Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-03-26

ri, would not operate so far, as TO Cause our po
! l,icians 10 exclaim against The appointment Of
| Mr.. Webster, if they had, each, direct private
| or pecuniary interest in the execution Of the
whole trust and agency of an American Minis
ter in England at the preseur time. Let it not
then s,ifie the sentiments OF patriotism--the
Hove of the national veal. Such a man may be
Adisliked, Justly or unjustly, At home, by par.
: ", as supporter or friend of the adminisl,a-
ton; abroad, he would be only the representa-
tive ant, advocate Of the country, eminently TT
| and safe
! Il might be surmised that The authors OF the
deprecatory paragraphs respt citing Mr. Webs
s,er's appointment, were governed by pcrsona'
amnesty: some latent pique, for, as friends to
! General Jackson, they are mol polite nor con-
sisenr To call for the rejection Of MIR. w.
because he had been a Federalist, would be
acting in the very teeth Of the Generals lam
guage and doctrine in recommending Colonel
Dray:on 10 Mr.. Monroe; aud SO mary quon-
dam Fcderalisls are even prominen. in the
| ranks Of Opposition that the argument would
recoil like the elephants Of Pyrrhus, and crush
many fellow combatant. The counsels Of
magnanimity and patriotism are, in fact, those
OF expediency. We may hiu. that every act Of
fpublic virtue, every socrl6ce Of party resent
men,s to national good, which the Opposition
or the Administration may perform, cannot
fail 10 benefit the cause Of the liberal
The friends Of General Jackson can hardly
expect the nomination OF one OF their own num-
Der. This concession was made to them, in
| deed, in the instance of Mr.. Poinsett, for Mex
leo, who has so ably discharged the duiics Of
his mission. Fhe President was not ignorant,
perhaps, OF the preference which MIR. Gallatin
entertained, when he selected that dipomalist
as the successor Of Mr.. King; nor has he, we
may infer, inquired into the predictions Of
our plenipotentiaries at the continental courts.
Hitherto lie has displayed remarkable impair.
TALLY, wbc ought TO conciliate fofbearance.
But now that he array Of parties and opinions
is so definite and hostile, he is likely aud enti-
tied 10 confne his choicr TO his own side, hav-
ing adequate talents and character for his pur-
pose within his immediate reach. We know
rHt one on the list Of their antagonists, who
ought to be considered by the Opposition as
less offensive or more acceptable than Mr.
Webster. He exercised, il is true, his strong
judgment and unquestionable right in promot-
ing the elect ton Of Mr.. Adams; he has co-ope-
rated in the measures and vindication Of the
Executive Department.; and, admitting, hv3o-
thetlcalIy, that he looked TO the bonors of an
other kind Of representation than the high one
with which Massachusetts has inverted him,
under the acclaim Of all the Eastern States, he
certainly did not aspire beyond the just aim OF
qualifications, consideration, & political rank,
such as he had long possessed. Whatever foul
n,inua,ions or charges may be hazarded a,
ganst him by Indi' iduals. of the lower and ~.
rious ranks of pariizans. it is not to be imagin,
ed that the Van Burens, the Tazewels, the
Berriens, the Woodhurys, the Haynes, the
Whites, and others ofthis order, either believe
or suspect, or will affect The least suspicion,
that he has bargained, or specially calculated,
Tor himself at any time. They know that he
has been an honorable, manly antagonist; that
though firm and forcible, he has been tempe
rate and delicate in lis course; that he has ne
yer revilrd or moderated their candidate; that
he stands among them with no arms or trophies
except such as should inspire esteem along
with solicitude.