Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-10

on the rock OF 81. deten0, Wooio tufH The french
Deputies out Of doors at the point ofthe bayo.
net, the answer would have been, No; Bonapar.
lie is the friend Of liberty. But why 60 abroad
for examples? Does our own history, short as
il is, furnish no materials! Have we ALREADY
forgotten the gloomy period at the close Of our
own Revolution? Have we forgotten the "a
nous Newburgh letters? Have we forgotten
that with all the influence and weight Of char
acter of Gen. Washington, it was with ia6ni,s
difficulty that he could prevent dreadful ex.
plosion in the army, uuderhis immediate COM
mand? Have we forgotten, sir, that about eigh.
~ mise rablc recruits, "who had seen TO ser.
vice." marched from Lancaster, through the
most populous part Of Pennsylvania, 10 the
city OF Philadelphia, where, joined by some
Others, about three hundred in all, they march.
ed with fixed bayonets TO, and surrounded, the
Hall Of Congress, and the Executive of Penn
sylvania, and after placing sentinels at the
doors, written message was sent ia,1hrea,eH
ing the President to let loose all ehraged sol.
diery upon them, il their demands were not
graiifed in i,Uenfy minuies2 refer honorable
gentlemen to Marslall's Life Of Washington,
vol. a, p. els. And thus, sir, was the soyer-
eign authority Of this nation :nsu'tcd, and
lrodden under foot, and the members oil the
Government threatened with military execu>
ton, by handful Of rccruits--thc soldiers of
day-headed by two cnsigns. who had hardly
yet learned how to wear their epaulertcs. And
yet, sir, with This important piece of history
staring you in the face, you fold your arms and
content yourself with the notion that there is
no danger to be apprehended from the militia
~ Of our country. II will be in the recollection
Of honorable gentlemen, that it was just before
the transaction Of which have been speaking,
that Gen Washington had by his influence hap
PLY quoted aud ranquilized the uneasiness in
the main army. Suppose, sir, that the General
had been capable of participating in the spirit
SO recently manifested by the army; had pro-
vsioneG it, and had been seconded BY the prin
cipal officers, had marched the army 10 Phila-
delphia, and had there been met by ~ voter.
ans from the South, sore with what they n the
time believed TO be the injustice Of their coun.
Try: the resources ofth nation exhausted and
PROSTATE, by the effects Of a long and calami.
tous war. Are you, sir, prepared to say with
certainty, what would haze been the result, Sec
ing that handful Of the "soldiers of day" had
alre adv Frustrated the government, and that
Gov. Reed, with all his popularity, could no.
call GU. force sufficient to disperse these in.
surgents, and protect the Government"
These extracts serve to shew what men OF
experience and Of deep knowledge Of human
nature, thought Of the danger of too grea, con.
fdence even in the purest intentions Of men
with arms in their hands, and finding them
selves under no control but their own arbitrary
will. The sentiments thus uttered are more
entitled 10 respect, in that they do not touch the
motives Of the General, but only impeach the
correctness Of his judgment in regard to his
own powers, in virlne Of which he exercised, Of
his own mere motion, important powers ofsov'
reignty which the Constitution had given toCon.
gress alone. There is,not in all this debate, j!
will be obscrvedS seword which questions
the motives Of Gen. JACKSON, or touches his
personal honor or integrity. 1t was an inquiry
altogether confined to the constitutionality Of
his incursion into Florida, and :he expediency
of the execution of Arbuthnot and Ambrister,
of the capture Of the Spanish for,resses, and oil
his conflict with the Governor Of Georgia.
Gu: extracts have extended to sneh length
that continuation Of the reviewsof incidents Of
Gen: JAcKsoN's public life must be deferred to
another day.