Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-10

New Orleans.
A very brief glance at some incidents IN the
public life of Gen. JACKSON will estabisn, we
think, that as in theory, the energy ana lnolHer
ence 20 consequences which command success
ON the field Of battle are unsuited elsewhere, SO
in fact they have been displayed by General
JACKSON. on occasions where they were not
called for, in such manner as to justify the be-
lief that were he elevated to the Chief Magis'
tracy, they would be liable to be displayed IN
manner injurious TO the>public interests, II NOT
to the public peace. Among the incidents 10
which we refer, those which have oeeh most
freely arraigned, and most warmly aeienaeu'
and OF course best understood, are those wnich
attended the Seminole War, as 1t is caHed In
history. The Debate on that subject IN tne
House of Representatives was among the aoies''
taken altogether that ever took place IN ,he
House Of Representatives. 1t was In that De-
bate that Mr.. CLAY took ground IN reference 70
General JAG KsoN, that twas Impossible ior MIN
to have abandoned, by voting for Gen. JACKSON
for the Presidency, without the surrender OF e
very pretension to political consistency or 20 a
regard for the Constitution. Let US, thus re-
minded of that debate, turn to the volume
which contains it, and which is III but few
hands. We quote from it one or two passages,
first, of the Speech of Mr.. CLAY on that ocea-
sion
"He would not ,respass much longer upon
The time Of Il committee; but he trusted ne
should be INDUCED with some few reflections
upon the danger OF permitting the conduct, on
which il had been his painful duty TO animal
vert, 10 pass, withonla solemn expression oil
The disapproba,lon Of this House. Recall to
your recollection, said he, the free nations which
have gone before us. Where are they now. and
how have they lost their liberties! If we could
transport OF rselves back to the ages when Greece
| and Rome f1ourished in their greatest prosper-
~, and, mngling 10 the throng, ask Greclan
if he did no, fear some daring military chlei-
tain, covered with glory, some Phillp or Alex
ander, would one day overthrow his Liberties!
No! no! the confident and Indignant (Irecian
would exclaim, we have nothing to fear from
our heroes; our liberties will be eternal. II a
Roman citizen bad been asked, 1.-The did not
fear the conoueror Of Gaul might establish a
throne upon the ruins OF The public liberty, he
ould have instantly repealed the unjust ins-
nuation. Yet Greece had fallen; Caesar had
passed the Rubicon, & the patriotic arm even OF
Brutus could not preserve the liberties Of his
country The celebrated Madame de Stael, in
her last, and, perhaps, best work, has said, that,
in tho very year, almost the very month, when
the President Of the Directory declared that
monarchy would never more show its ri:shIui
head in France Bonapartc, with his grenadiers,
entered the palace Of ST. Cloud, and, dispensing,
with the bayone:, the deputies OF he-People,
deiberaling on the affairs Of the State, laid the
foundations Of that vast fabric OF despo,ism
which overshadowed all Europe. He hoped
net 10 DO misunderstood; he was tar from init
mating that Geo. Jackson cherished any design
inimical to the liberties of The country. He be-
lieved his intentions pure and patriotic. He
thanked God that he would not, but he thanked
him still more that he could not, if he would,
ovcr,urn the liberties of,he Republic. But pre-
cedents, If bad, were fraught with the most dam
gerous consequences. Man has been describ-
ed, by some of those who have treated OF his
nature, as bundle Of habits. The definition
was much truer when applied 10 governments.
Precedents were their habits. There was one
important difference between the Formation OF
habits by an individual and by governments
He contracts it only after frequent repetition.
single instance fixes the habit and deter mines
The direction Of governments. Against the
alarming doctrine Of unlimited discretion in our
military commanders, when applied even to
prisoners of,war, he must enter his protest. II
began upon them: it would end on US. He hop.
ed that our happy form of government was des-
tined to be perpetual But il it were to be pre-.
served, it must be by the practice of virtue, by
justice, by moderation, by magpan;mity, by
greatness Of soul, by keeping watchiul and stea-
dy eye TO the Executive; and, above all, by hold
ing 10 strict accountability the military branch
Of the public force
"To you, MIR. Chairman, belongs the high
privilege Of transmitting, unimpaired, to pos!e-
rily, the fair character and the liberty Of our
country. Do you expect to execute this high
trus, by :rampling, or suffering to be ,rampled
down, law; justice, the constitution, and the
rights Of other people2 BY exhibiting examples
of inhumani,y, & cruelty & ambition? When the
minions Of despotism heard, in Europe, of the
seizure of Pensacola, how did they chuckle and
chide the admirers Of our institutions, taunting
ly pointing to the demonstration Of spirit Of
injustice and aggrandzemen, made by our coun-
try, in the midst Of amicable negotiation. Be-
hold, said they, The conduct Of those who are
constantly approaching Kings! You saw how
those admirers were astounded, and hung their
heads. You saw, too, when that illustrious man,
who presides over us, adopted his pacific, mo-