Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-09-26
FoR THE CONSTITUTIONAL Wurc.
THE PRESENT CRISIS.

flre early political contests of our country and ,ho
nave continued to feel sufficient interest in public con
Germs 10 bave observed the progress of parties for
frst thirty years. must find in the present condition OF
affairs matter for much curious speculation as veil ss
deep reflection They will remember the ti'nc, when
distinct and well defined principles created an
line OF separation between the conteDdipg partics and
when opposition TO the pow err was directed by
Iu,re lefty motive than the desire succeed to their
places.
At the present day. it is openly and boldly avowed tina
whether the admuisra tim of government be GOOD
or bad, whether its system of policy and the rncasu
growing out Of il be wise and virtuous mbecile ant
corrupt, the nrcr who compose be .hunted down
and destroyed because in their elevation few asprino
demagoguss, affecting 10 speak in the name of the
people, were disappointed in their selfish and ambitious
views.
There is bitterness Of hostilitr-,n ;n,,,c,b;l;,
ofpersonal luminosity and jeaousy-in the mo,le, com
hinaton OF antagonizng interests, by which the pre-
sent opposition that puts at defiance
every thing like PATRIOTISM principle consist ency
That which, IN ITSELF is undenably prudent saeacious
and expedient becomes mpoitio and injurious
from the mere fact of being recommended by particular
individuals.
1t is manifest that there mus! be sometime wronr
enmethng radically vicious, in opposition thus con.
slituted and thus conducted There must be some
TDve Of action entirely different from love of conntrr
or regard tor the public veal that excite such We.
hGmeuce of hatred-such malignity of passon-srcb ,
Total disregard of the common couresies of life
our constitutional rulers Mere difference of opinion
could never lead to such vruence of opposition nav
radical difference Of principle, would hardly Justify the H.
LIBERAL gross and vulgar treaDent which the exs,inn
administration has received. at the hands of men
ing the education, standing and character OF gentle
men and calling themselves patriots, and friends Of
tire people
five ask What it is tina; has produced snch q state
Of indispensable excitement-we are answered that
Mr. Adams was elected President by "bargan intrigue
md management"-that Mr.. Clay was 6r;Iei 10 vote
for him. by the promise of the high station which ne ac
tually holds!-and that such corruption Is enough tc
the pure and immaculate spirits Of their dssp-
pointed competitions! And who is he who thus accuse
tire leading men of his country of dishonotabe traffic
for Office? Even the chief of the opposition himself -
The very who is TO profit by the alton OF tho
ilanders-the high minded, chiyarous and patriotic
thero of two wars"-wiro, we are told by some q
his biographers, had little regard for SELF that he
voluntarily 'fed acorns' during part of campaign
rather than fare better than his sodies according
10 his account, tnevcr sought oiicer-aud who
refused the invitation of his friend 10 visit pu bile wa
tering place in neghborng State, lest he might be
suspected o! electeneering-thi man, circumstan-
Cea aud so characterized does scruple to mals this
Charge Of corruption against his rvas and at his Gown
house and resde," for the entertainment of call his
company to vaunt his magnanintv and to boa 9,
that he might have been President if he had been base
enough TO pay the price of MIR. Ciay's corruption!
II would be naturally supposed that such calu:nnv
could not have been uttered, such boast OF purity
could never have been made, but upon Tire best au
thorty and most unqestionable grounds. Is this the
fact No! The SANDER has even .'heursay'' to
rest upon: for the very whose name is given to
Tire public by General Jackson-but given only " hen
Ire is compelled TO seek a voucher for ms veracv-
contradcts every material point Of his statement and
explicitly denies that he gave him any authority for
his gra.ui,ous accusation OF MIR. Cay!-How this i'm
aculate patriot will escape the deep disgrace which
the testimony OF his witness and partiZan has
consigned him. remains yet TO be. seen. The dspo.
Eition Of the human mind 10 credit whatever tends TO
delrac from virtue, may him for time; but the
prngress OF truth, though slow is suIe:-
"fhnugr silent long and sleeping ne'er sound
Sm"thsred with errors, and oppressed with toys,
Tina, Heaven commissioned hour no sooner calls.
!ivtfrom her cavern in the souls abyss,
Like him they fable under 1II:na Vhtlmd.
'CHs goddess bursts in thunder and in Gan,e,
muddy convinces, and severely palms,
j. there any other cause assigned for the unprcce.
deRci volence-the total disruption of all the ties of
spciety-which marks the course Of the present op
position! have heard OF no other. This imputed
corruption III the election and this alone is offered as
full apology for the fouest abuse for every violation
Of deconcy, and for personal insult having no example
in former political controversies. Aud against qyhom
Is this terrible array of the evil passions leveed?-
Whose destruction it, that is deemed SO necessary TO
tIrg publication of our political amosphere-to the
restoration Of social order? Are they upsars-
turers-tnen of yesterday, nnknown in our histor,?-
Tor the honor Of the American name, we could al
JnDst wish they should at least escape the
and aunts OF The foreign enemies of our Repub
lie, who pointing in emulation to the actual
state OF society here proof of mans unness for self
government But degrading the confession must
he, the who thus assacI are citizens Of hoh
tstnction-rnen whom it has been hitherto the pride
OF tireiT CountTymeO TO load with OnOFs-Tnpn whose
inscribed every page OF our history for
Cue last thirty years. These are the men Who are
accused of suddenly losing all of honor of
casting off their long tried integrity, ard of yielding
10 The reckless ambition of seeking Office at tie sac,
Iiiice of fame and cbaraCicri
The present is crisis ''bg With the fatcn of our
Republic. We have Reached the period when the
principles upon Which government is founded and
the stability of institutions 10 be severely tried
al such time ii becomes the duty of every man. who
has al heart the honor, the happiness and prosperity
on his country 10 bring into exercise the talent great
or small which God has given him, and 10 aid as far
as he in preparing his less enlightened fellow citi-
zens 20 understand The nature and importance Of the
sentence, which they will soon he called upon 10 pro
With other claims TO the public aten-
ton, tLan such conscientious discharge of this
sacred duty and long experience, may 10 estab
ljs, il is my intention to submit few plain remarks
on "thc present crisis" and to sug est what to
np to be tie obvious Of avertiDg the evils
which II threatens. "Ilcar INC for my caUse!"
BRUTUS.