Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-30

tizans in sufficient numbers can be mustered.
In obedience to orders from head quarters, a
regular series Of these is to be held, and some
have rakeH place. In some places, they rally
about enough for corporal's guarc. Still, it
is q nesfins, and has ell the awful attributes Of
popular assembly; in other places, where the
political distemper has ragged with more vio-
ience, they congregate enough for regiment;
and in every case, they tell fine story about
their Frightening prospects, boast prodigiously
of their increasing numbers, and show of the
whole affair, by the aid of putting to the best pos.
sible advantage. This is part Of the system Of
opposition, pre-concerted and pre-arraaged by
the bashaws and nabobs Of the party, lately in
Congress al Washington; and all the exercise
OF party discipline must be gone through by the
little local great men in the different States, tina,
the honest and unsuspecting people may be
guhsd All this parade Of meetings mus, be
got up, to overwhelm the wonder-struck peo-
pie, by terrific and ghost-like display of their
strength. There is nothing spontaneous about
the whole business; the leaders, egg ON all they
can control, inveigle by their arii6ces, all that
can be managed; and then laugh a, them in Sc
cre,, for their folly. But after all, what do
these meetings amount 10, or wha, Go they
prove? Why nothing more nor less, than that
drilled, and can be convoked al pleasure by their
commanders, by the mere issuing oforders; and
when united, they make very formidable array
particularly on paper. But in no case do these
meetings prove tina, the opposition are The ma
jor'ty, unless majority of all the voters OF the
district which has been ordered to convene for
grand parade, shall come together in array on
their side. In almost every county In every
state, it is possible meeting, great or small,
might be manufactured in favor OF the OPP
position Some fifty or a hundred men, out Ola
pspulationcon,aininga thousand voters, might
on an emergency, be assembled; those in the Sc
cret, might make speeches, adopt resolutions,
toast the administration down TO Ferdition,. anc
clamor up Jackson, 10 the skies; and all this
prepared machinery would be very significant
ly called "the roice Of The people," while perhaps
three taurths Of the people Of the county or city
where this farce was performed, would be de-
cidedy opposed to all such disorganizing pro.
ects; but choose rather to signify their opinions
By their uotes at the regular elections, than bv
any interference in preooncerted political ca
balls. The fact then-is simply and plainly this:
The opposition are SO conscious OF their weak
ness, and Of the declining state Of their affairs,
that they find it necessary to resort to thou
sand articles, to bolster up rotten cause by
every hostile excrlion, and by showing dH their
strength This is necessary, to brace up the
sinking spirits Of ;heir disciples, who shew
as constant disposition 10 desert them, as
rats do to leave sinking ship. They must
caucus and cabal in Congress, and out Of
Congress, ut erery state, and in every county
in the union; and thus by forcing their pre-
possessions upon the public striUe 10 intimidate
their opponents by their armies of assembled
recruits, by a boast of numbers that they do
not, and ne YER can posses. lfthey cannot per!
suade and Ca jole those into their plans, who
might be useful they endeavor to pun chase them;
and bv the aid Of few subsidized creatures, to
| chant ho.annas to their chief and BY their nu-
mcrous convoc atoms, they raise the redonbtable
crv, tina, theirs ZIG The cause of the people," peo-
pie for whom they care nothing, and whom
they vairly essay to dragon, and drive, where
they cannot coax them into their plans, which
plans are adopted solely for the purpose of roo
bling others of offices, honestly obtained, that
these clamorers for patriotism that they do
not possess, may occupy their Offices them
selves