Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-27
From the Political .9rena.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

,ure lot. FREEHoLpERs OF VIRGINIA - to you
we address ourselves. Strike but hear. The
time is short,we desire 20 acquit our conscience.
and bear testimony, however unas aillng IL may
be against the spirit which is irnpeliing You IN
course utterly irreconcilable with every idea
hitherto entertained Of your character. We
would desire 10 divest ourselves as far as ;he
inirmity OF our nature will admit Of the blind
preiudices Of parry, we would avoid the exag-
gera,ed language Of alarmis,s, and yet we are
constrained TO declare, that we view the pre-
sent as crisis the most momentous which has
~occurred in the history OF our country since the
adoption OF the Federal Constitution. The
protracted s,roggle Of parties, excited, yet act
ing respectively on cherished principles-the
insolen, aggressions of foreign beliiseren's-
and the ierce onset Of war itself have been in
turn sustained, not only Without INJURY but 10
the evident improvement OF our institutions.
Those Institutions are now menaced with
sseyererstrial, in the possibility Of an elevation
10 the chief Magis,racy Of an individual Com
fessedly destitute Of politica! talent, informa-
ton and experience, whose temper Is nnori-
ously wv covernabe, whose habits and associa-
lions are military; and who has whenever
invested with authority manifested gross isno-
rance and habitual conemp,for he Constitution
of oar coun,ry--and for what are you TO over
look these Deficiencies and disqualhca,ions!
Wby rorsoo,h his skill ami bravery as i SOL
der, On mos, lame and ippoteni substitution
of qualities. We are rot forgelful Of the SER
vices of Gen. Jackson, we are as grateful Tor
them as any Of his present supporters, but were
his military descr,s teofoid create: we should
never think Of eleva;;ng him therefor TO The
Presidency. We shall iadeeG have fallen upon
evil times, audthc days Of the Republic will be
numbered, when that Office, the rIost angus, in
the world is considered as the reward OF well
fought battle or victorious campaign, And
fellow citizens wha, claims hns Gen. Jackson TO
rho highest honor in your gift, independent o.
his military services. We boldly challenge the
production Of one single evidence oi his htness
for high civil Office. Has he spen, his early
wears in the study ofthe laws and constitution
of his country, has he made himself master OF
the delicate and complicated relations IN when
he states stand TO one another and 10 the Union.
LA. he famliarizcd himsel: with our foreign
diplomscv. What is The report which his
NEIGHBOURS and conlemporar aries bear o! his
Younger DAYS We will not rake up the dis
graceful stories Of his youthful sxcesses--nor
would we rely upon vague testimony Tor Inc
sad tale Of maturer vices. Bur what says one
who knew him well, one who "Shartd hts board
and proved his brand"-we mean the recon.
cited benton NOW his thorough going Trend
ION his authority, the man who claims your
SURFACES spent the prime oil manhood al me
cock nit. the race field and the awning table,
and Distinguished himself only as the Tavern
Rraprart and the Street 8uiiy-were these the
scenes 10 form the future sta,esman-ludge We:
Vireinians. YOU who have presented TO Tie
natio, four Individuals worthy OF ITS hightst
honors, we intrcat you 10 dwell Tor one mo
mer, ON the virtues AID talents Of your illusiri.
ous sons aud then contemplate the des,l'niion
ormoral worth and Intellectual preeminehee 10
him who now asoues - your suhrages. lou
who have proudly recorded your votes tor the
ssinled Falhrr of his Country-for the phi'o.
sonhic JrGcrson-for Z" The blood and carnage
hating Mad,spn-can you we ASK without
blush support Andrew Jackson. What were
The Qualities which ensured these worshies
your unanimous and cordial support. vi
Wasbinp,on! his rame is his euiogy, and TO
run n narrelle, between him and Jackson would
excite laughter If /, were not Tor the sense oil
injury done his fame by the attempt-resem-
blance there is more, but contrast the most
striking in every passage Of their lives and cha>
racters. OF Jrffsrson-was it not his pacihc
policy his truly republican sentiments, MS dis>
like oil large naval and military establishments,
which ehdeared him to you: How then can you
co,n,enance him, who of his own accord has
levied war, placed the military above the civil
power, and thinks his government onghi to be
damned for not keeping up standing army %!
HUNDRED THOUSAND MES. or Madison--was
it no, his vesta purity Of character, his familiar
acquaintance with and correct construction OF
that constitution, which he mainly contributed
10 form which placed him before you az one
whose pretensions could no, be ovefloo ked.-
Had the fact been known 1t would noShsye been
an objection with you that he was unable to
look with comPosure on blood ana carnage.
n he. the revered sage Of Montpelier was deem
ed worthy ofVirginia's almost unauimousvote
,ssn indeed must new scale OF merit, new
estimate OF qualifications for Office be univer-
sally adopted before that vote can be given to
The Farmer Of Tennessee. No two men were
ever more dissimiar. They possess no trait
of character, no qualifications in common.
We proceed upon the superstition, tina, con-
sis.ency in politics is something more than
name, that there is such thing as principle
and that adherence TO itiscommendabe. This