Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-11-21
TO THE PUBLIC-LErrrR 5.


| for the profanity.
TO THE PUBLIC-LETrER 5.
On the Presidential Elections Of 1921 and 1898.
In preceding letter, the discriminating reader
will have remarked the distinction between the SEN
tlments Of this writer as expressed ut the present
period, in reference to the supposed character of
Andrew Jackson, and those which he felt and K
pressed in IS23.-This change of opinion, in those
who dissent from the derelictions of men in pow
or, is too often attributed to Inconsistency the
citizen, instead of npostacy in those who hold the
dazzling sun OF patronage and power in their hands
to kindle Affection awaken hope and attract datte.
ry from the servile herd, who have TO perception
but that OF interest instinct but blind and dcvo-
| ted seisIncss. AT the time that the parallel
was instituted between the great Washington, and
| the unfortunate old man, whose folly has bghted
almost every leaf of his glory; g-ossness Of
ror, possibility of deception, perceived
to Turk beneath the weil-intcnded comparison.
The suggestion of the parallel to this writer by
one whose head is quick to conceive, his pen is
able to execute, adopted with agcrncss and
d!acriy; and drawn con dhnOre in vivid colorS, and
with sincerity of belief, that the subject, if he did
not then justify the funess of the assimilation,
m ght at least be melted to attain the parallel by
series of future actions to correspond the noblcs
model of man, a hero and Statesman, that
iourished on the worlds wide stage the only man
of modern times to whom these lines of the nnor-
tai Bard of ArOH would apply without eXaggera-
ton bordering the bureSque; with slight va
ration, may apply the whole passage as u faith
ful portraiture of Washington and Jackson:
"Look here, upon this picture, and on this;
The counterfeit prescntnent of two Presidents;
See what grace seated this brow;
Hyperion's curls; the front OF Jove himself;
An eye like Mars to threaten and command;
a station like the Herald Mercury;
New-lighted on a fL;aven kissing hill:
4 combination and form indeed,
Where every God did to set his seal,
TO give the world assurance Of
This dr0S your PRESIDENT"
Look you now what follows
'.IIrre is your President; like n,tldow ID ear,
Blasting his wholesome brother"
There to believe, at the time the
com purson made, that, by appealing to the
just pride Of Jackson, it would itself inc him
emulate those virtues Of Washington, which had
cngrOssed the admiration Of the world; and cXtort-
ed the spontaneous homage Of applause from the
most remote nations of the globe. True, our
perception Of his character imperfect and
partial; but when the JairHess Of his YrcJesJiOHs
considered, and the apparent moderation Of his
temper and passions at that time, daily strengthen
cd by the false CLOSES and dePraved fctions of
! John II. Eaton, who assiduously laborcd to
| disguise his Indian Warrior in the trappings of "A
civilized patriot, and invest him with the robes Of
a perfect statesman, the grossness of the error,
common TO all supporters they perceive it now,
but was considered no error mt that time receives
much extenuation from the deceit practscd to blind
! them, OH the hand, and from the ldnddbc J.
/ tive on the other, Of melting Gen. Jackson 10
emulate The virtues of him whom we fondly believed
might prove his prototype. Independent, however,
! II he want Of capacity and learning in Gcncra
Jackson 90 rcaize the full extent of the parallel,
! had he fnifiicdfhc prOfessioas, when he into
power and realized but the konest anGcipat'ons of
his carly friends, by mere adherence TO the rules
/ hc had established for his government when Il
| candidate, the GrOSsness Of what appears SO
serious ain error, would never have been revealed
o the public gazc his temper, his passions, and his
violence would have been forgotten in the blaze Of
Ii- ratrio;isn and overlooked in the sincerity OF
an honest zeal 10 do lis country service, regardless
Of all considerations Of self, ambition cupiditv.
But the appeal lost upon one, whose ambition is
oriiv cquallcd by lis erceSSiCc UGHty-Gcn. Jackson,
instead Of receiving it admonitiOn 70 stimu.
late hin, 10 virtue merely seized ~ enc compliment
&c food for his self love: not psrcCivng that even
the parallel was to be made out by his future con-
| Duct as an honest, consistent and enlightened
! statesman. BY converting what ought TO be i'm
proved ON as a less0u. into the mere aIincnt 0l W.
| ui,v he transformed Il sdDativo medicine INTO q
dcadiv poisen which produced ruinous intoxicatlon
and C,l dcliriurn instead OF that lofty and ehasteu
cd ambition that builds It's hope Of fame alone on
LI;e cgod and the Gisinterested career Of uubias-
/ ed PATRIOTISM That the Lesson not received
MS y trniy great mind would have applied If, cviu
ccs the shallowness of his understanding, and ms
uftcr incapacity for supreme power. But the delu
! sion has passed away. His gross dercctions have
,rsprcd disgust among his honest supporters; ant
few mem sound in principle, honest IN purpose, 81
rcencctabls in intellect and character, who origi
II n,IIv supvoried him from pure motives, now re
I nh under his banner. Convinced OF his corruP
';-aod with incaPocity' they have rcnoun