Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-08-10

blood Of some OF her most upright cltizenS.-I
| select the ST, from the numerous examples fur
ni.hed US by the history OF the world II may
be well to observe the striking similarity in
the lines and characters OF those whose talents
have been employed in military pursuits. They
seldom commence, but with eclat and admira>
lion. and as seldom terminate without some
act which eclipses the splrndour Of their hard
earned glory. Such is the syren influence Of
power over the weakness Of our nature, that il
requires the exercise Of philosophy which
springs from educ alton and habi, alone, before
we can avoid the errors into which i: is cal.
culaed TO lead US. Habits contracted in the
camp and aided by that most powerful oil all
human propensi,ies, ambition, soon become per-
mantntly fixed; and mind thus disciplined Is
little fitted for ihe tranquility OF civil occupa-
tons. A nation al peace, In the eyes oil such
men, as ! have before remarked, by an habitu5i
error Of the mind, is soon viewed as IN state
Of warfare, and the overhearing temper which
may be important TO carry on, and support the
one, is exer,ed TO he evident prejudice and in
iu.y of the other. But let US now observe the
application Of 1T examples we have cited
Whrn Presiden, JAG kson found himself at the
head of this government, all was peace and
prosperity. Our si,uation At home and abroad
exhibited an aspect, as commanding, as II was
anlma,ing TO The forts Of those, who were en-
deavorlng 10 promote and sustain II. Parties,
(if by this apDelIalion WE unders'and those,
whom principle had caused 10 disagrec) had
be com rtcDncied and united. There wa, no.
th,re in the operations of government, that re-
uuired either rsv,al or correction. But Ike
the Norman, imagining a conquest, perhaps as
grea and an coessiop Of power as udrcsrain:
ed, he altered the whole system Of his 'irluons
AID learned predecessor, and swayed rod OF
tyranny and reNrnge over the people OF this
country, unprect denied since ITS foundation -
He did rot, il is rae, coihsca our lands, and
sDDnrtion them out as the reward OF victory;
bat he did whar may he considered as cruel
and unjust He moaopolized the VIII lie patron
age OF government, elected from office mt n oil
tried talen and hon sly, some OF whom have
grown grey in the public sc vice, and renders
ed their Offices, by the prccariousness and IN
, certainty of ihelr tenure, Table to constant a
buse and depredaions. He subsidized the
press, by ex:ravagant disbursements OF public
money; encouraging is abuse Of patriotism and
vir.ue, under the shallow prcteXl of comforting
Offices upon men If talents and merit. Hr ex>
tended the same greedness Tor power 10 all ;he
subordinate stations under his immediate con
troll, or that Of his agents. The revolution ell
feced IN the Post Office Department, was
prompted by the same arbitrary and selfish mo-
lives. Considering il, as it really is, power
full engine, when judcious'y managed, the great
fountain by which the veins and ar cries OF
the whole republic may lie corrupted, he made
il his first care TO see il in proper hands No sta
ton, however obscure. was Tree from he VISTA
ton of his power Is msIigRan, influence spread
Xix. con agIon over tic land. The remnants
of preceding Administrations, nay, 'he monu
ments Of publ, Fl h, which had withstood the
scrutiny Of yrars aud gained the appreciation
of the great Washinh ton himself, all expert.
cnced alike the same common late. Possess
ing the ,indictive qualities, without the Tor
br arance and moderation of Julian, he had Ell
Their no, the power or inclination 10 control ms
measures Without talents or education, he
had no, the ingenuity 20 conceal them The
prose rip ion Of Sylla was not more general
but, happily for US, We had reserved those
checks which prevented the preparation OF
further acts Of cruelty. Had these not exised,
the parall would, doubtless, have been COM
ple'e in all its parts.
From President Jackson's previous opinions
and boastpd magnanimily, these acts oil
oppression and tyranny could not have been
ioresecn by the people In his letter TO Mr.
Monroe, On thr subircr of his Administration,
we find him warning hat distinguished patriot
agaius, the ABS Of power, and the numerous
evils incident TO an Observance Of party dis
,inctons He reminds him that hr has become
The Pre- idea, Of na'on, not Of party: that
the public interest should be his only conrefn;
and, in order 10 promote it, his appoint men
20 Office should be m .de f'om he great BODY
Of ,hr people, wi'h"u regard to politics or par.
diff renee. Although President Jackson's
previous life would not favor such belief,
IN still inclined TO ne opinion, from know
edge Of ihost around him, that had he been
left TO The rxrrcise Of his own private views, the
course which he would have pursued, ard that
which hi has, perhaps, though himself con
strained 10 observe, would have been marked
ov radical difference am of opinion Ina,
We mus, look beyond him for The expressions
under which the Country is now grooming -
There is secret source, whence we are ena.
bIed 20 deduce the whole.-I, is found dif1ic ult
Of access, obscured BY many delusive attrac-