Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-23


son ever existed; except, perhaps, the records
of the courts of Justice, where he may nave
been compelled 10 answer for some OF the many
personal broils in which he has been engaged'
But il is not my purpose 10 spend time I'D as
cussinp the grade of talent which Gen. Jackson
possesses: ,ha, can be Of but little importance,
| when il is shown that he is possessed o. OPP
mons and incinations Of mind, hostile 10 the
essential principles Of republican government.
In my preyious communications have aelai'eo
the proceedings o. Gen. Jackson IN iouisSiiie'
80 far as his acts were in violation OF the e4-
press provisions of the constitution oil the Unit
ed States, and the laws made in pursuance
thereof; and have referred TO those parts oil the
constitution which prohibits the exercise OIL
such unwarrantable authority as The Generai
there exercised To you who possess proper
knowledge Of, and veneration Tor the cons'itu-
lion, il will be sufficient TO know that II mas
been deliberately violated, in order TO call ior'h
your pointed disapprobation; but as extfaheous
circumstances may, at this particular Junc'ore'
create some doub, in your mind, as TO the oe.
gree Of censure which these acts ought 10 can
forth, il NAV be we'll to examine, strictly, the
reasons assigned bv Gen. Jackson Tor their per-
Torrance Those reasons, together with an
epi,ome Of his political principles, are contain
ed in the answer which he made 10 Judge nan,
Of the District Court of the United States, when
summoned TO show cause why an attachment
should not issue against him Tor a contempt OF
Court, in refusing to obey writ oil hdoeas cor
pus, issued by said Judge know II may oe
aedged that this paper may not nave Deeh
written by Gen. Jackson, but drawn up by BIS
counsel; but This cannot operate III his lavorh
was for some time in his possession, aud being
refused the liberty Of reading ii in Court, ne
caused it TO be published in public newspaper
after having swori, TO the truth OF It's contents.
Gen. Jackson, il he will adopt sentiments such
as that paper contains, at the suggestion oil 9TH
ers, and publish then 10 the world as his own,
thereby proves himself only the more danger
Gus, provided he should arrive al the station 10
whic h he aspres IL woald be unnecessary 10 ad
vert TO the first part of this answer, follow the
General through his eleven points Of objections.
These obje c,ions are, for the most part, of a
technical kind; and are much more BETTING the
case of FIVE dollar appeal from the decision
of Justice Of the peace, than that oil a case in.
volving more important interests than any ever
known TO his country They are utterly des,i-
tule of that dignity of sentment,-,hat grasp
of mind, which ought to be found in man for
whom such high character is claimed by his
partizanS.
This answer we are bound TO consider as a
Development ofbis political principles; it clear
ly shews what his opinions are in reference to
the exercise of unlawful power, and demon
s,rates settled purpose to disregard the most
positive constitutional iniunctions, whenever he
chooses to believe that the usurpaton of power
will oonduce to the public advantage And
4 4. L.tz .~~k.
sessed of the means Of increasing his power
did not think or pretend to think, that the sal
walton Of the country depended upon the as
sumption? Let the parts of history before re-
ferred TO answer the question BY way of sus-
tanning himself, end producing proof of the i'm
prrious necessity of resorting TO the measures
adopted by him. General Jackson argues as If,
had New Orleans been taken, our constitution,
and every thing dependent on it, must have
been lost, annihiated. rAis be we'll knew was
all 'yperbole; ii was introduced to cover an out
rage which reason could no. Justify He treats
the subject as though the fate of the Union de-
pended upon single battle, aud that battle on
The declaration and enforcement, of martial law.
the dissolution of a legislature, and the impri.
sonment Of a Judge. New Orleans could not
be considered as of half the importance to the
ington city was, and that place had been taken
four months previous; and yet none of those
awful consequences 20 the naiion which are so
bunglng,y interviewer into this answer, had re-
suited from capture But will NOT, at this
time, undertake TO enquire farther into the truth
Of he assertion, TIA, the enforcement of martial
law was indispensable to the preserr alton of
New Orleans; nor will follow the General in
his fanraroDade about the national calami,ies
which. by The adoption of that measure, he pre-
tends to have>averted. | propose 10 shew, bv
his conduct there in conneXion with other cir
cumstanees, and the declaration Of opinions
which he has made, that he is very unfit per
son 10 occupy any place Of high authority, more
especially that of President of the United States
Outraees committed upon civil liberty and the
constitution, by inferior officers, although they
develope the principles by which such men are
governed, yet the consequences are not so inn
porlan, as when they proceed from men high
in authority; and as in this country the highest
Office is within the reach of every citizen, it be-
hoves US to be vieilant in keeping lawless men,
who have trampleS upon the constitution when
occupying subordinate stations, from saining the
Presidency The dissolution of State Legsis-
lature, the imprisonment of Judge, or The un.
lawful taking Of the life of a citizen, under the