Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-08-15
A FORMER SUPPORTER OF JACKSON.


GEORGE WASHINGTON BROWN, OF
Union Town, Pennsylvania. We DEFY any one
to read them with an unprecedented MIND, cool
he adj and pa,rlot-determina,ion, without yield
ing 10 the correctness and force OF he reasons
assigned by him for quitting the ranks OF lhe
Military Chief,ain. Mr.. Brown has indeed
fulfilled the obligations of duty to his country
by receding from the advocacy oil the election
Of an individual, whose past life and deeds have
been so marked by acts Of rashness, cruelty and
tyranny.
From the Pennsylvania Democrat.
TO THE PUBLIC.
The right secured by the constitution, TO e.
lect chief magistrate, is one amongst many
important powers vested in the people. IL Is
a fundamental principle of free government,
and ought at all ,imes 20 be exercised by iree-
men, with cautious and liberal sentiment, due
10 50 important an occasion. For ii IL oe
truth that man from his very nature, appears
destined with the loss Of his liberty, 10 part
with half his moral worth, and like the unhap>
py, degenerate Greek, or The Spanlard oil the
South rendered by slavery, unable TO ENJOY the
blessings Of liberty when obtained, Then mecca
will the election of Chief Magistrate be class
ed among the most important transactions IN
Republic, as tending ultimately to the prospe-
rity and happiness, or debasement and slavery
of the people. The historian has in vain re"
corded the crimes, The folly and corruption
which have led 10 the decline anu ultimate
ruin Of all free governments which have
preceded our own il in this enlightened age
we are unable to profit by their cxamp'es-
The anarchy and confusion which preceded
the downfall ofevery republic both ancient ana
modern are clearly TO be traced to bitter ana
rancorous party fruds excited by some anioi'
.ious and su ces>fnl military chieitaln, VINO
"ridine on the wh'rlwind ard directing the
storm" Ultimately sieztd upon the liberties oi
distracted people, and b, came their unleellng
tyranl and oppressor.
Our election for a Chief Magistrate IS fast APP
proachirg. Shall we meet it like treemen, win
an eye only TO the public good, and the pefior-
nance of a Gu y 10 those who are 10 come ai'er
US?
have hitherto felt ard expressed decided
pref r,n,e for Gen Jackson over all The cam
dida,cs which for the last four years have been
pre- ,enred TO our choice. But variety Of facts
which have been la'ely deN etoped, have COM
PEELED me 10 abandon his cause, and J"in with
The friends Of Mr.. Adams in support of his ell
ec,ion l, would therefor appear due not on
" to myself but 10 hose with whom !, for four
s.,
Presidential election, to state briefly the rea-
sons which iirsl led to preference for General
Jackson and those which have lately compel.
ed me TO abandon his Cause and unite with he
friends OF Mr.. Adams
elee.5n Of mr. 5S,f Mho saud
have elrc'ed HIM Ofthe true character of Mr..
Adams At that time knew but little, and the
far,e OF the G neral Of whom knew still less,
spread ,uddeHly over The Union. he history
Of his life, like the hours told by the sun dial
were only he bright ones OF the day. His tens
Ter, lis tyranny, and his crimes w'rr alike un.
known to me-. He AID commanded al the ba'>
lie ofO'lrans and defeat d the emmy. My feel
irls brcame Suddenly enlisted in his favor, and
must confess it was long before became con.
vim ID tnat these tlirgs were in favor of
man in whom he hahltual indulgence of the
worst passions which inhabi, our nature, have
So far exIngUishtd The principles OF virtue as
to reader him in nv estimation totally unfit to
rulr over free people.
| may be asked why did not sooner abandon
the cause OF man, Of whom now express so
nnfavorable an opinion. To such | would re-
ply that my, situation in life did not enable
M sooner tn collect through The medium OF
new papers, and from other sources OF informa
tlOH, tent evidence 10 convince lily ilinp
Of many of he irGlhs with which he Is charged
before the public. Even a, the present mo-
rlent, with charitable aud liberal feeling
towards him, | would cheerfuIlv close my eyes
against MS cnormities, and believe, if | could,
that his faults have been greatly exaggerated
Blu, the catalogue Of hi, on;rag's is not more
appalling than / am compelled to admit The
evidence against MIN is conclusive. HIS at
Temp, upon ,hr life OF Luailler; the imprison-
mert OF 'he Judge, and Ine Punishment OF he
ci' zens OF Orle ans; tie .xecnron of Wood; the
.unftcliug buichery OF the SIX miIiiamen; ths
evil and malrvoltnt feeling mantle ,ted in the
murder Of Dick nson, whom he shot down,
while standing unarmed and under circumstanc-
es peculiarly calculated to claim his mercy;
the ex, cu,ion Of Arbuthnot and Ambrister, in
violation Of 'he sentence Of his cwn court mar
,ial, the outrage upon the feeling of society and
laws of his county in his attempt t. murder
the Bentons, at Nashville; the unworthy manner
in which he deceived the Indian Chiefs into his
mower at Pensacola and the unireinp cruelty