04-12
Gen. Jackson's Letter to dir: S,cart,cout.
From the Liberty-Hall and Cincinnati Gazette.
REMARKS

REMARKS.
The supporters of Gen. jackson regard this
letter as a most superior production, breathing
the purest patriotism, the most perfect devo
ton to the rights and interests Of the country
| as a manly, temperate, and convincing vindica.
ton of his own character. To this object
nothing. It is perfectly consistent with their
admiration of Mr.. Kremer, and of the produc-
tons of Caleb .4twater. Every class of men
have their peculiar tastes, and have not now
tolearn that the same matter is viewed in very
different lights, aspersonal prediction or po-
litical association may happen to affect us.
In my opinion the letter. is one which exhi-
| bits the true character Of the writer Il evi-
dences an unbounded egotism q peeyish and
fretful impotence, which betraysa large share
of vexation and disappointment; and it indul-
ges in strain ofinsinuation which Is unworthy
| of q cultivated and liberal mind.
II isno recommendation to the letter that il
is addressed to Samuel Swartwout. There is
great truth in the maxim, that you nay know
a man by the company he keeps ind can
not think that Samuel Swartwout is man with
whom an American patriot and statesman
should be found in habits of close intimacy.
He is the same parsonage who, in the year
| 1906, carried the famous cypher letter from
Burr to Wilkinson, and who, according to VIII
kinson's affidavit, informed him that SAe New
Orleans territory would be revolutohissd; that
there would be some Selling at New rleans;
that they merely meant to borrow, and would
return it; but that Burr and his 1000 nen must
equip themselves there. Irepeat, II y no re-
commentator of the letter, that it is address
ed to person who once acted rs an agent in
plans like these-and who since has rendered
no service to his country by which -ae iradis-
cret;on can be obliterated.
| The letter is meant as comment upon one
addressed by Mr. Clay to Judge Brooke. How
different the association Mr.. Clay's cores
pondent finished scholar and accomplished
gentleman, an able Judge, universally respect
ed and beloved for a life of private and public
usefulness-Gen. Jackson's correspondent q
subordinate agent in the conspiracy Of Aaron
Burr
Mr.. Clay objected to giving Gen. Jackson
his vote for President, because his on<~ pie
tensions were those Of military chiefhja. BY
this suggestion the great man is CALLED TO the
| quick. He writhes in agony, and hating no
power to suspend the writ of habcas corpus,
or send military guard to seize Mr. Clay, he
| writes peevish letter to Mr.. Swartwout,
Wanting himself as standing on the same
ground with Washington, and casting at Mr..
Clay tissue of insinuation in kind Of spirit
| which it is not necessary to define.
The term military chieftain, Gen. Jackson
| says, has been for some time 'scdnt phrase
,cith Mr. Cldy and certain ofhis .fiends,'' and
the General adds, it requires greater ingenuity
than 'hepossesses, to conceire ,Ohat idea lUas in
tended ODE eonreyed By the term"
| Is this assertion true If the General does
.lo%, III L T.
veyed, why take offence why carp at, or OBJ
neral clearly conceivcs and well knows what
never been distinguished as .iurist, states
man, or politician. lie knows it. He knows
that in these particulars, he is inferior TO a
thousand men in the United States who have
never been thought of for President. He has
been distinguished as the successful comman-
der of an army. This success has given him
character in the country. 1t is upon account
of this success that he has been brought f6r-
| ward as a candidatS-uvt bJ Tie Intelligent
and rejecting portion of the community, who
select man for Office upon account of his SUI
perior talents but by that class who act upon
impulses of feeling and passion; who in all re-
publican governments that have heretofore ex-
isted, have contributed to make a military
chietiain an emperor or a king. This is the
true point of the sarcasm. The General knows
it, and feels it; and his affectation ofignorance
is alike discreditahle to his judgment and his
veracity.
The General affects to suppose that he is
denominated "miiitary Chieffm," because
in the days of boyhood, he "co,afriJuted his
mite to shake off the yoke Of tyranny and bsaid
up tie fabric Of free government"
1t is obvious that the occasion is sought TO
make boast of this mite of service-as well
as of the exploits of the late war. And in
making this vaunt the General adopts the
wretched slang which characterised his sup
porters during the recent canvass. / had
hoped that he would never be thus identified
with them.
The General roundly asserts, that those who
have charged him with taking high-hawaed
measures, are designing politicians" Why
are they SOL The General does not pretend
that the allegation against him of taking ''6oid
and Mgh-hmded measures" is unfounded in
fact; on the contrary, he admits that he did
take such measures. Does it comport with
the feelings of a magnanimous, lofty and libe-
raj spirit, to assert that those who do rot cou-
mend these sboId and high-handed measures"
are s'designing politicians" In the mouth of
George Kremer, suggestion of this nature is
in perfect character. And when the General
himselfmakes it, it furnishes strong proof that
he is of George Kremer the worthy compeer.
The apology made by the General for his
"bold and high-hanaed measures"is of itself
bold one. Such measures were not taken
"with riev Of personal aggrndisement;"
'.they were not designed for any benefit to him
SELF" If a sordid ambition, or mean avarice,
does not actuate aman's conduct, he may take
"boM and high-handed measures, !" and deserve
no censure. Such is the Generals doctrine.
The qualification of revenge, the indulgence
of anger, may be allowed. An abuse ofpower
is quite harmless, if personal aggrandise-
ment," or benefit to ones self do not occasion
it. The true tyrant's code IF ethics. But
can any Just and dispassionate man say that it
is adapted to the freedom of. the American CT
| tizenl
The general goes the whole length. "THnt
man ,rho IN time Of difficulty and danger shall
halt at any course necessary to maintain the
j roht,. princinlcs and indenendepce of his