Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-01
From the Village Record.

1t is happy circumstance, in the history Of
the United States, which doubtless has tended
much TO the preservation OF the. purity OF Tree
institutions, from the. effects Of the unbric!ec
ambition Of willy and designing demagogues
who would willingly Impose themselves on t!is
people for Offices Of high trust and honor, rath'
er by the force Of their unprincipled intrigues
Than hair nanrii and capabilities for the station
they dcsire;) that, the people have always crilI
cally canvassed the character Of applicants for
high situations, by looking at their general cor.
duct and disposition, as evinced by the acts Of
their lives; whereby, they are the more reason
ably enabled to ascertain those claims 10 distinc-
ton, which in Republic ought always to be
founded upon the incorruplibility Of their pri-
va,e as well as public character. And it is
therefore essentially necessary that, when facts
are 10 be ascertaiped, which must if true, take
away from candidate all claims upon the era
titude Of discerning public, that the Press,
the medium through which these facts are made
known to the body Of the people, and in which
they discussed, should be pure, upright, uu-
trammelsd by corruption or bribery, and al,oge,h-
Err free from those undue restraints, wheh may
destroy its independence, and convert it into a
means TO poison the fountains of truth, to mis-
lead the people, and eventually to injure the
cause OF freedom, for the support of which, it
was doubtless originally intended. And If a,
any time the people in disgust, should lose their
confidence in the purity of the Press, and cease
to exercise their reason upon these important
subjects, and when they shall neglect, as it were,
an enquiry for the truth Of facts merely becaus Sc
it is corrupt, is no longer to be trusted, or that
it has come under the thumb Of some ambitious
man, who with kind Of political
like magic puts its through its wheelings and e.
voutions, and 10 suit his own private views,
loads their columns with nnaleUoleni f0rgeries,
assertions Without proo( inuendoes of the basest de-
scription; will i. not eventually happen that the
best and wsest men will be driven from the
Councils OF our country, and they who are the
most ambitious and designing, be placed IN ST.
tuations, where they may do great injury, & can
seldom effectuate any thing to its advantage
and happiness
These are considerations Of high and i'm
portant nature, and il bchoves the people to ell.
quire whether the present violent opposition, Of
the Jackson presses, is not the effect Of some
powerful though unseen influence, which directs
them on, regardless of the sanctions of truth,
candor and liberality, and whose sole aim seems
10 be that of putting down an efficient ard able
who have every claim on Just
public for support, founded upon purity of in
tention, devotedness TO :he public veal, incor.
ruptiblity of its public officers, moderation and
equanimi.y Of temper, which it has universally
in the most trying situations, whilst
buffetting against an over jealous opposition,
whose watchwords are, "right or wrong, we
will oppose the acts Of the Administration,
though they be as pure as the angels on the
right hand of the throne of God"
Let as now draw line OF marked distinction,
between these two men, by inquiring into their
character and ac,s, and it will plainly appear
that not only Jackson has no right 10 presume
to ask OF the people The highest Office in their
gift (Which from his incapacily as statesman
he must necessarily abuse) but, that Adams
has claims not surpassed by any other man in