Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-12-13

senate, but TO credfe. as well to Fl l. Rety OIL
;es' without The sanction OF eli her branch of the
Leg stature; we have seen him again, in ,he
transactions connected with The Wesi India trade, |
seeking TO monopoise. in practice. the power Of
coni'ne' eiot regulation, which the cons tuition
had expressly and appropriately granted to Con-
gress; and 1t he has claimed for the general gov
ernment at large, the great power Of Internal In
Provemen'., i, would seem that it was only, by
means Of lose and indefinite grants of money, 10
absorb the whole practical exercise of the power
in the eorter IF eIecut re discretion. These
por'enious advances of Prercga,irc, in SO early
a period OF our Government. empha,icslly appeal
TO the vigilance of Republican People.
The attention of 'M- meeting has also been
forcbly attracted, far more ain sorrow than in
anger by the new and extraordinary exped, ents
which have been resored TO by the members OF
the present administration to maintain themselves
in office. Instead Of relying as their predecessors
had done. with dignifsd CONSEQUENCES, on the
merits OF their official conduct 10 commend them
TO the confidence and affections of the people we
nave seen all the sTts OF electioneeing great and
small, reduced by them into a system, and every
member OF the executive Department from the
clerk OF bureau to the President himself, playing
his part in it, While on the one hand none Of
these ats has been too low for them TO stoop 10
as in the instance of the recent mummeries enacted
at Baltimore, TO the disgust OF the whole nation,
so, on the other, none bss been too high for
them 10 grasp az; and we have accordingly seen,
az In the case OF the appropriations for surveys.
and Tor the publication of the laws, high pubi;c
trusts, which had been confded 10 them fur i'm
po'iaht puoAc objects, grossly perverted from
.heir purposes, and used as engines of influence
for their own benefit and advancement, Howe
yer notifying this exhibition must be to the
PRIDE oil every American citizen, il is no more
perhaps, constituted as human nature is y than
was to have been expected, from an administration
oToushf anto ptaoer against The Independent and
unbiased tctH IT a majority of The people.
The circumstances of that memorable transac-
ton, are 100 pregnan, with solemn warning to the
nation TO be passed over in silence. What are
the undisruted facts which it presents to our con-
temptation! A political asprant who had himself
been candidate for the Presidency, suddenly
laying down former and vruent antipathes both
personal and political, disressfing principles
which he had repeatedly profess ed and nculcated,
and in opposition to the wishes of his constituent
and his state conveyed to him by The almost unani-
nous request of the Legislature of that State BY
the single effect oil his vote and influence, makes
the individual, against whom all these motives of
repusnance still existed in full force Chief Maeis-
trae OF the nation, and that individual forthwith
makes MIN the Chief officer of bis cabinet; which
appointment, according TO the usage. of the Cow
eminent, as interpreted by this sspirant him
sell, conferred upon him the virtual RIGHT of
succession TO the Presidency! we want no
evidence OF previous mutual understandings hes
tween the parties however abundant we be-
iie' that EVIDENCE 10 be, 10 stamp such pro.
ceedins as this with political iniqnity. II car
t'es us condemnation on Its own face, and is cor
rupt per Sc II such example should be sane
toned by the sutfrages Of the people where will,
be The safeguard of their rights, the security of
'hei liberties, the virtue of their public functiona
rie.? Will il not offer a premium. at once 70
representative fidelity, and teach the dangerous
lesson that the will of the people may be defeated
ny Inc intrisues OF ambition. not only with imou-
MY, out with triumphant advantage? Will il
not in fact be virtual surrender of the sopereicr-
~ Of the people; for who can doubt. If The n,s-
gent Chief Magistrate should be re- elec,ed. WELD
ed as The accumuaiing patronage of the Govern.
'ment then would be, Tor the benefit of h., n,e-
ordained successor, that the elevation of his Sc
cretary would be the certain result. and , or,ce.
dent would thus be riveitta on the nation, which
wou'a IN enect DERIVE them OF all real agency ia
the choice OF their highest executive officer. and
vest in the actual incumbent, in eyery case. the
nomination OF his successor, whenever il moht
tease him to give place TO another? we mSb,
then indeed enjoy the new tangled Iiber,v Of
Bohuion Republic, but the substance of Aue,i,
can oefty, as heretofore practised and understood
would be forever extinguirhed.
These are some of the considsr,,;o,s ,.L;.,
have Induced the members of this meeting decided
~ TO oppose The reelection Of the present Chief
MaSi-hate, and to express their preference DO
cidedly and unequivocally, for the election Of their
respected fellow citizeD, Andrew Jackson. ofTecx
nessee. The Gorgon terrors of a tsmilita,v chief
tam have not so petyified rh,m, as To render
mem insensoie to the claims OF this distipol
citizen on the gratitude of his country. or the no
generous attempt OF artful rival TO affx ;nf,rv
TO his name, by an Odious denomination. ds,;ua3
rom those very services which he himself 10
compelled TO acknowledge, while he ,vorId sas,
TO d'shonor them 1t is true that Gen JacLson
when the voice OF his country summoned him ~
meet her enemies IN The field, nobIy pledged his
NE IN her deience and drove ruthless invason
from her soil; at time tor, when the ir,j,vid,aI
who now fills the Presidential chair wa. emnlovsd
IN Teproaching The " penuriousness,' of n govt,,
meat, whose bounty he enjoyed, and dsparaenp
The glorious successes Of the arms ,yhose nar,i h
was unwilling TO share. But if eyery ci,izsn ,.bo
has served his country in war is 20 be p,osc,ihsd
as military cbefuin,' and incapacity from ,be
civil trusts and honours Of his county then that
ceu"u y "hen danger thres ems, may call in vain
upon Ter sons, who, by obeying the call. wouIJ
doom themselves to ms en- fcAnce anil sco,n
. IL General Jackson were the dssps,a,. .,d
reckless military cbieitsin" which his enemies
represent him TO be, where were his Ieaions. III.
aimed and devoted followers, when by q ,rsacb-
erous combination OF she servants of the nso,Is
he vas excluded from station which the be.,,s
90 eno ~ VI '"e Peoiie hsd destined him
TO MI! where, again, was the fierce sni,i, oT
this ",tii'tary cbief'aIn" when st the close of
Inc late war, surroun ed by the brave troops who
had shared with him the gories of the seid ana
The grateful and enthusiastic citizens WHO had
experienced the projection of bis arms. he moi
only gave cheerful obedience to harsh and
ung.sc'ous sentence pronounced upon bin by
minister OF the law, tor part Of those very
measures which had ensured the safety of bis
country, but reproyed the murmurs of the muI.