The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-01-17


BY GEN. ANDREW JACKSON,
Touching the late Presidential Election.
ADDRESS. SO.
hope no apology to the public is ne
cessary for presenting to il these pages.
am deceived IL an ample Justification Of
the act will not be found IN the breast OF
every just aud honorable man. II an otii-
Ger OF Government should not be- too scn-
sitive, neither should he be too callous, TO
assaults upon his character. When they
relate to the wisdom or expediency Of
measures which ho may have originated
or supported, he should silently rcposo in
the candor and good sense OF the commu-
nifty. and patiently await tho devclope-
ments Of time and experience. But IL his
integrity be vitality ssssiled; ifthe bssost
and most dishonorab'e motives for his
public conduc, be sscrlbed to him; he
owes il IN tho country, his friends, his fam.
lly and himself, To vindlcnte his calumnis-
ted reputation. Few men are so elevated
that the shafts Of culumny cannot reach
them. These may securely trust to tho
invulnerahle position which they have at
ta,ned--the United States have perhaps
look down from his lofty height. without
emotion, upon the missiles and tho malice
Of his enemies; for even he had his enc
mics. IL the malignept character oe
charges, the .acrimony with which they
have been asserted aud repeated, or the
perseverance which has marked their pro-
pagation, could ever authorize an appeal
to the public, think may truly say. that
| have this authority. For three years
have been the object Of incessant obuscy
every art, every species OF misropresenta-
ton, has been employed against me. The
most innOcen, scis--ncts Of ordinary so.
cial intercourse, and Of common civility--
Offices Of hospitality, even u pssrIng salu.
tation, have been misrcprcscnted aud per.
.yerted, to my prejpdlcc, with an Unfair.
ncss unprecedented. Circumstances have
been assumed, which had no exisicnce .nnd
intc.ences have been drawn from thom,
which, had they boon real, thcy would not
have warranted. Besides, my cnemiss
have themselves appealed TO tho public,
exhibited t,eir charges, and summoned
th0if w,ssvsses 10 iss Bar Ready now
and anxious ss ] an, und always hsso.
been, 10 submit any act Of my public liz
to full examination before any impartial
and respectable tribunal whatever. | suTo.
ly may expect, NJ lcast. that shall DO pa
ticn,ly heard by that which my accuscrs
have themselves selected. ] assure them
that will present no plea to the jurisdic'
lion.
But desirous as | naturally am to rcpsl
| the calunnies which have been directed
against me, the public would have been
spared tho tropblo Of perusing this address,
if Gep. Jackson had not, in the course OF
the last spring and summer. given TO them
the open sanction Of his name. In his let.
ter to Mr.. Beverly of the 9th Of June last,
he admits that, in infefring my prIyIty 10
tho proposition which he describes NJ
borne by Mr.. Buchanan. he may have done
me injustice; and. in his address To tho
public OF tho 18th Of July last, giving np
the name of this gentleman, rs his only
witness. he repeats that he possibly may
have done me injustice in assuming my
authority for that proposition. lie even
designs to honor me with declaration OF
the pleasure which he will experience. Is
] should be able to scquit myself! Mr.
Buchanan has been heard by the public,
aud ] feel justified in asserting that tho
first impression or the whole nation was.
as II is yet that OF every intelligent mind
unbiased by party prejudice, that bis tes.
tin,ony fully exonerated me, and domon-
straled that General Jackson, TO say no
moro, had greatly misconccived the pur.
port Of the interview between them. And
further; that, SO far as any thing improper
was disclosed by Mr.. b. touching the late
Presidential election, il affected General
lac kson and hia fyicnts eycIus siyelv. H0
having manifestly injured me, speculation.
was busy, when Mr.. BucbanaD's statement
appeared, az to the course which the Gem
eral would pursue, after his grstuitous ex.
preston Of sympathy with me. There
were not wanting many persoDs, who be-
lievcd that this magnanimity would imme.
diafoly prompt him publicly 10 retrsct HE
charge, and to repair the wrong which he
had done mo. did not participate in that
Just expectation, and therefore felt no dis
appointment that il was not realized.
Whatever other merits he may possess,
have not found among them, in the course
of my relations with him, that Of forbear.
ing TO indulge vindictiye passions. His 81.
lent contemplation Of if not his positive
acquiescence in the most extraordinary
Interpretation Of Mr.. Buchansn's state.
ment, that ever was given To bumsn Ian:
guoge, has not surprised me. II It bad
been possible for him 10 render me an act
Of spontaneous justice, by frank and
manly ayowal Of his error, the testimony
now submitted 70 the public might have
been unnecessary.
Although. / feel fully persuaded that the
commun ~ under my peculiar ciTcum.