Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-21

y
ment Of others.
Is there a rejecting man in the community
who will deny that these are indispensable
qualifications in candidate Tor the Preslden-
CIV? Before we hurry away to decision, then
le, US inquire which of the indivIduals,to whom
our choice is confined, approaches nearest TO
this standard. In private life, prudent man
would not need advice to inquire into the quail
ifica,ions ofone whom he vas about to employ
in the management of his affairs. He would
look for an agent among those whose expert
ence and capacity were suited TO the duties TO
be performed He would take care to select
| the hes, he could obtain. Is it not a species oil
treason agains, liberty itself, to be less solicit
Gus about tie selections of properly quallilcd
citizen TO fill the Presidency, where on his MT
ness essentially depend the best interests OF this
great republic? Let us then Try the two candl-
dates by the standard agreed upon.
| To begin with Mr. Adams:-Hls character
| for integrity, and all the moral qualities has
never been arragned even by the bitterness OF
party, His worst enemies have not denied to
| him an intellect Of the highest order, with an
experience, the result Of more than thirty years
employment in the public service, in situations
the most favorable for acquiring ii, 10 which he
was honorably called By Washington, and eve
ry succeeding Presiden::-Cool and deliberate,
no instance has occurred either in his private
.or public life, of his committing an infraclion
of ;hr law: he has been guilty of no insoent de-
fance of the instructions of his superiors. Hav-
ing learned 10 govern himself, he may be Safe
| ly entrusted with the government OF others
| How wilGen. Jack son abide comparison with
this character? wish to speak OF him not on
ly without malice but with all due respect. Were
il not for his pretensions to an office, Tor which
neither nature nor education designed him, and
his election TO which-however some others
may have changed their opinions in that regard
Il still think would be "a curse to his country"
| woult gladly assist in holding the veil over
his defects. But having undertaken TO present
correct view to my fellow citizens OF the exist.
ing state of affairs, | must perform the task
however painful In doing SO, however, | shall
not go one step beyond the necessity OF The oc-
cason TO seek ont the foibles and Offences Of
| Gen Jackson. | shall forbear to peep into the
| discussion of topics which belong rather 10
moral than 10 political tribunal, being unwil-
ling to nflict pain by unpleasant references, un-
less they are imperously demanded by consld-
crations of public interest.
Here, then, is the portrait of Gen. Jackson.
| Without education, without experience in poll
tical affairs, utterly ignorant Of our lnterna-
| tional concerns, the regulation Of which is the
most prominent duty OF the President, destitute
OF knowledge in the rights of individuals or OF
the States, as guaranteed by the Constitutions;
| and continually liable to The influence OF the
most turbulent passions, which when reused,
and they are easily reused, betray him into the
| most unwarranlable excuses Il this picture
too highly cocred? Let US LOOK a, few Of
the incidents of MS life. I seetnot TO mang'e-'
am only executing justice: The smallest emu
PosTs 81 Josiice, sss 6ee, r 'A'
His assault upon GqI Benton, with design TO
assassination, as detailed in Bentop's appeal to
tie public in SIS, who is yet uncontradicted,
must satisfy every man that more outrageous
act was never committed in civilized society.
| Suppose, iellow-citizens, the same punishment
| had been awarded TO Jackson that would have
been awarded to more humble citizens, where
now would be this Candidate for the Presidency?
| If he escaped the penalties Of the law from his
power or Influence, Will you not only excuse
him, but deem him worthy Of an office designed
| in its creation, for ,heSbe and wiscst Of man.
kind? But some Of you may say, we have no.
thing to do with his paiuGfe character, let it be
as irregular or as violent as it may: it is his
public character which claims the need Of
praise. To that, then, ilet US refer. VIVA, man,
having respect for the rights and dignity of a
State, can read without indignation, his inso-
lent letter to Gov. Rabun--his treatment Of the
Legislature oc Louisiana, whose hall was sur
rounded by his troops to the exclusion of the
memberships arrest Of the Governor with
file of soIdiery, who ANONYMOUSLY dragged
him along the streets Of his own capital as 4
prisoner, while the tyrant threatened before
the assembled multitude TO hang him to "yon
tree" if he again incurred his displeasure.-
This is the man now held up as the cham
pion Of State Rights But let US proceed
The sedition law, though ratified by the whole
authority Of the Government, deservedly call
ed down the vengeance Of an indignant 2eo-
pie on It's authors;-yet the proclamation Of
General Jackson, infinitely more severe against
the liberty of the press, is appealed 10 by
his friends as matter Of commendalion-no-
thing shall be Unpublished but Dhat he approves! He
banshes by similar order whole class of
citizens:-the press presumes to question its
legaty-lhc offender, q member Of the Legis.