Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-30

a
he is lreeSrom objection But thus much DO
they profess 10 believe; that he is pure and up
r;gh, in Intention patriotic, however OCCASION
slly mistaken-patient, faithful, and iaoorious
in The discharge of his public duties--blameiess
and irre,roachable in private life. Arrived at
AZ, advanced stage Of life, and having received
from his Country the most repeated and the
highest testimonials Of her confidence, II Is I'M
pos,ible TO believe that he cherishes IN MS
heart disafection to her institutions; or that ne
can have any other wish than TO perpetuate that
form of government under which he has Deeh
trusted and advanced 10 the highest dignities'
With these favorable conceptions OF his 2ubhc
and private character, they are determined 10
support him with zeal--a zeal yet not inspireo
uoon his account, but that oil the Repubnc
They do NOT believe him the best quallhed Tor
the Presidency, but circumstances, in making
him the rallying point of civil asctndancy, OPP
posed to military spirit and TO military pre-
dominance, have left them no other alternative
On the character of the uppostionwhlch mas
been waped against the existing administration,
the citizens of Richmond, here assembled, can
no, lorbear TO express their disapprobation
Commencing before the administration was
fairly organized, aud before the first message OF
the President had disclosed the principles up
OH which he proposed 10 conduct his admins
tration, evidence was thus given that the deter
mination to assail il was independent OF Tie
character ii might assume. This conclusion Is
strengthened by surveying The political char
acters of many most actively engaged IN the
opposi,ion; and the citizens OF Richmond can"
not but feel suspicious Of the change they pro-
pose to bring them, when 10 effect 1t, they have
sacrificed their own consistency, and reversed
e Dahl ~
they had up to that time acted. They cannot
approve The personal and vindictive spirit in
which the opposition has been conducted, and
they dstrusi the soundness Of a cause '"hlch
relies for success upon disgracing the eharac-
tiers Of its pI ointment adversarics. They dis
credit the charges Of bargain and corruption
preferred against the President and Secretary
Of State, and deprecate the existence OF spirit
in the country, which, in dertli"ton OF benero-
lence and christian charity, ascri5es an action
TO the worst and most dishonorable motive
which could produce il. In the vote oil Mr.
Clay for Mr.. Adams, they see nothing but his
selection Of one or two alternatives from which
he was compelled by his public duty to select,
and the choice was that universally approved
IN Virginia q, the time, and contormab'e
TO the principles OF his publicSle TO his pre-
vious sentiments in relation TO the TWO lndi'id
uais, and to the general fitness Of things.
In the selection of Mr.. Clay as Secretary OF
State they recognize the Presidents concur
renee with that general sentiment which as
signed Mr.. Clay distinguished, fno, the hrst
rank among American Statesmen in active life.
In his acceptance Of the appointment, they
plainly perceive the advantage he has given
his enemies in bringing his motives under sus-
picion but no indication whatever Of the reai-
4 # ha Il.,a barp i
cannot consent for character 10 be held by SO
frail tenure, that regulations identified for
twenty years with the history of the country,
shall be over,hrowh by insdious deductions
Fl ON actions eX2licable upon honest and Pair-
otto grounds, or by the passionate demonstrations
Of disappointed men-in these charges reflec-
ting upou the characte Of the Country as much
as upon the distinguished individuals them
selves, they repeat their utter disbelief, a dis =,
belief correlated by every successive attempt 10
establish them.
or the people Of Virginia, the citizens here
assembled, enquire, what benefit they expect 10
derive-what triumph of principle they expect
10 achieve, by The election oil Gen. Jackson!
VIVA. sympathy exists between them and him,
on those great constitutional questions for
which they have so long and so nobly contend
ed? They are opposed to enlarged cons,ruc-
lions Oh tue itutTai 'oH1pdCt-Stn. Jd1hSoh
has supported such construct Jns by his ,oles
in the Senate Of the United States. They are
inimical to protecting TariH-he having
sanctioned that Of s24, new shrouds his opin-
ions in impenelrable mystery. They esteem
the Constitution a holy thing not to be pro!an.
ed by violence, or sllered but by the will Of the
people; he has broken into its sanctuary with
arms in his hands. They esteem The writ Of
Habeas Corpus the great safeguard Of individ-
uai liberty, no, to be suspended bu, by law
he has suspended it upon his individual author.
ity. They consider the freedom Oft citizen
as the end of the constitution, and not 10 be in
vaded but by judgmen, of his peers, and the
law of the land-General Jackson has thrown
them into prison al his arbitrary will and plea
sure. They have entrusted the power OF peace
and war to their representatives in Congress
ssembled-Gencrai Jackson has invaded a
neutral country in defiance of orders and in vi.
olation Of this constitutional provision. They
have guaranteed The freedom Of the Press as
essential 10 public liberty Gen. Jackson has
punished its exercise by imprisonmeni.-
Where then is the cause for sympathy in his
behalf?