Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-22

| Virginian, and the Winchester Republican,
could be brought to ACT upon every part OF the.
State, they would soon scatter the gloom with
which its moral and political atmosphere is
loaded and obscured. entertain sangulne,
hopes, that the Wing, which, from its loca-
ton at the seat Of government, has more power
than the other able and liberal presses which
have named, will ultimately carry into every
portion Of the State corrective for the doc
/ trines which are disseminated by the Enquirer
The Wing is conducted by gentleman, no
less respectable for his original strength OF
mind and intellectual requirements, than Tor
the elevation and expansion of his moral and po-
Itical principles 1t is greatly desirable, there
fore, that his paper should receive the patron
age TO which, on his own account, and more es-
pecialIy on account Of the interests OF his native
State, it is entitled.
But the Enquirer has been SO long regarded
as sort of infallble oracle, in Virginia, and so
much pains have been taken by the Richmond
factionists and their minions, to inspire pas
sive submission to- its dictaton, that majority
of its readers look upon any dissent from It's
doctrines as an alarming heresy.
| Hence, If ii inconsistency, and in the face OF
its own avowed opinions, concerning the cha
racter, acts, and political sentiments Of General
Jackson, should, as it maniestly indicates
disposition TO do-espouse his pretensions Tor
! the Presdency--it will most unquestonably bear
along with considerable portion Of It's blind
adherents Still, | have warm hopes that the
! liz hit Of truth will prevail thatthe "redeem-
ing spirit" of the Commonwealth Will Save us
character from utter prostitution and disgrace.
That Gen. Jackson is patriotic man have
no doubt | respect his vaor, and feel a senti-
ment OF inextinguishable gratitude for his mill
tary services-.but God forbid that he should
ever be elected to the Chief Magisracy of this
Republic! He is not intellectually qualified Tor
! that station. He possesses originally mind OF
respectable capacity--but it is extremely bar
rem in those profound requirements pertaining
to the political science, which constitute so In
dispensible part of the knowledge Of an Exc
cutive Magistrate OF this nation. In general IL
| terature, he is almost novice-and with the
exception of his daring heroism, combined with
some practical knowledge of military science
he has no claims to rank above thousands oil
individuals, whose lives are passed in obscurlty,
| in every State of the Union. The blaze of his
achievements during the late war, has dazzled
| the eyes of the unthinking class OF the comma
nifty, who suppose that all must be gold where
there is so much glitter. These, therefore, may
lie induced TO support him. But the better IN
formed portion OF the nation, who advocate his
pretensions--are either influenced by motives
of ambition and selishness, or have been de-
ceived by the false representations OF his quail
| fications, made to them by those who hope to
come in for share Of the "loaveo and fishes" in
the event of his election.
| 1t was through the fundamentally of this in
| terested class OF individuals, that the general
was induced to turn his eyes upon the elevated
station to which he is looking Had ii not been
for their lattering opportunities, ii would ne
yer have even entered into his dreams, much
less into his waking thoughts, to imagine that
he had any we'll founded claims to an office SO
much above the reach of his qualifications
No impartial man, who possesses an ordina
ry degree Of discernment, could witness his fee
bic exertions, when he attempted TO say any
thing IN his representative capacity, while he
was member of the United States Senate, and
not feel convinced at once that he was then oc-
cupying station for which he was incompe-
tent Who then could deliberately compare
| him will, Mr.. Adams, and not feel BUNDLED for
his country, that he should ever have been pub
| licly proposed as the competitor Of the latter?
Who could listen 10 the two men in CONVEX
sation on any great topic OF national or sclenu-
| fic import, and not feel instantaneously struck
with the unreasonable disparity of their pow
ers and requirements?
| If the British had been successful in their at
tack upon NewO Orleans, would any body have
ever spoken Of Gen. Jackson as a suitable per-
son for the Presidency? And shall this enight-
ened Republic, with all the beacons of History
throwing their warning radiance upon the deep
gulph of military despotism, in which the Ii
berries of so many nations have been swallow
ed, rush on, Notwithstanding, headlong into the
abyss in which they have persisted?
| Gen. Jackson's patriotism, which freely "a
ward him, is no guarantee against the danger Of
such result-for, let the precedent once be es-
tablished, that military glory is sufficient pass
port to the Chief Magistracy, and the liberties
Of this country are gone!
In this quarter Of the Union, there appears to
exist but one opinion, among the vrtuous, in
telligenta and impartial citizens, concerning the
measures of the Administration, and the char
acter of the opposition to it,-and tina, opinion
| is, that measures more exclusively intended for
the public good, never originated with the adj
ministration of any government-and that a
more disgraceful, unjust, and sordid hostility
was never organized against the high officers of
nation, than the one which has been organic