Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-10-31
PoGxrICAL.
From The Missouri Republican.
TORCH LIGHT No w

'""' ~ al governments, in the general commence
,H-' -Fee. OF ambition, by protesting an ardent low
r < people and devotion to civil liberty. They
ne ue preJudices, and assiduously court the ia
' 'e people van Wow TO their aggrandize-
tii nj II successful, almost invariably become I'M
',',''''S opPcSSoTs In word, they commence DEM
gro CUES and end tYrans In times this truth
.'' oec eNcnphied 10y Napoleon in Europe, and in
ic brilliant, hut short lived of Iturbide on this
|nifncnt Both ''mliiary cheftainsn of great
renown. Protesting to be the devoted friends of the
people the champions of civil liberty, and the defenders
.. 'H rights OF man. they succeeded in deuding their
TOO oon!i,ns conmtynlen, until they reached the goal
o their arnnion power; when. for the first time they
Hhnashei ana betrayed people beheld their treacher-
cas- 'ea"ais crowned Enperors, and armed with the
Scl!e 81 absolute authority, supported by the forces
witch mistaken confidence had Coniided 10 their con-
"'' heSc examples, with others familiar TO those
are al all conyersant with history ancient or mo.
'"' ought ana IT IS horcd viii, prove instructive, as
V are solemn, warnings 10 The people this renu bic
new action IA party if they please, has been organ
|of'"r the avowed purpose Of investing a mere smili-
AIRY ccitan" with tue Chief Executive authority of
we naon; one, whose lust of arbitrary power has he
Faycd itself IN every public act of his life-a man who
H"s treated the constitution as an cold parchment I'M
worthy ls pe'usal, and beneath his respect. Yet TO
snosGlVe ms ambition, hc and his adherents profess an
ahccfon for the people, and reverence for the consti
tution equally wonderful and sudden. He assumes
me captivating appelatioD of the peoples candi,afe,-
"ey, win equal proPrety call themselves "people,s
mem and "trlcnds of state rights" Fortunately their
head'ong mpetuosy so far outstrps their discretion as
:" expose her designs too palpaby to escape the OBJ
''Huon Oh those who not blinded BY their zeal or
hoodwinked by interest. Their Impotence under dis
appointment, their desire of prefermen and reckless
ness OF the means, adnonsb how little their actions
are governed by love of the people, respect for the
constitution. " '''
No sooner the late Presidential election deter
mined than Gen jackson resigned his seat in the So
nate as he had before resigned every civil office conror
red on him without having made a solitary exbb;,
o. thc talents which had been imputed to him bv his J
herehs, aud hitherto unfortunately led from the
rest OF the world As he accepted seat in the Senate
pcnln5 the election OfPeslent and resigned "a coon
as The contest was over, have right TO infer thai
;! was acccned, not with yicW 10 the public good but
rom The influence which was hoped from his personal
presence at w ashn2ton, and accordingly RESIGNED
'' loon as was known that he cod not overawe the
.-rIe7ChIauFcs oi the people. Surely if his friends
~ ''"e eH Wm possessed Of the abilities to enttle
inn Ia tine Office OF Chef ExlCHtiye Magistrates thew
owed Il 20 h'n 10 themselves, aud 10 the uaql TO ae
used their eXcrons TO have retained his services in
station em'nent!y calculated at once to promote the
common veal and TO manifest pretensons TO pnbIic
confidence Or, will they admit the bumiIiatino fact
that ms retirement from Office to which he was nv mn
means equal was dictated BY prudence or was s,rrcest
cd by the mortified ambition of capricous man noad
ed ny disappointmenH lfGen. jackson really believes
IN the imputed corruption of the present
d ne ana ms adherents pretend it neither the mart
OF statesman and patriot, abandon the imnortont
St9hoh winch he declared not TO be sought or de
C4eA by any man, il consistent with his nro
e1 rove OF the people TO desert The post which had
"en assigned him, 10 guard them against all unconsti
3. ':"lai ehcToachments Of power. Not cannot he
'ssuiScd, that the man who was sufficiently boDored IN
''@ nominated Tor the Presidency by single state
ans resigned an Office much above his Just expectations
10 aVcngc IN some sort the aront which his ovcroo,
ing ambition has received in not beinn naced AZ The
head OF the nation. He will be President or nothno
20 0e very act OF resgning his in the Senate he
H"'t uiCeS, tiat he does not decne but continues IN
&eeF the Office of President; and, BY ,gav of apnearo
from the intelligence to the generosity of Clc nation
makes profession of ardent love for the people and re-
comments them to alter their constitution, under the
provisions of which his ambition has been ba)Ird fIo
states as reason for his retirement that lis m oposed
ALTERATION (oy previous arrangement, doubt) would
he brought before inc Senate aud deIicacv forbid bis
taking part in their deliberations on the subject Which
Is noli'nS short of admission, that lis ONLY hope OF
success depends on the alteration Of Tire constitution
ton. 80
inc proposition which comes thus recommended bv
the authority and necessities OF Gen Jackson is-1st
discontinue the ofeectors, the eventual vote TN
"1fes and the umyirage of the House of Representa-
ives 10 adopt an uniform mode OF eectiDg by dis
tcs and to commit the election to the direct vote of
t'e people ne first branch of the proposition evil
IDENTITY designs SIC gYe The election unconditionalIy
and absolutely, to the powerful states" and was Justly
denounced by Col Benton in his speech of G24 be-
cause goes to the snbverson of the government I'M
der Which we live and would unsettle ofthe com
promises on which the constitution reposes.n The Sc
coud contcmplaes to deprive the states las such OF the
power of appointing electors aud of uniting or dividing
elr electoral colleges according TO their sovereign will
Bot; branches, indeed propose 10 Circumscrbe the
power Of the states in the Presidential election and ia
ken together, would destroy their very existence SO
Tar as the Executive Department of the national roy
eminent is concerned. There is therefore every
thing in he proposition 10 render it hateful TO the real
"riends ofsiate rights" Yetno did Gen. Jack
son announce that the adoption OF this priDcipe-sub-
vertng ,..ateconsoidating amendment, might possibly
aid MS pronlouCn, than committee of the Senate
with Col Benton Al heir head, all the sol disqt
'friends Of state rights" rairv,! 10 his support In
deed, the talent OF enforcing discipline s;noDg and i'm
plic obedience FROM his followers which distinguishes
Gen Jackson, has, in instance, been more conspicu-
Ousl7 display cd than in this al bis command the whole
81 his aii"rcnt5 Including the awkard squad under
N'cD"Gis and Kremer) wheeled about with the
Pron?"tc and precision Of veteran troops, aud
teFnarched the whoiel Of their political course tread
ing under foot the principles they profcssed, and des.
troynS all te political land marks hitherto held sacred
Some OF the sincere friends Of state rights have enter
tanned fears that tie states soycreigs have conce
ded too much The Federal Constitution to tie repre-
sentative principle which they honestly fear will tend
20 consolidation. Their struggle has therefore CON
sianty been TO prevent the apprehended evil by pre-
sewing To- uie states. uHinpared and inyioatc ali The
powers reserved 10 them. They nave uniformly exert
ci themselves 10 prevent the accumulation of power in