The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-01-30
WORCESTER :
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 80, 1928.


THE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION. Were it not
considered certain that, at the approaching
election, the choice must be either of Mr. Adj
ans or Gen Jackson, there would be an apollo
gy for that indifference to the result which
some yet profess to feel, and for that neutrality
which they are DESTROYS of preserving. But
we can hardly account for such feeling in the
breast of any rejecting man. to whatever party
he may have formerly been attached, who has
contemplated the characters of the individuals.
and compared the probable consequences of the
election of the one and the other; and we mar
vel at the language we sometimes hear, even
from honest men, exemplary in morals and
sound in their republican principles, who APP
pear to attach little Importance to the subject.
We do not wish to see the bitter feelings of
party strife in agitation,- is Unnecessary
there need be no bitterness; but we do wish to
see the whole community impressed with such
feeling of respect for the institutions of their
country; with such sense of the value of their
civil rights and of the Importance of adherng
to those principles which alone can ensure their
perpetuity,-as shall lead them to inquire with
caution before they form their Judgment of the
relative merits of the candidates, or spurn the
inquiry as unworthy of their attention in
short, we would see it inspired with the senti-
ments of the trainers of the Richmond address,
of the excellence of which we cannot speak ir
higher terms than it deserves We know of
nothing which the fervor Of patriotic feeling
has, on any occasion, elected in our country, to
which it is inferior in dignity of language and
fairness, and force of argument. We should
think its reasoning must be convincing to every
unprejudiced mind, and we presume it is SO
for we see no denial of its facts or refutation of
its principles attempted. All which those who
dread its influence dare, is to speak with affect
ed contempt of the feeling of anxiety for their
country's welfare, which was protested by the
members of that convention, and of the devo-
tional exercise with which their deliberations
were closed 1t is not by argument that the
advocates Of Gen. Jackson expect to prevail
They do not condescend to inform us of sin
gle act which may be expected from his admin
istration which should recommend him to our
preference. Neither can the blameless course
of Mr.. Adams secure him from the bitterness
of their hostility. The charge which was ear
liest brought against him, which has been most
relied on, and which, though refuted as far as
human testimony is capable of being applied to
the refutation of a SANDER, the corrupt bargain
aoith Mr. Clay, is still urged by them as the
best answer they can give to the inquiry into
the cause Of their opposition, Yet the war is
waged and sustained with unceasing violence,
and the prediction of their success is confident
ly made. If there is danger that these predic-
tons will be verified, it must be because we of
the present generation hold in too light esteem
the peculiar and invaluable privileges which we
enjoy; do not realize as we ought with what
care they should be cherished; how important
it is that we should act individually with some
feeling of responsibility for consequences :
and how careful we should be- while indulgng
our love of novelty, that we do it not at the
risk of our liberties Our good old republican
forms of government are too valuable to be ex-
posed to the hand of rude innovation, and the
experiment of placing military chieftain, Of
the character Of Gen. Jackson, at the head of
the government, is too dangerous to be made in
wantonness.
With all the fears which circumstances force
upon us, however, we do still believe that the
cause of justice and reason will prevail; yet it
is not without anxiety that we see our country
men approaching the verge of the precipice,
although assured of their ultimate safety; nor
can we sympathize in the morbid feeling of
those who view the present contest, reckless of
its result.