Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-12-24

il il duty, to hug the constitution still closer
to our hearts, as its safety is assa,let.
In the spirit of these suggestions ask is all safe at
home: The Revolution in France brought
about by an attempt to destroy the freedom Of the
prcss-t failed there. Our government dare not un-
dertake to accomplish such a deed by force-hut
what cannot be done force mny be done by c"rrup
tion Again repeat that there is no danger to our
constitution from open force. Ten thousand arms
would Instantly DO extended to rrpel the assault.
But It may be undermined. insidious fricnds-pro-
Tossing to be the friends of the pcople-exclusive
pubcans-may. by pensoning AMI proslituting the
press. dive every man from public confidence who
deserves TO enjoy it. Let il be remembered that the
Saviour Of the world was betrayed with kiss; and
altbous Rthe people cannot be- forced surrender
this safeguard Of their liberty, they may in an.
guarded hour be betrayed ont of It Open force mny
be met-but who can secure himself against secret
poison' He may have heen drinking it for months
and his constitution be broken aud ready perish
he is aware Of its silent approach.
Fellow citizens, the present executive the Uni
ted States come into power under crcumstc noes
that bad occurred TO none who preceded him He
attained popularity which it is difficult to account
for, but which elevated him to the presidency bv an
overwhelming majority. happened to he at Wash
ing,on at that time, and before Gen Jackson was
sworn into office. II swarmed with printers who
we're oatceeecsers. and who boldly avowcd hat they
came there to receive their reward for advancing
the professions of the successful Chief Never be-
fore did blush deeply for my count rymcn. I
was not and am not the advocate of Gen Jackson,
hut did think him honest and Independent enough,
KEN They better knew their man. They under
stood the rendrd, express or iuplicd-dnd they got
a. Is not this corruption? lfihe source is corrup-
ted. what purity can we expect from the flowing of
the waters? Where is the safety of country,
and where id our security, if an individual who
pires to power enlist the press in his favor by
bribing its conductors by Tie lure Of oiice-and
what is worse than oil, bride them With your
ney to bctray your interests. do in the sincerity of
my heart, believe that a stab has been given to the
great principle of the freedom Of The press from
which it will not readily After few moro
elections, unless the evil is arrested it will he dos
trnyed forever
The next great object to which hive aivctted is
The purty of elections. Unless this is maintained.
both in principle and in practice freedom at an
end. And in what way has it heen p'omo,ed by the
present administration? They have gone on and re-
moved from office almost every subjecr to their
control who has dared to vote according wha. hc
thought right And this has been done from pure
love TO The people! Unless yon for u.s. or f,r mon
who Will support us. We hur you from Office. This
has virtually been the language held forth; and s it
not idle to talk Of the freedom of rccti,n after this,
IL is but rlockrry: for at The price, perhaps of them
selves aud their IA niles. they compelled TO vatc
according TO the will and pleasure of the aJmn;sra-
ton.
consider the invasion of these two PRINCIPLES BY
the presnni executive alarming to The friends
OF the constitution than any thing that has ever occur
red in the history of our government 1t underrnnes
the very foundation of our system, and enables an
ambitious asprant &c secure MS election o the Prasi
dental chair, by the free, unbiased voice % The
people, but by the agency Of cprnnpt hrencs sea-.
tered through the nation melted by the fear of ospr
or the hape Of obtaining office
II is humlid'ing witness the wide departure
Of practice from principle in the c,nuct of our prs
sent chief magistrate Before he assembled to power.
he declared bis opinion to he that the appointment Of
members of congress to office calculated 20 int ro
dncs a system of corrnp'ion but as he gained
hs purpose. find him appointing with the exccp-
ton of Mr.. Van Buren, who vas kind enough tn &C
his friends and tho people of The State Ct
ork NV he bo nf;oo
governor.) almost his wholr cabinet and Diplomatic
corps from that very boy. Five members wera taken
into the cabnet-Riycs, McLnne Moore. and Rnn
dolph, rewarded with foreign Missions and many 9th
e- members appointed by the executive to lucrative
Offices Yes, this very who, before his elec ion
reprobated the monsurr did, among his FIRST official
acts, single out bis friends IN Congress, appoint them
to Office and thereby Fix upon his own measures the
zeal of Condemnation.
And what HIS General Jackson done as an Offset |
to atone for these violations of principle?
1t is said be has goi back the West India Trade
IT may be so-hnt not yet. Our ports are open to !
the Brish-but their ports not open Ia us ThcYo
Is reciprocity in the arrangement bd, such was
the hurry TO reap the harvest of popularity which
was supposed this negotiation would Weld. that the
previous profits of the Indirect trade cut off and
the whole bonns Of the direct trale thrown into the
bands Of The British, until all The forms of diplomacy
are conplcte after which the feld will scarce be
worth Tho cleaning All presan. advantage is mani. |
testify given mp TO thcm and the failure is lift to de-
pend npon the good will Of our old friends CT Great
Dii'sin.
Bit. fellow. citizens, will not longer detain you
Permit me. however, to inquire, before I sit down,
what the objections to Mr. Clayi 1t is said per.
ans. that ne is the friend Of the Tariff and Of inter
pal improve that he is the efficient supporter Of
the American system, and therefore not worthy of the
confidence Of the American people. Neither will nv
health permit nor your patience endure investga.
ton Of these topics. None have made more noise
opposing them than some Of our Albany Regency; and
yet it is worthy Of remark that in 1911 by the first
act passed by the Legislature Of New York, on the
subject of the Erie Canal, the Commissioners were
directed to apply to Congress. for their aid in max n
the canal; and accordingly, Gouverneur Morri, and
De Witt Clinton, men who may he presumed to have
understood something about the Constitution cp.ired
Washington obtain that aid, which modern polt
clans have found out that Congress had not the
power to give. On this point therefore, the mouth
Of New York should be shut.
I'm relation to the Tariff \ wouId e;m,ty .sL-ca,