Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-04-15

laws of his country? He certainly cav
an unfortunate specimen Of this knowl
edge, when he would apply the second ar
ticle of the rules of war, which subjects t,
military execution foreigners detected a
spies in camp, to citizens, whom he sup
posed to mediate reasonable views as
sembled in their own country, where nei
Their camp nor soldier was at hand. Blu
this error may have proceeded, and nc
doubt did proceed, from an honest preu
dice, and an uncomfortable impetuosity O
temper. What other errours, when exalted
to higher station, may he not commit
perhaps even more fatal, from the opera.
ton of the same causes Has heany fix.
ed principles of national policyh if he
has who knows them2 In Pennsylvania
he is supported as devoted to the (ariffa and
internal Improvements, in the u,Sssst ex.
tent to which the partisans ofelther @ould
carry their plans of supposed perfection.
In the South, he is understood to be de.
termined to support these plans no further
than they have already been advanced
The probability is, that, on these and ma
NY other cardinal points Of national policy
he has veto form decided opinions. Pc
litical science has never been his study
Is he acquainted with the various inter.
ests which our country has to sustain and
defend in her intercourse with foreign ma.
tons, or does he understand the compli.
Gated and delicate relations which subsis,
between the General and State Govern.
ments His admirers seem to think that
nothing more than ordinary good sense
are required for discharging, with ability
the most arduous, important, and respon.
sible political employment to which man
can be called. They seem to believe in
heaven-taught statesmen, while they would
laugh to scorn him who would speak OF
heaven-taught Judges, mathematicians,
physicians, navigators, or mechanics.
But we have heard it alleged, that he
will have an able Cabinet. Fellow-citi-
zens, we consider this argument, if such
it may be termed, as among tine extraor-
binary decisions of the day. In mon
arches, where the Prince is but the
pageant of State, and the Government is
in the hands of the Ministry, it is of little
consequence whether the Sovereign be
wise or ignorant. But, ia our country,
where the sovereignty is in the People or
the States, the President is emphatical-
| ly the Minister. His personal ability to
manage the affairs of the Government is
indispensable. God forbid that such a
state of things Should ever arise, when the
President must either abandon the helm
to subordinate pilots, or interfere with
their management at the hazard of rum
ming the ship of State on rocks and break
ers., But of whom is this able Cabinet to
be composed? All now in office, are to
be turned out, and their places to be sup
piled by those we know not Of From
what class of his supporters they are to be
selected-whether from the admirers of
splendid and magnificent national estab-
lishments, or from the schools Of calcu-
lators and economists-the rigid definers
of Federal authority, or the ultra liberals
in the claim of power-the advocates for
ample encouragement to domestic indus
try, or the sturdy opposers to every plan
which may foster them-tarif' or antl-tarlff
men-improvement or anti-improvement
men-the community is utterly ignorant
Perhaps, that he may not disappoint the
reasonable claims of any portion of the
heterogeneous Combination that upholds
him, materials of all kinds will be brought
together into this Cabinet. In what pro-
portion they will be mixed, or what will
be the character of the composition, 1t is
impossible to conjecture. The members
of the Cabinet may be individually able,
but with opposed principles and conflict
ing views, and without presiding Judg-
ment to blend the discordant elements
into salutary union, the Cabinet itself
will be either distracted by discussions, or
neutralized into inertness.
We should be unfaithfnl to our duty, il
we did not advert to some Of the peculiar
traits in General Jacksons character,
which fill us with serious apprehenslons.
All know, his friends boast of his energy,
his decision, his high spirit, his tenacity
of reputation, his promptitude for action
q Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel"
These qualities, in excess, may be per nj.
cious even in the soldier; but in a civil
magistrate, unless directed by wisdom.
controlled by moral and religious princi-
pies. tempered by moderation, united with
sound constitutional knowledge, and en-
larged views of policy, they are fraugh y
with danger-they may produce ss2, mischiefs
mand is unlimited, and obedience perfect
the General may press forward to the at
tainment of his purpose, disdalnful OF Oh
stacles. But place him in the Char O.
State, where he finds himself fenced a
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