The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-10-24
23oitttcaI.
From The Richmond Whig.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.


NO. IL.
III my hrst number | endeavored to trace.
lhe present disturbed state of society to the
ehort to place General jackson in the
residential chall-to point out the infiu-
ehce OF that lnfrmity of our nature which
leads US to pay blind devotion to military
renoWn-to show from history the fatal
effects OF such devotion in all the ancienf
republlcs-and to remind you of the last
solemn warning of Jefferson, elected from
ess11 - the InIaCuaClon OF his cnnntrymn11
IA teldtIU1 to this military chieftain.
shall now proceed to present other views
on this interesting subject.
The question forcihy suggests itself
what corresponding benefit, for all the mis-
chlefs produced by the attempt to elect
jackson, IS hoped for, should the attempt
succeed' for If no benefit is expected, can
tnere be greater folly, to say the least,
than to disturb the quiet of ten millions of
people tor the degrading purposes of pay
ing homage to a successful soldier? The
mere name OF man who shall be Presi-
dent IS an Insignificant object. The i'm
7 poItance of the question, who shall fill the
once, consists, not in the name, but in the
qualifications of the man, moral and intel
lectual-in the pledge already giyen bv
the Individual, that he will faithfully and
wisely administer its high functions-and
what, IN a general view, will be the effect
OF the election of this or that individual on
the interests of the republic. These are
the considerations which every unpreiu-
tdlced mind should examine before de-
cision is made.
What benefit, then, to the republic is ex-
pected to result from the election of Jack
son. Even some OF his active partizans
i nfT hat hnv
ciple, but from hostility to Adams, Can
there be doubt that majority of the
American people always have been, and
now are, opposed to his election ?-and
that, if he succeed in this second attempt.
it will not be because he is deemed worthy
of the appointment, but because Adams is
thought unworthy. Why is it that so large
portion of the people, who acknowledge
the unhtness and incompetency of Jackson.
still unite in supporting him? Are we, in
deed, so destitute of citizens capable of
filing the office, that we submit to the de-
grading alternative of electing a man SO
generally admitted to be unqualified? Is
there not independence enough among US
! to free ourselves from the dilemma, or must
we tamely submit to the clamorous dicta-
ton of few individuals who arrogantlv
proclaim that jackson must be the onIv
competitor to the present incumbent, and
who denounce as traitor or intriguer
every citizen who is independent enough
to inquire, whether we are really reduced
so low as to be confined to the choice of
two Individuals Whatever may be the
reason, it seems to be irrevocably fixed,
that the contest will be between Adams
and Jackson.
1t becomes, then, the solemn duty of
every freeman to compare, or to speak
more correctly, to contrast, their respective
pretensions to our support. 1t may be
worth while to fix in the beginning of this
inquiry, what are the proper qualifications
( for the first Office in the gift of man. When
these shall be established, it viii be an ea-
sy matter to measure the respective merits
of the candidates. But if we first select
the man, and then erect standard of mer-
it, it will be fashioned from what he is, and
not from what he should be.
He who aspires to the Presidency, should
possess character for integrity above sus.
picion. To a mind well endowed by ma
ture, should be added cUltivation--to cul-
tiyation, experience in political affairs,
which can only be attained by long service
in situations favorable to its requirement.
In public and in private life, he should
have given proofs of his respect for the
| laws and constitution Of his countrywide
should have sworn himself under varioIf
circumstances master of HIMSELF capable