Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-17

respect by the fairness OF views, and tue force Of
our reasoning, and give weight 10 our opposition,
by It's temper, and its dignity; while those who
aihrm the power, and approve the policy, should
observe the most respectful Difference for the
opinions of the many and the wise, who differ from,
them, should consult the public interest and tran.
guilty, by confirming their measures to objects Of
acknowledged an general interest, by infusin,
into them spirit OF the most exact justice and Nv
observing, IN all things scrupuouS care, in the eX
crcise oil power, SO delicate and SO much contro-
verted.
Thus far we have cndcavored to correct erro,
and dlsarin prejudice, that reason might be LEI.
Tree, OBSTINATE fairly, the present Administration
anu Its principal measures. We have offered no
panegyric on the present Chief Magistrate;--we
cheeriully leave you TO estimate the value Of his
long and varied public services, his great cxper.
ence, his talent his learning, and his private viz
tues,-and to sett off against them whatever your
fancy or your Judgment may hnd to blame, in his
private or public life. When you have done this
reflect 1.-the character Of the Office you are a.
bout to fll,-enquire what feeling what temper
what TALENT what requirements, what habits are
best suited to the discharge of its high duties;-&
then carefully compare John Quincy Adams with
Andrew jackson, in reference TO the great cues
hons,-whch of them is best qualified for the frs,
Office m the nation,-Iybich most likely to preserve
to us the distinguished blessings enioy,--frorn
which Is most danger TO be unprecedented, TO our
peace and happiness, lives and liberties.
1t IS not in wantonness, that we speak,-but IN
the sadness Of our hearts, compelled TO de-
ciare,-that while we yield our confidence to the
present Chief Magistrate in very different degrees
we are unanimous, and unhesitating in the opinion
that Andrew Ja:kson is altogether unfit for the
Presidency, and that his election would be emf
nently dangerous,--;hat while we cheerfIliy ar
cord to him his full share of the glory, which ran
ders the anniversary of the Sth of January n da,
OF JOY and triumph TO our land,-we must in the
most solemn manner, protest against a claim to Ell
VII rule, founded exclusively upon military re-
nown,-and avow that nothing has occurred in the
history otour country, SO much calculated to shake
our confidence in the capacity of the people, for
seli-Sovernment, as the efforts, which have been
made, and are yet making, TO elevate to the first
oilce in the nation, the man. who, disobeying the
orders OF his superiors, trampling the laws and
constitution OF his country sacrificing the liberties
and lives of men, has made his own arbitrary win
the rule of his conduct
In stating an opinion unfavorable to distius
guished man, who has rendered valuable service
10 his country, proper respect for ourselves and
for you requires that should declare the rea
sons which compel us TO withhold our confidence
from him.
Capacity for civil affairs, in a country like ours
where the road TO preferinent is omen TO merit II,
every class of society, is never long concealed &
seldom left in retirement-Gen. Jackson has lived
beyond the age of go years, s. was bred to the pro-
ession best calculated to improve and display the
faculties, which civil employments renuire.-,,et
the history of his public life in these employments
Is told in few brief lines, single page of his
biography. He 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 Sena.
tor, in the Congress of the United States Here was
ample opportunity for distinction ifhe had possess
Gu the TALENT taste and application suited for civil
eimnence. but he resigned three and passed thro'
all OF these stations, acknowledging his untness in
TWO instances,-manifestly feeling il in al-and
leaving no single act, no trace behind, whichstamps
his qualifications above mediocrity.
FOR civil government,-and in no station more
emphatcaly, than in that of President of the Uni.
ted States,-a well governed temper is of admitted
Importance; Gen. Jackson's friends lament the i'm
petuosty of his, and all the world has evidence offs
fiery misrule.
To maintain peace and harmony, in the delicate
reiauohs Casting between the government of the
union and'the various state governments, in our
coniederacy, requires a courtesy and forbearance
-, Ieii .e!Sourse' winch no passion should dis.
tuTb:-Let the spirit Of domination displayed in
General Jacksons celebrated letter to Gov Rabun
warn us oil the danger Ofcommitting to his kee iue
tins precious desposit, sacred to the union OF our
Republics and TO the freedom of Mankind
Military should never be allowed to for.
get,-that the obligation to obey being the sole
foundation OF the authority TO command thew should
ihcuicate subordInation, not by precept only, but
oy eNample'-that profound respect for the laws
ana constitution OF their country, is an indispensa-
bic guarantee Of their worthine.s TO be entrusted
with the sword, which is drawn to defend them,
that they should lose fit occasion for manifesng
That respect, By practical illustrations of the prin-
ciple, sacred III every well ordered Republic
which proclaims the military, subordinate to the
civil power,-that mercy even to the guilty. and
humanity always TO the conquered and the captive
are part OF the law ofGod and man, found in every
ciViIIZed code, written in every human heart, and
indispensable to the true glory of the Hero
zen. jackson has been unmindful of these
uuuls though he has enjoined subordination by
pTecept, and enforced ii by authority he has not
recommended it by example he has offered in
dignity TO the Secretary of War in the very letter
which assigned his reasons for disobeyinr an order
10 disband his troops he has placed his own atl-
thority in opposition to that of the War Depart-
ment, by general order, forbidding the officers OF
MS command TO obey the orders OF that DEPART
ment, unless they passed through the channel
winch he had chosen to prescribe; and he disc.
beyed the orders of the Government in his military
operations in the Spanish territory.
he has been unrnindfiil of the subordination of
military to civil power, and has violated the law
and the constitution-by declaring martial law al
New Orleans, and maintaining it, of his own arbi-
trary WILL Tor more than two months, after the en-
envy had been beaten and Tepulsed and all reason
aDlc apprehension OF their return had ceased--by
surrounding the hall of the Louisiana Legislature
win an armed force, and suspending their delibe-
rations-by Selling the person of LOuGller, a free
citizen OF Louisiana, and member Of their LegisIa-
ture, and bringing him TO trial before q military
tribunal, for having the holiness to denounce,
through the public press, the continued arbitrary
reign OF martial Iaw-by disappearing the acquitS
tai oil Louaier upon his trial. when TO have con-
demned and executed him, would have exposed
the actors IN that fatal tragedy TO the legal pains of
death-by suspendiug, of his own arbitrary will,
the privileges of the writ Of hGbeas corpus when
the Legislature OF Louisiana had refused to suspend
u on MS application, when no law Of Congress al-
thorized It, and no imminent danger pleaded itsa
\, nrrD fe..er =