The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-07-28
From the Richmond Vhir.

inc. mentions that Mr.. Branch, Secretary of
the Navy, passed through that place on that
day, on visit to North Carolina
What has not happened since the foundation
of the government, neither the President nor a
single head of Department, nor member OF
the Cabinet, except the Postmaster General, is
left at the seat of government We have here
tofore alluded to this subject sportiveIy, merely
to remind some consistent brethren of what
they thought and said of travelling Cabinets,
under former administration. In serious
mood, we now call the attention of the public
to the extraordinary fact, that the President
and every head of Department should be absent
at the same time, and leave tho government OF
twelve millions of people to irresponsible audi
tors and clerks!
1t verify appears to US, that the Judgment of
Heaven 70 upon ahis ADMINISTRATION. They
seem to be urged on by an irresistible fatality,
to self-destruction. What argument might fail
to achieve-what the honor and dignity of the
nation might have proved insufficient to effect
what the safety of our national institutions
itself, might not have reused the people to do
this moon-struck administration seems resolved
to accomplish we mean their own seeuestra-
ton from power 1t seems TO be their darling
pleasure TO cress all the hopes of their friends,
to falsify all the promises and pledges which
procured them power, and more than to fulfil
all the auguries of their foes. Increased ex-
penditure for " Retrenchment' '-persecution
for opinion sake, for Roform"-the appoint
ment of so editors and l2 members of Congress,
instead of the practical execution of the senti-
ment, which avowed alarm at governments
tampering with the press, and snuffed corrup-
tion in the bestowal of Office upon those clothed
with legislative functions-such we've the prom
Uses, and thus have they been kept
The administration, not content with violat-
ing the permanent principles sanctioned by the
people in the choice Of Gen. Jackson, seem de-
tefaained to disgrace all the accidental argu-
ments which aided his election. One of these
was, that the hero wished to serve but one term
yet in the first year of that term we find him,
with his own consent nominated for second !.
Unspeakable abuse was lavished upon the late
administration, for occasional absence from
Washington and the argument answered that
end. As an illustration of the sincerity with
which it was used, the Jackson Cabinet is ii
this moment dispersed over the continent, from
Albany to Nashville The President IN one
State-the Secretary of State and of War in
another-the Attorney General in third-the
Secretary of the Treasury in fourth-of the
Navy in a fifth. We do not know that there is
possibility of any exigency, which indispensa-
bly, requires the presence of these wanderers
at The seat of government; yet the presump-
ton is, that such exigencies may arise. If they
do, where is tine head to direct, or the members
to advise Every thing must stand still, until
the fngitiVes return, unless the all-sufficient
Mr.. Kendall in the plentitude of his conceit,
shall assume to personify the greatest and best.
and his wandering Chiefs Should no such
exigency occur, the spectacle of great gov
eminent, abandoned by all its responsible agents,
left without head or arms, is indecent and ride
ulous.
VIII our neighbor [the Richmond Enquirer
say nothing about this remarkable state Of
things? Is his wit in respect to Travelling
Cabinets, all exhausted Are his fears for
public affairs, deserted by those chosen and paid
to direct them, all quieted'
But his silence cannot hoOdwink the people.
The enthusiasm which the name Of Henry Clay
inspired at the national festival in almost every
quarter, is warning not to be mistaken-an
intorPTeia ton not to be misread. Popular opin-
airy is quitting its images and generous peo-
pie' deceived into persecution and injury, are
resolved upon a splendid PREPARATION.
We are opposed to the present Admins
tration-not because it has triumphed over
our favorite candidates-but because we
consider many of its measures unconstitu-
tional, high-handed, selfish, and anti-repu5-
llcan. Under the specious pretence of re-
form'-a system ofrewards and punishments
has been put in operation, disgraceful to our
government, and dangerous to our institu-
tons.
1t was against this prostitution of power
this dangerous innovation upon the estab-
lished presidents of the past-this blind and
reckless obedience to the will of one frail
and erring individual, that the eloquent
CLAY entered his solemn protest and pro-
nounced the evils we have spoken of, as
more to be deprecated than war, or pesti-
lence, or famine. Would to God that this
truth were more fully understood by the
people OF the United States War NAV
stride over land with the crushing step of
giant ;-pestilence may steal over it like
an invisible curse-reaching its victims ST.
lently and unseen-unpeopling here a vii
lage and there city-until every dwelling
is sepulchre famine may brood over +
with long and weary visitation-until the
sky ltselfiS brazen and the beautiful green
ness gives place to q parched desert-a
wide waste of unproductive desolation. But
these are only physical evils. The wild
hover will bloom in peace on the field of
battle, and above the crushed skeleton. The
aestroylng angel OF the pestllence will re-
tire when his errand is done; and the ma
ton will again breathe freely. And the
barrenness of famine will cease at last-the
cloud will be prodigal of its boarded rain
and the wilderness will blossom. But for
the moral desolation there is no reViyinp
spring. Let the moral and republican prin-
ciples ofour country be abandoned-our rep
resentatlyes bow IN unconditional obseuui-
BUSINESS to individual dictation-let impu-
denee and intrigue and corruption triumph
over honesty and intellect, and our liberties
and strength viii depart for ever Ofthese
there can be no resuscitation. The abom-
ination of desolation" will be fixed and per-
petual; and as the mighty fabric of our glo-
ry totters into ruins, the nations of the earth
VIII mock us in our overthrow, like the re-
Joicing Of the powers of darkness when the
thIoned one of Babylon became even as
themselves-and the Glory of the Chal-
dees" had gone down for ever.