The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-11-14
oltt{CSG.
From the Richmond Hhig.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINT A
No. T..


NO. V.
The question has been often asked us-and
! really have never seen it fairly answered.
why we seek to eject Mr. Adams from Office
at the end of one term, contrary TO the usapo
established by Washington, Jefferson. Madi.
son and Monroe, each of whom was elected
for two terms The inference too plainly to
he drawn from our violent opposition to Ad-
ams-sInce his administration has been con-
Quoted in the true spirit of his predecessors
is, that he is not one of us-not TIygiJjon
( but Yankee If this be really the only
ground OF our opposition, ii is far more dishon-
/ orable to us than to him.
There is no part of the constitution. per.
/ haPs, which more fully vindicates the wisdom
of It's authors, than the arrangement Of tb;s
delicate and difficult subject Ii was f,pnd b,,
those sages, that the election of the Pras;dori
who, by his power of appointment; was ~ bo
the dispenser OF honors and emoluments ,yonId
De productive Of consequences dangerous 10
o. peace, and even to the duration ofour free
institutions. The term was therefore propcrIy
limited to four years. Usage came in all If
the constitutional provision to re-elect for n
second term. While the violence of contend
ing parties was diminished by the shortness of
the term prescribed by the Constitution. and
wholesome check reserved to the Peonle
against misrule on the one hand. on the Other
offered every inducement to the individual who
held that eminent station to discharge his dn-
ties with fidelity, so as to merit recollection
and reelection in such case has seemed TO fol
low as a thing of course. The ADVANTAGE of
this is that, instead of one continued conflict
between rival candidates for the office. the
public mind is permitted to settle down in com
posure for eight years. and for that period de-
vote itself to the furtherance of the business
and the interest of the nation.
What has been the practical result Of this
usage Let every mans recollection and orr
history answer. On the contrary, what has
already occurred, from the effort now makinr
to depart from this usage? The answer to
TINS VIII be found in the sad condition of socie-
W, as have endeavored family to depict in
M Introductory number. Violent excitement
being necessary to change the settled usaoes
of country-usages which have been founded
in the best feelings of our nature-the means
of course, which are resorted 10 for that end
are OF the most improper and indefensible char
acter and the people become so accustomed
to see the plGinest precepts of morality disiort
ed and perverted, that they can at least hear
without Indignation the ayowal of the santi
ment that " alls fair in politics r'---for this
has been avowed by some of the Opposition
Nor are we left to the charitable coniecture
that tins is mere vaporing. Not many weeks
nave elapsed since foreigner, cherished and
honored by his adopted country, dared before
an assembly of the People, in The presence Of
the constituted authorities of one Of the States
Of this Republic, and ,cithout rebukc, to declare
that the time had arrived when the south must
decide whether to submit to oppression or to a
separation! In this audacity we SEQ the saoe
councils of the father of his country set NJ
nought, lie warned us against the coming Of
snfh demagogues, who would seek the accom-
piishment OF their own schemes by attemptino
the dsunlon of the States Win Won cling IN
the advice of Washington or will you follow This
dlsorganizing demagogue, this forei,rn EXETER
OF sectional prejudices?
But to return to our old and faithful servant
Mr. Adams What has he done amiss. that we
should seek to degrade him, and promote
another! Our Republican friends of The Fast
rebuke us, and with some reason, for onr seJ.
hshness and tngratitudc They tell na that
when Jefferson and Madison we're besot bv n
combination like that which now EXISTS 10 oh.
struct the salutary measures of their adminis
tratIons; when some of the most desperate
then, as now, threatened dis,lnion
rather than submit to their Governments. men
cordially supported our Virg mia Presidents
they sustained them with fidelity and zeal and
we passed the perilous crisis in safety. They |
say to us, and they say truly We, after in |
1nlging you FOR thirty-two out of fhirtv-six
years, since the adoption of the Constitution.
have placed one of our citizens in the most Of
lonor--and how have you treated him What