The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-10-31
2aoltttraI.
From the Richmond Wig.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
10. HI.


son, for the purpose ofascertaining their re-
spectiye qualifications for the Presidency,
| purposely avoided referring either to the
merit of the General for his military success,
or to the demerif attributed to Mr.. Adams
in the manner of his obtaining the Presl-
dency, intending to make these points the
subject of distinct and separate review.
The signal success of Jackson at New
Orleans, merited and received the applause
of the nation, and no man more cheerfully
Joined in according it to him than myself.
1t terminated the incidents of the war, IN
manner the most glorious for the country, /
and did much to blot out the stain of our
previous disasters. | rejoiced at the mo-
ment, in the honor awarded HIM by the
representatives of the people, as well as
by the people themselves. Nor Will
disguise that although Icould but deeply
regret the breaches he had made upon the
Constitution, yet | approved the indulgent
silence with which they were treated.
should have been more gratihed, could
they have been blotted out forever from
our recollection. 1t is most cheeriully
confessed, that for this victory, jackson
/ had claims on nations gratitude, and so
had his brave companions IN arms. While
we readily award to the commanding Gen
eral the greatest share of praise, it would
be injustice to make him the exclusive OBJ
iect of our gratitude. Many a brave and
patriotic hero must have been with him,
whose intelligence aided in the achieve
ment, and who have therefore equal claims
on our best feelings. But the victory of
New Orleans was not the only victory
achieved during the war. In other impor-
/ tant portions ofour territory, bloody battles
I Il
/ indicating equal chiyalry, skill and patri-
otism. Niagara, Erie, Plattsbuig, are alike
1 the theatres of our glory in arms. The
ocean presents no less distinguished proofs
of the most heroic enterprise. The heroes
| who directed these different conflicts are,
equally with General jackson, entitled to
our gratitude. But how shall it be mani
! tested by making them all Presidents !?
Is it just, that the whole of our favors
should be layished on one ? Who row
talks Of any other battle, or of any other
hero, than those of New Orleans? Have
all others been forgotten? Have the names
of Brown, Scott, Hull, Bainbridge, been
/ presented to you for the Presidency? No.
They are all consigned to oblivion, that the
glory of Jackson may shine with brighter
lustre. And yet they fought as valiantly,
are at least as competent as the Hero of
1 Orleans, and their moral characters are I'M
exceptionahle. But who ever thought of
comforting the highest civil Office on a
military man, because of his fitness for
/ command, or his success in battle It is
urged indeed BY some of the over jealous
I paTtizans of Jackson, that man who is
great in the field, must be great also in
the cabinet.
Ifthere is truth in this proposition, the
converse of it must be equally true, and a
great man in the cabinet must be great
man in the field. But what figure do YOU
think Mr. Adams would make at the head
of an army? Surely rot more ridiculous
one than General jackson in the cabinet.
Both would be "out Of their element :" and
nothing but blind partiality could place
either OF them in so false position. Again
1t is said, our first President had been a
successful General, and Jackson is
second Washington. l am free to admit,
my fellow citizens, that cannot dispassion-
ately advert to this fragrant and impious
outage committed on the memory of
Washington, by the sycophant followers of
Jackson. 1t cannot be necessary, with
/ you, to draw the contrast 1t would be
| blasphemy against the Father of his coun-
/ try, and an insult to your understandings.
/ to point out wherein they differ. Your
heart and your head will sustain me in this
/ declaration, and no matter what your wish
es may be IN regard to the pending election
/ you Will trown Indignantly on the renegade
/ from virtue, and patriotism, who dares to
/ assert resemblance. General Jackson
was entitled to the gratitude of the nation.
Has he not received it? Congress voted
him the thanks ofthe people : he was contin-
ued In command till the disbandment of the
army in 1881, receiving his annual thou
/ sands, while at the same time he enjoyed
the undisturbed retirement of the Hermit
/ age-undlsturhed, with the exception of a
few months active military service in n
period of six years. In common with
every other officer, he received the adj
ditional compensation of three months nav.
granted by Congress to those who like
himself, had been disbanded; while. at
the same time, he was receiving the salary
OF a new and honorable appointment as
! Governor of Florida.
These evidences of nations gratitude
were cheerfully awarded to him. And vet,
IT has been grayely asserted, that he re-
tired from office Immediately after the war.
and like Cincinnatus converted his sword
INTO ploughshare-thus leaving it to be
inferred, that, though he still held his
commission, he received no pay while
the official accounts communicated to
Congress show, that, during his retirement,
he received nearly fifty thousand dol
lars
This fact is adyerted to now, only for
the sake of truth, and to disabuse the
public mind from the miserable attempts
to liken General Jackson's retirement from
the army to that Of Washington, which has
been so unblushingly urged as a reason for
electing Jackson, as you did Washington,
to the Presidency. will not pursue this
branch of the subject further, but content
myself with observing, that though it were
revealed from Heaven, that we had moth
ing to apprehend from Jackson's election.
save the influence of the exan1nla. that