Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-07-16
From the Yeoman's Gazette.
THE PRESIDENCY.


es. 1t was observed, that the Presidency was
lot sinecure, like the patent offices in Europe,
but that grea deal Of laborious service was to
be performed by the President. We might
have added that the office required for its pro-
per discharge a thorough acquaintance WIN
the law of nations and the law Of the land, with
the political history of the country, with all It's
foreign relations, and with all its internal inter-
es,,, and the proper way 10 advance them.
1t is therefore plain, that to say that General
Andrew Jackson gained the battle of New Or
leans, is not giving good reason why ne ought
TO be President,
Even il it were allowed, that the Presidency,
(instead of being an arduous office which reqair-
ed preparation and quaifeasionl was nothing oo'
a compliment 10 be.paid to brilliant ana sue
cessful commander; is it quite certain that zen
Jackson would be entitled to it! Were Com
modore Perry alive, or Commodore NJ Donough,
we should say that either Of them had as fair
title 10 this honor as Gen. Jackson. Had Com
moaore M'Donoush been defeated, the conse-
ouences 10 this part Of the country would nave
been quite az disastrous as the consequences oil
the capture of New. Orleans would have been.
But Perry and M'Donough are no more; they
have gone, we trust, to better reward than
that Of being appointed TO an Office which nel-
rher was qualified to fill.
There is, however, still surviving, gallant
officer of,he last war, who performed an achieve
ment, which, for its time, and for the effect 1t
had on the public feeling, both in Europe ana
America, was certainly Of as much importance
as the victory Of Gen Jackson; we mean Cap.
tain Isaac Hull. In SIGNALLING him, we intend
no injustice 10 the memory OF Decatur, or to
the fame Of cambridge, Stewart, and the other
skilrul and gallant commanders Of our little navy.
OF British naval superiority was unbroken; when
the British navy, swelled with the spoils OF eve
ry European marine, rode triumphant on every
sea; when even in our country the public senti.
ment was very much divided on the subject OF
naval defence, and its best friends entertained
no belief that we could cope with the navy OF
England; Capt. Hull at this moment, came in
to port in the Consultation, with the glad tdings,
that he had, in a very short space Of time, cap
tured and sunk British frigate, which had
been expressly selected TO go and take The Con-
siifuiion.
What would have been the effect on the pub
lie mind, had Captain Hul's skill or courage fail
ed him; had the Constitution been captured?
What was the effect on Europe and Ameri-
CT, on our other naval commanders, on the
councils Of the nation, in reference to naval de
fence, of that victory? Without the least wish
to do injustice to Gen. Jackson, who did all
that could be done at N. Orleans by brave and
able commander; it is certainly fair to say that
Capt. Hull's service was more important. Gen.
Jackson's service was limited to the preserva.
ton Of the City Of New-Orleans, from the hor-
rors Of sap.ure-no doubt an immense boon, to
be most thankfully & honorahly acknowledged.
Blu, the treaty Of peace was already negotiated
and signed, and on its way to Washington, and
by this treaty all places captured during the
war on either side, were given up. Consequent
", had The British captured N. Orleans, they
must have abandoned i.
But II Captain Hull had been defeated, at the
opening Of the war, if our good old ship, the
Constellation, to which the affections of the peo-
pie have justly attached themselves, with kind
Of supers,itious love, had been worsted; it she
hal been sunk like the GGsrrisrs; or if she had
come craven back into our harbors flying before
the foe; or if she had been carried over to Eng.
land, with the royal George hoisted over the
stars and stripes, we avow it as our serious
conviction, that the effect would have bee
more calamitous than the capture OF New-Or-
leans.
Captain Hull, then, is better entitled to the
Presidency, than General Jackson is, on the
very ground on which his friends exclusively
place his pretensions. we accordingly nominate
him as President; we call on all men who regard
the Presidential office merely as a reward, to
give him their votes. We depend on the sup
port of all General Jackson's friends. They
cannot be true to their principles, unless they
unite to elevate Capt. Hull to the first Office in
the nations gift.
What are the objections TO him! We are
willing to argue the subject fairly, and we have
4 luckily in our power to give an all-sufficient
answer to every possible objection that can be
raised.
Is it objected that Captain Hull is North
ern man? We auswer-he sunk the Guerrero |
1t is objected that Captain Hull is afederalist?
We reply-he sunk the Guerrero
Is it objected that Captain Hull, though
highly respected citizen, has not that PREF min-
mt talent, which ought to belong to- Presi-
lent of the United States9 To this We have the |
Tery sufficient answer rsady-that Capt Hull