Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1827-05-29

Altogether the state OF Colombia is tar from Batis-
factory. F.
From the National Latel;gencer.
The Sic Militia Men.-The New York Enquirer
says that have attacked Gen. jackson, I" for ap-
proving the sentence of Court Martial, which
demned certain deserters TO be sho To this charge
we plead not guilty, and throw ourselves upon our
readers. Is General Jackson infallibe Is the
discussion Of any principle upon which he has act
ed to be considered and resented as an attack upon
him? Have we come to this that difference of
opinion from an officer of the United States, in a
matter involving the lives of six individuals, and,
consequently, of every man in the United States,
between the ages of 8 and 45 is to be considered
as sort of tory proceeding, for the Enquirer in-
timates) for which, if the power kept pace with the
will, we should be subject to condign punishment ?
If this be not in reality High Tory doctrine, we
know not what is. All that we have done, is to ex-
press an opinion that, in the militia service, shooting
should be rarely resorted to-and never, when it is
obvious that the quo amino, which constitutes the
essence of crime, is wanting II militia man
deserts to the enemy, shoot him fhe gives false
informaton-f he deserts his post secretly or fur
lively, then may he be shot. But does the Enqui-
rer mean to contend that militia men may be shot
by bataions for being ms-informed as to their term
of service, especially when the law was SO change
able that persons better informed than plain working
farmers were at a loss to know what it was The
number of men arraigned for going oft in body
was about two hundred, equal to battalion. of whom
six were shot, and the rest, we believe, had their
heads shaved And does the Enquirer mean to set
down as "tory every man who differs from him
in opinion in this particular? Truly, the Enquirer
was not far wide Of the truth, when he described the
" Opposition" to which he belongs, as fierce as
well as formidable one.
The New York Enquirer further says, in refer.
ence to this military execution, 'lt is true 1T haps
pened twelve years ago, and the Integencer never
! Il If.
form the Editor of the Enquirer, for his satisfaction
on this point, that though we had before heard Of
this transaction, were unwilling to believe IT.
| We never breathed it to our readers. We do not
think we could have suffered ourselves ever to be-
lieve it, if the highly respectable Committee at
Nashville, consisting of General Jackson's personal
and intimate friends, had not admitted the fact
| The use Of the word unreperead, by the Enqul-
rer, suggests to us that part of the story, when we
first heard of it, three years ago, the authority,
we think, of JESSE BENTON, esq. (brother OF coli
BENTON, of the scnate) was, that clergyman, who
attended the camp, was tried by the same, or some
other, court martial, and also, shot. The Nashs
Vile committee have not admitted that fact, and we
do not affirm il of our knowledge. If it should
be admitted, we have no doubt the Enquirer wall,
with due loyalty consider it species of toryism,
worthy of its special denunciation to doubt the ex-
pediency of shooting clergymen, by order of courts
martial.
With regard to gen. JACKSON, we have no dis
guses, though may not have thought it necessary
to burt out opinions concerning him, as has been
done unnecessarily, in stronger terms OF reproba-
ton than shall repeat, by some OF those who
now most vehenently support his claims to the pre-
|sidcncy. We believe him to be a brave determine
ed man. fearless of danger, reckless Of his own life,
either in private or public combat. We believe
him to be patriot, regards his country. We be.
lieve him to be of rash and impetuous temper and
otherwise y adapted to the civil Administration OF
Government, and deprecate his election to the
Presidency almost as much for his own sake as for
that of the country. We are the friends of Gen.
JACKSON personally, but are not willing TO see him
placed in the highest civil station of our Governs
ment when he himself has been sensible of the
inaptude of civil employment to his genius, that he
has voluntarily and successfully retired, before the
expiration of his term of service, from every civil
office TO which he has been called by the favor Of
: the People
On the 21st of February, 1777, the archbishop
of York, in sermon delivered on public occasion,
made the following remarks in relation to political
parties as they then existed in England Parties,
said he once had principle belonging to them, abb
surd, perhaps, and indefensble, but still carrying
A notion of duty, by which honest men might easily
. be caught But they are now combinations OF 'nda-
yiauals, who, instead of being the sons and se--.
/, |of the community, make league for ant.
their rrivate interests 1t is their b. advancing
the high notion of political hon -ss'hess to hold
trust, it is not injurious .''aT' l believe and
40 pesser ."an by which the lowest and wicked
est communications are held together and that Il do.
notes tne last stage of political depravity.'
4 yaere-ts TINS remark at all applicable to any
$ political party in this couutry or in this State? 10y
= NJ. Y. yanerican
e appointments By the Governor Of Pennsylvania.
al .InLaa " H.. on.