Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-29
For the Picnic Gazette.

of perpetuating our happy form Of government.
These different opinions, if they are no, permit
ted to degenerate into faction, will operate as a
~saiutary repelling power, contributing any popu-
lar current, the tendency of which may be TO-
wards consolidation. Nearly all the conspicu-
Gus public men, who have figured in our nation
al councils, have risen to eminence In their re-
spec,ive States, previous to their being known
as members Of the general governments: this is
as il should be. BY THIS means, the political
opinions ofthe State to which each belong, have
had a fair operation on their minds; and they
the idea Of a splendid national government.
OF all the States Of our Union, there is no
one whose politics are SO distinctly and pecull-
arly marked as the state Of Virginia; and none,
whose leading politicians have laid off SO little
Of their State character on being associated
with the general governments; and, perhaps we
owe it more 10 them, than 10 any others, that
the general government has been kept so nearly
confined within the orbit prescribed to 1t by the
constitution. II is the character of the Virgil
MIA politicians to contend for a strict construc-
ton Of the federal constitution, and TO feel op-
posed to any administration that does not con-
form 10 their ideas Of constitutional interpreta-
tion; hence it is, that we see many OF the states
men, and public prints Of that State, ready to
denounce Mr.. Adams and his administration
They appear alarmed that he should construe
the constitution to authorize Congress to make
appropriations for internal Improvements. But
is not my intention to enter into an examination
ofeither side {" this question; but TO express
my fears, that in their opposition, originally
based on this construction, the statesmen Of
Virginia, are many of them in danger Of being
carried on to ground much more subversive OF
republicanism than any thing which can con-
meet itself with internal improvement 1t is
very curious 10 observe the influence which
party is capable Of exercising over the opinions
and actions of men; and how many contradic-
tory attachments and aversions the same class
of politicians will exhibit in a few short
years-professing all the time TO be govern
ed by the same principles, and locking to the
accomplishment Of the same objects. These
reflections forcibly rush upon my mind, when
eyerI observe any Indication of Virginia pc
liticians supporting Gen. Jackson for the Pre-
sidency, which Of late they have very strongly
| given. Should they persevere in this course,i 1t
will be very difficult to sustain the belief that
they are sincere in their attachment TO the
tights Of the States; when they are using their
utmost endeavours, to raise into the Presiden-
tial Chair, a man who when at the head OF an
army put down all law in a sovereign State Of
the Union; dissolved its Legislature, by an
armed force; Imprisoned its Judges because
they essayed to discharge the duties solemnly
imposed upon them by virtue Of their Offices;
and in fine, who took the whole authority, Le-
g~isIative, Judicial and Military, into his ow'
hands; under that all ra''nt plea. that i <.
necessary. Let us supt~>c Tor a moment, that
such an outrage had be.} committed against
the soyereignt, Of Virgi la; and that the man
who had thus acted she, ID be offered 10 Firgi-
MIA, as a candidate To-. the Presidency Would
it not be considered an insult, offered both to
her Judgment and her pride? Is the nature of
these acts any thing different because they have
happened in Louisiana, in place of Virginia?
Or are we prepared to initiate Roman tir
and permit that to be done in the prnv:r.,>. II
on the skirts of the IL ~ Nc would
spurn al, fdone or atte1.. in the lnte:ior!
And not only PERM, the> outrageous inirac-
tions of the Constitution take place, but TO
reward the per2etrato I'll the highest office
in the gift of Il. A,; and that too, without
any pretence OF merit except audacity. The
people of Virginia have always been conspicu-
Gus for their attachment to order, and known
and settled laws; and for aversion to the exer-
else Of any, and all power, pretended to be de-
rived from any other source OF authority. The
indignation Of the people of that State agains,
the conduct Of Judge Chace, in the trial Of Cal
ender, and the zeal displayed by her members
Of Congress 10 bring about his impeachment
and removal from office, are matters of history
so plainly SCI forth. Y is no evaoing
them. And has i ready =" to this, that
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