The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-01-31

Ind 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 coun.
try, sacrificing the Liberties and lives of
men, has made his own arbitrary will the
rule Of his conduct.
In stating an opinion so unfavorable to
q distinguished man, who has rendered
valuable services to his country, proper
respect for ourselves and for you, requires
that we should declare the reasons which
compel us to withhold our confidence from
him.
Capacity for civil affairs, in a country
like ours, where the road to preferment is
open to merit, in every class of society, is
never long concealed, and seldom left in
retirement. General Jackson has lived
beyond the age Of 90 years, and was bred
to the profession best calculated to improve
and display the faculties which civil en-
ployments require; but the history of his
public life, in these employments, is told in
few brief lines--on single page of his
biography. lie filled, successfully, for
very short periods, the Office of Member of
the Tennessee Convention, which formed
their State Constitution: Representative
and Senator in Congress-; Judge of the
Supreme Court Of Tennessee; and again,
Senator in Congress of the United States.
Here was ample opportunity for distinction,
if he possessed the talent, taste, and appli-
cation, suited for civil eminence. But he
resigned three, and passed through all of
these stations, acknowledging his unftness
in two nstaDces--manlfestly feeling 1t in
all--and leaving no single act, no trace,
behind, which stamps his qualifications a
bove mediocrity.
For civil government-an in no sta
tion more emphatically than in that of Pres
ident Of the United States--a well govern
ed temper is of admitted Importance. Gen
eral Jackson's friends lament the impetu.
osity of his, and all the world has evidence
of its fiery misrule.
To maintain pence and harmony in the
delicate relations existing between the 60.
vernmcnt of the Union and the various
State Governments in our Coniederacy,
requires courtesy and forbearance in
! their intercourse, which no passion should
disturb. Let the spirit of domination dis
played IN General Jackson's celebrated
| letter to Governor Rabun, warn US of the
danger OF committing TO his keeping this
precious deposlte--sacied to the union OF
our Republics, and tc the freedom ot man
kind.
Military men should never be allow ed
to forget, that the obligation to obey being
the sole foundation Of the authority to com
mand, they should inculcate subordlnatlon
not by precept only, but by example; that
Iproiound respect Tor the Laws and Con
st!tutlon OF their country, is an indlsptnsa
bic guarantee Of their worthiness TO be
entrusted with the sword which is drawr
TO defend them; that they should lose NJ
lit occasion for manfesting that respect
by practical illustrations of the principle
sacred in every well ordered Republic
which pmclams the military subordlnat,
TO the CIVIL power; that mercy even to the
guilty, and humanity always 10 the con
quered and the captive, are part OF the
law OF God and man, iound in every civil
Ized code, written in every human heart
aud indispensable to the true glory OF Tho
Hero.
General Jackson has been unmindful o
these truths Though he has enjolne,
subordlnatIon by precept, and eniorced !
by authority, ne has not recommended !
= py example. lie has offered indignty t'
the Secretary Of War, IN the very lette
which assigned his reasons for disobeylDs
: an order TO dlshud his troops; he has pa
, ced his own authority in opposition to thu
of the War DPartDent, by general or
der, iorblddinglhe officers OF his comman'
" to obey the ordars OF that Department, un
, less they passed through the channe
: which he had chosen to prescribe; and Ii,
dsobeyed the orders of the GoyernnIcn
IN his military operations IN the SpansI
, territory.
, He has been unmindful Of the subordl
nation ol military to civil power, and ha
violated the hw and the Constitution, b
!, declaring martial law at New Orleans
and maintaining IT, OF his own arb!trar
will, for more than two months after th
\ enemy had ben beaten and repulscd, an
= all reasonable apprehension Of their re-
turn had ceased; by surrounding the ha
of the Lousa'a Legislature with az arm
ed force, and suspending their dellbers
tons; by seizlIg the person Of LouelIlie
e free citizen o. Louisiana, and member {
+. their Legislature, and bringing him to tr
J. al before a maltary tribunal, for havn
!. the boldness t. denounce, through tn
e public press, the continued arbitrary rcig
d of martial law: ty disapprovlng the acqui
J; tai of Louaillierupon his trial, when, I
: have condemned and executed him, woul
: have exposed tn. actors in the fatal tragc
0 dy to the legal Iains Of death; by suspend
n ing, of his own arbitrary will, the writ {
: habeas corpus, when the Legislature {
: Louisiaps had refused to suspend II on h
: application, when no law of Congress at
G thorized it, and TO imminent danger plead
}. ed its apology; by arresting and imprlsor
!. ing Judge Hall for issuing the writ OF ht
a b.os c,,nis IN reIieye Iouaillier from illt