The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-01-30
political.
VIRGINIA ADDRESS.

AHli-JdChSOll SOiNCHttOH; iobCA1 hCAO IA
ginia, for it is rare that we have the opportu-
nifty of presenting them with any thing in which
elegance of style, powerful reasoning, and per-
feet manliness of feeling, are so admirably CON-
bined. 1t is the production of Chapman john
son, the ablest man in Virginia, and will doubt
less produce great effect. The Jackson Con-
yention have paid it the highest compliment by
dissolving without addressing the public, sensi-
bic of their inability TO produce any thing which
would not suffer by the comparison. One of
the delegates urged strongly the necessity of
replying to it, declaring that, if they did not,
"such was the force with which it was written,
and such the influence of Chapman Johnsons
name in some parts of the State, that it would
carry whole counties against Jackson" Yet
the motion for counter address was negatived.
We have room only for the following extracts:
We have offered no panegyrc on the present
Chief Magistrate we cheerfully leave you to
estimate the value of his long and varied pub
lie services, his great experience, his talent his
learning. and his private virtues-and to set of
against them whatever your fancy or your judy
ment may find to blame, in his private or pub
lie life. When you have done this,-refect on
the character of the Office you are about to
fll,-inquire what feelings, what temper, what
talent, what requirements, what habits, are
best suited to the discharge of its high duties,-
and then carefully compare John Quincy Ad-
ans with Andrew Jackson, in reference to the
great question,-which of them is best qualiii-
ed for the first Office in the nation,-which
most likely to preserve to us, the distinguished
blessings we enjoy,-from which is most dan
ger to apprehended, to our peace and happiness,
our lives and liberties?
1t is not in wantonness, that we speak,-but
In the sadness of our hearts, we are compelled
to declare,-that while we yield our confidence
to the present Chief Magistrate in very differ
ent degrees,-we are unanimous, and unhesi-
tating in opinion, that Andrew Jackson is alto
gether unfit for the Presidency, and that his
election would be emlnently dangerous-that
while we cheerfully accord to him his full share
of the glory, which renders the anniversary of
the, 9Th of January a day of Joy and triumph to
our land,-we must in the most solemn man.
ner protest against claim to civil rule. found
ed exclusively upon military reEown,-and
avow that nothing has occurred in the history
of our country, much calculated to shake
our confidence in the capacity of the people,
for self government, as the efforts, which have
made, and are yet making, to elevate to the
first Office in the nation, the man, who, disobey-
ing the orders of his superiors trampling on
the laws and constitution of his country sacri-
ficing the liberties and lives of men, has made
bis own arbitrary will, the rule of his conduct
In stating an opinion so unfavorabe to a dis
tinguished man, who has rendered valuable
services to his country, a proper respect for
ourselves and for yoG, requires that we should
declare the reasons which compel us to with
hold our confidence FROM him.
Capacity for civil affairs in a country like
WI pra fha road fo 1oYof il TO
merit, in every class of society, is never long
concealed, and seldom left in retirement-Gen-
eral Jackson has lived beyond the age of 90
years, and was bred 10 the profession best cal-
culated to improve and display the faculties
which civil employments require-but the his
tory of his public life, in these employments, is
told in few brief lines, on single page of his
biography. He filled successfully, for very
short periods-the Office of member of the
Tennessee Convention. which formed their
state consttution-representati and Senator
in Congress-iudge of the supreme court of
Tennessee-and again Senator, in Congress of
the United States. Here was ample opportu-
nifty for distinction if he had possessed the talent,
taste and application suited for civil eminence.
But he resigned these, and passed through all
these stations, acknowledging his unftness in
two instances-manfestly feeling it in al-and
leaving no single act no trace behind, which
stamps his qualifications above mediocrty.
For civil government-and in no station
more emphaticay, than in that of President of
the Uni ed States-a well governed temper is
of admitted Importance General Jackson s
friends lament the inpetuosity of his, and all
the world has evidence of its fiery misrule
To maintain peace and harmony, in the deli
cate relations existing between the government
of the union and the various state governments
in confederacy, requires a courtesy and
fnrhparanaa in fher init r-bi ob
sion should disturb Let the spirit of domina-
ton displayed in General Jackson's celebrated
letter TO Governor Rabun, warn US of the dam
ger of committing to his keeping this precious
deposit, sacred to the union of our Republics
and to the freedom of mankind,
Military men should never be allowed to for
get,-that the obligation to obey being the sole
foundation of the authority to command, they
should inculcate subordination, not by precept
only, but by example that profound respect
for the laws and constitution of their country,
isan indispensable guarantee of their worthiness
to be entrusted with the sword which is drawn
TO defend them,-that they should lose no fit
occasion for manifesting that respect, by practi-
cal Illustrations of the principle, sacred in every
well ordered Republic, which proclaims the
military, subordinate to the civil power,-that
mercy even to the guilty, and humanity always
to the conquered and the captive, are part of
the law of God and man, found in every civil
lied code, written in every human heart, and
indispensable to the true glory of the Hero.
Cen Jackson has been unmindfIl of these
truths:--though he has enjoined subordnation
by precept, and enforced it by authority he has
not recommended it by example he has Of
fered indignity to the Secretary of War, in the
very letter which assigned his reasons for DISC
beying an order to disband his troops,--he has
placed his own authority in opposition to that
Of the War Department, by a general order,
forbidng the officers of his command to obey
the orders of that Department, unless they
passed through the channel which he had chos-
en- to prescribe,--and he disobeyed the orders of