Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-10
Extract from an address Of RoBsRr WlcKliFfE'
10 Ais Constituents.


IL is equally gratifying to every iriend oil our re-
public that the general government was never
more resnecied abroad, and respectable at horne,
than at the presen, crisis-ihat the people OF
The Uni,el States are enjoying peace and plen-
~. the fruits Of our own peculiar form oil go
yernmenr. which render them the happiest peo-
,,Ie on earth-That the present Chief Magis-.
trate, seconded, as he is, by an able and patrl-
otic cabinet, administers the government, as tar
as depends upon him, in the spirit oil the Con-
s,itution, and pursues a course OF policy, wise,
liberal, and Just; that while the energies oi his
powerful mind are employed in devisng the
best modes Of action for the Executive Depart
ment, his untiring industry achieves whatever
his indgmsn, dictates for the good Of the nation
With such e ,vernment, administered with
so much intelligence and political virtue, the
American people must continue to be the envy,
as they are the establishment, OF the world
And sure am, that the great body OF the sober
people Of these Slates,can al this time lind mo-
thing in their. own condition that exeites in
them desire 10 change, either their form oil
government, or the present administrators oil II.
But, strange as il may seem, "eombina'ion
is forming, within our own State, TO change
radically the form and character OF the national
government, and To put down the present a6mi'
the Governor 10 effect the destruction OF all con-
6dence in the State, TO overthrow yea~ cousti
tuition, and to pros,ra'e the Judiciary of your
country, have engaged his willing mind in like
undertakings against the peace, happiness and
prosperity Of the national government. They
accordingly prepared for him his opening mes
sage, in which he insinuates boldly against The
integrity Of the President Of the United States
aud the majority of the members Of Congress
who voted Tor him. He speaks freely about
corruption in the abstract, and ipsinuates that
the President owes his Office to corrupt men
and means-and proposes radical change IN
the election Of President BY dispensing with the
electoral colleges rhis project the fae 'ionists
supposed would effect much They were viii
ling to break down the federation principle, to
row The whole Union INTO conso dated mass,
to accom- plish fayorite object-lhr des,ruc-
ton of the present administration All This
they were DESTROYS OF doing under the pretext
Of being the exclusive friends Of State rights;
that is, they will, in order 10 save the little
States of Delaware and Rhode Island, destroy
their frderative character and influence alto
gether. By thus making the election emphati-
cally popular il will be in the power OF the great
STATES TO make President for the nation, so
long as they agree, and when they disagree, To
divide the funds among themselves by DISCO
luton Of the partnership Only adop; this
scheme Of amendment, and there are those a
mong us who may live to see the country East
of the mountains divided between Virginia and
New York; who shall own the West will de
pend upon Ohio, or some other non-slayehold-
ing State, As chairman Of a committee on that
part Of MS Excellency's message, reported a
gainst tone hug the FEDERAL Constitution in so
frar Cd hy
Washington aud his compa,rints in war, and
in peace. is good enough for me. en- not for
putting to hazard Constitution, to which the
American people SO much indebted for the
happiness they enjoy, for mere name Nor
am prepared 10 exchange tried Constitution,
the work Of the hest ana wisest men that ever
lived, for The bagatelle Of Kremer or Desha
The true secret Of The proposed amendment
consists in the supposed I'D i, viii give to the
enemies Of the present administration in elevat-
ing its opponent to the presidential chair
The violators of your own Constitution are the
advocates for the violation Of your Federal Con
s,itution. Those who rage agains, your own,
are they who propose the change OF the Federal
Constitution. The leaders Of the faction are
the same, AMI the malady with them is, that
they want State and Federal Money. The pre-
sent economical administrations OF your State
and Natlonai treasures, DO not suit the leaders
OF the players against the workers. Nor do the
loaves aud Sshes come exclusively into their
baskets, as they once did. Hence it is that
they have rallied around the standard Of oppo-
sition, hoping. by the aid of General Jackson's
popularity, to rise once more 10 Offices and
power over the ire asuries OF the Nation and Of
the State. Was the contest once between Gen.
Jackson and Mr. Adams, should view the sub
iect with indifference. For the great military
services OF General Jackson and his personal
accomplishments, no man has a higher respect
than myself, and were he TO enter the Office un-
trammelled by party feeling, should have less
approximations for my country at his elevation
to the honor which the opposition designs him.
But unfortunately for@the Generals prospects,
the contest is no longer one between The per-
sonal claims of himself aud Mr. Adams. Il is
q contest for principle, and the Question with
every disinierested freeman is, whether he will
put to hazard every thing upon The tide Of ex-
pertinent, merely to change the Presiden, L
-~.sld ask all such 10 examine for themselves
W what viii you discard the present