Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-12
FoR THE VINO.
To ANDREW JACKSON,

as ono of the People over whom you have been |
chosen to preside venture to address you in rcla
ton to some OF the acts of your Administration,
which have already been developed, and which seem
to mark the policy you have determined to pursue. !
The office of President of the United States is one
ofhe most exalted dignity far superior to that which
issues from the fountains of''legitimacy" The one
is conferred by the surages of free people, and is
the reward OF merit, al least OF presumed merit the
other proceeds from an assumption of authority in
those times of feudal power, when ignorant people
incapable of estimating the blessings of freedom
The important duties which belong to the office OF
President of the United States, coextensive with
the Union, and he who discharges them as they ought
to be discharged should act with eye singly to the
public good regarding each section of the Union as
alike the objects of his He who acts upon
different principle, is moved by party or personal
considerations. is unworthy of such station. In
your own language, "the President of the u. States
should be the President of the nation and not of
party" The noble reply of Louis, Duke of Orleans,
afterwards Louis XII. King of France, when urged
to revenge himself upon his enemies should be ever
present to his mind-"The King of France revenges
not the injuries of the Duke of Orleans" Acting
upon this principle, opportunity was fairly offered
you OF transmitting your name to posterty, as the
chief of powerful nation, influenced in all his public
acts by his country's good, your civil, might have
been as brilliant and glorious your military career
But the experience of few months has clearly de-
monstrated to the great body of the people, that YOU
have either forgotten the principles of which you were
the advocate in private life, or you have been over
you are unfortunately surrounded. Conscious of
your incapacity to direct the affairs of great
nation you have too readily yielded to the counsel
and advice of Others who have made you the step
plng-stone by which to reach the objects of their
towering ambition. No sooner were YOU seated in
the Presidential Chair than the work of prescription
was begun, and of the first men of the nation
were sacrificed upon the altar of your revenge. Men
who, like YOURSELF had welded the sword in battle
and grown grey in their country's service were re-
called from important stations, to give place TO men
whose only merit consisted in the zeal with which
they supported your cause, and the untirng diligence
with which they circulated the foues ISLANDERS against
your predecessor and his cabinet. They are now
receiving their reward from the public purse
Thousands OF those who opposed your elevation
because they had no confidence in your capacity
placing some reliance upon your avowed princi-
plies, and the representations of your friends hoped
to find in you the president of the nation and not of
party;" butt very first act of your administration
disappointed both friends and foes, and convinced
every unpreludced mind, that the opinions you adj
vancad in private life, when you had no hope of
reaching the exalted station you now fill you had not
trmness enough to maintain in public, in opposition
to your advisers You yourself told us, that if ever
the liberties of the people 10 be overturned it
would be by the appointment of members of Congress-
to office; and yet, sir, in violation of this oracuar
warning, you have appointed, during the short time
you have been IN office, greater number of members
OF Congress to high, responsible, and lucrative Offices
than any your predecessors. do not mean to in
| slnuate that you have any designs nimical to the
liberties Of your country-that you entertain anv
thoughts of acting the part of Napoleon, or an
lturbde; but, according to your showing YOU
have laid the foundation of that very event YOU so
feelingly and eoquently deprecated when YOU re-
signed the Office of Senator in Congress from the
State OF tennessee, in humble imitation of the great
Washington when he resigned the command of the
army After such q declaration, so solemnly made
before the assembled representatives of the State
was not to be expected, that you would have fallen
INTO the very error you in others, raught
/ knnty o.t;,
endeaVored to defend you, in this instance against
the charge of inconsistency, but their defence has
been as weak rs your own conduct In other respects
since you nave been Loaded with uIideseved honors
Before your election were told that althouph
wanting yourself in knowledge and experience as s
statesman, your vigorous intellect, discriminating
Judgment and the Influence of your personal charac
ter, would call around you the most gifted men of the
nation whose talents and requirements in the science
OF politics, would cast abroad blaze of liobt and
illuminate the remotest of this widely ex-
tended Republic; upon whose wisdom. Judgment and
energy, the country might safely rely in times of
danger and difficulty. l confess sir, believed this
did believe you could command the services of such
men, and under this impression was The better re-
concied to your election, which opposed with all
my feeble powers. But has the pedpe of vour
friends been redeemed? Does your Cabinet afford
that brilliant light which 10 be dlffused through
out the land, that matchless wisdom before which all
men were 10 bow with reverence that purity of pur-
pose which was to pervade each department of the
government No, sir,-but one opinion prevails
amongst those whose senses not blunted by poll
teal natuatlon whose menta vision is not obscured
by the clouds of partyba is, that the affairs of our
country were never committed to weaker hands not
even excepting the ''Heaven-born Auditor" Ing
ham, Eaton, and Branch, men scarcely known beyond
the walls of the Senate house, have charge of the
most important departments ofthe government. One
or the most efficient and upright officers although
not actually removed, was compelled to quit depart
ment which, by his industry aud talents was brought
into complete order for the purpose of providing for
demagogue from Kentucky, whose chief recomrnen
daton was found in the zeal with which he supported
your election, and the violence and acrimony with
which he impeached the mstives of Henry Clay a
man whose exertons in the cause of liberty and the
rights OF man, will be remembered by the American
feopie' when you will be forgotten, or remembered
only as the fortunate soldier whose life and actions
ike that Of the Swedish mailman, will serve to
"Point a moral ador7l tale"
In the list OF your friends and partizans (which
certainly embraces some of the most DISTINGUISHED
men OF the nation) were others to be found will