Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-01
From The Missouri Republican.
TORCH ~LIGHT.-No. III.

ri s
maleyolence, envy and i'll nature, tine offsprins
Of defeated hope abandon their former Princl-
pies, their political and private friends, and
unite in a common cause against them all, Inc
nublic have a right to demand, and certainly
expect. an explanation. When such men ~
dnlce in Recommendations of the distinguished
men who have been universally esteemed as an
honor TO the nation, and accuse them OF the
highest crimes which public servants can COM
NIT, the people before whom they are arralgn-
ed. owe il TO themselves, as we'll as to the accus-
ed. to demand some evidence OF the irush OF the
accusations. Bat ii would seem, that the men
who have vepturedIo abuse the public ear, oy
impuling corruption 10 the President and Be-
cretary Of State, shrink from the duty when
devolves on them, as accusers, and shun tue IN
yestieation which has been assiduously sought
by the accused, and their friends; yet they con-
,inue 10 brave the well meri,ed indignation Of
the public, by reiterating their charges, on the
unsupported and very questionable authority oil
their own assertions
Under these circumstances, il would be sutfi-
Gent to oppose the well-earned reputation OF
the President and Secretary, for sterling patriot
ism and infexible integrity, TO the assertions OF
men whose practices have been continually In
opposition to their principles, OF which they
have made hollow professions. and who have
so involved themselves in all the rIazes oil con-
tradiction as to have forfeited every claim 10
public confidence, and lost every hope ofregaln-
ing it. without destroying the political rePuta-
ton of those who have been stead!ast III their
principles, and consistent in their politics. he
unsupported allegations OF ambitious men,
whose sole object is their OWE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
and whose only hope Of attaining that end de-
ponds on an abandonment, by the people, oil
those measures which have advanced this ma
ton to her present prosperity, and the destruc-
ton of their author and advocate, who has
maintained them with a fearless independence
that challenges the admiration even OF his enc
mies-deserves the reprobation, rather than
the support Of the people. Waving, however,
all ADVANTAGES which ,his view of the subject
would give the accused, the inquiry may safely
be prosecuted. to the utter discontinue and dis
grace Of the accusers, upon their own testimo-
nv If .heir opinions Of their idol, expressed
in bv-gone DAYS, are entitled to any weight, a
vote for MIR. Adams, in preference to Gen. Jack
son. will be found TO be so far from furnishing
the slightest presumption of imparily OF mo-
tive. that il could not have been given other
wise without a total abandonment OF every
principle upon which the preservation OF the
Union, and the well being of the republic, de-
pend.
When the conduct Of Gen. Jackson, in the
Seminole War, was under investigation in Con-
gress, Randolph and Cobb, two oil his new con
yerted adherents,u upon their OdthS as members
of the House OF Representatives, openly accuS-
ed him Of a total disregard of the constitution
and laws, and a tyrannical abuse OF power. Up
on the united testimony OF these gentlemen, and
other members Of Congress, supported oy Col.
Benton with his Enquirer, the Richmond Eh-
ouirer, and Noah's National Advocate-all
now of the Opposition, and the most violent oil
the enemies Of the President & Secretary oil
Sta,e-it was alleged, that General Jackson had
kept an army on foot, and peremptoriiy reius-
ed TO disband il, in open defiance oil the orders
of the President Of the United States, as COM
mander i'm chief, i'm direct violation oil has oath,
and his duty as a subordinate officer; that whiie
commanding a, New Orleans, he violated The
liberty Of the press. Genounclng and threaten
ing 10 visit the htavies, military punishment
upon the editor of a newspaper, Tor publishing,
after the treaty Of peace was signed, and the
enemy had abandoned his attempt on New Or
leans. an article extracted from another paper,
intimating the prospect OF 4 speedy peace, that
he actually impr isioned the author OF an article
commenting on this extraordinary procedure,
and not only refused obedience to a writof Ha-
beas Corpus, issued according 10 the constitu-
ton and laws Of the land, TO inquire into the
cause of imprisonment, but, in the spirit oil mi
litary depotism, directed his vengeance, sup
ported by an armed force, against the jud &c
who issued the writ; that he prevented the legls-
Iature of Louisiana from freely exercising their
constitutional functions, by the employment OF
military force: that while in the stale of Geor-
pia. in command ola part oflhe national troops
he assumed authority to m the whole
BODY of the militia of that state, In exclusion oil
the Governor, their constitutional commander
in chief. TO whom he offered the grossest in
suits, that, after he had himself declared the
Seminole War at an end, under pretence OF pur
suing a few s~tragglers, he invaded the terrific
rics Of Spain, a neutral nation, invested, and al
timately captured her fortresses, and made thu
troops ofthe garrisons prisoners of war; tina
ne arrested two individuals, subjects of a aeatra
power, whom he accused of having committee
the same offence against the nation, which d.