Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-02-16

the world has evidence of its fiery Insrule.
To maintain peace and harmony, in the
delicate relations existing between the 20
yernment of the Union and the various State
governments, in our contedcracy, requires Il
courtesy and torbearGnce in their interc curse,
which no passion should disturb:-Let the
spirit of domination displayed in General
Jackson's celebrated letter to Gov Rabun,
warn us Of the danger of committing to his
keeping, this precious deposit, sacred to the
l,l.ion of our Republics and to the freedom Of
mankind.
Military men should never be allowed to
forget, that the obligation to obey being the
sole foundation ofthe authority to command
they should inculcate subordination, not by
precept only, but by example,-that pro-
found respect for the laws and constitution
OF their country, is an indispensable guaran-
tee OF their worthiness TO be entrusted with
the sword, which is drawn to defend them,-
that they should lose no fit occasion for man
ltcsting that respect, by practical illustrations
ofthc principle, sacred in every we'll ordered
Republic, which proclauns the military sub
ordinate to the civil poWer,-that mercy
even to the guilty, and humanity always to
the conquered and the captive, are part of
the law OF God and man, found i'll every CT
vlAed code, written in every human heart,
and indispensable to the true glory of the
Hero.
! Gen Jackson has been unmindful of these
itrutbs:-though he has enoucd subordina-
ton by preccpt, and enforced it by authority
he has not recommended 1t by eXample:-he
has offered inGignity TO the Secretary of
! War, in the very letter which assigned his
reasons for disobeYing an order for disband-
ing his troops; he has placed his own authu.
rlty in opposition to that of the War De-
partment, by general order, torbidding the
officers of his command to obey the orders OF
| that Department, unless they passed through
! the channel which he had prescribed and he
disobeyed the orders of the Government in
his military operations in the Spanish terri
tory.
! He has been mmindtul Of The subonna,
ton of military to civil power, and has viola
ted the law and the constituton--by decla-
ring martial law at New Orleaes, and main
tanning it, of his own arbitrary will, for mors.
than two months, after the enemy had been
beaten and repulscd, and all reasonable mp
prchension Of their return had ccased--bv
surrounding the hall of the Louisiana Legis-
lature with an armed force, and suspendinm
their operations-by Selling the person Of
Louallier, free citizen of Louisiana, and
member of their Legislature, and bringing
him to a trial before Il military tribunal, for
having the boldness to denounce, through the
public press, the continued arbitrary reign Of
martial law-by disappearing the acquittaL
OF Loualller upon his trial, when to have con-
dcmned and executed HIM, would have expo.
Sed the actors IN that fatal tragedy to the
legal pans OF death---by suspcnding, of his
own arbitrary WILL the privileges OF the writ
%1 h4b'"S G''Y"s, when the Legislature OF
Louisiana had refused to suspend 1t on his
aPPHcauoil, "hcn no law OF Congress autho-
flscd H. ana no imminent danger pleaded lis
aP0ioSy--oy afrestlng ana lmPrlsonrng Judge
Hail. lor issuing inc wit OF ha6e0s corpus to
reiGFe Louaiiier from Illegal confinement,
ana affGsting ana imprlsonng two other OIL
GERS OF inc law Tor appealing to civil process
against MS tyfahnlc RUGBY the arrest, trial
ana execution OF SIX militia men, who were