Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-07-28

Glasses OF power mo independent constitutional
checks WOULD IMPOSE \ Provisions, RENDERING
ANY MEsBEE CONGRESS INELIGIBLE To OFFICE,
cNpER TUE GENERAL. GOVERNMENT, DURING rIE TERM
FOR WHICH M WAS ELECTED, AND YEARS
THEREAFTER, except in cases ot judicial office
- i nc effect OF such constitutional provision Is
obvious. By il Congress, in considerable degree,
would he tree from that coLncNion with the exec
utlvc department ,Ch;ch al prcScW! gireS StFoRg
groUnd, Fl APPREHENSION and JEALOUSY on the part
Of the pCopte Henber~, instead If being liable to be
,"thdfatrR fT0m legiStHg Tie great interests ~
IRE nation, owgh prospects Of crecntiuc patronage,
would be more literally conidcd in by their comst-
ucntS; while their vigilance would DC less Interrupt
ted Ivy party feelings and pnriy cXcitcmentS. Cal
I cul1tlons from intrigue, management, would
fail; nor would their deliberations, their inveSt
CATION OF subjects, consume much time. The
MORALS COUNTRY WOULD BE IMPROVED, and
cirtIc uniting with the abors ethc representatives
and with the official ministers of the law, would
tend toperpctuate the honor and glory of the gov
crnmcnt. But If this change in the constitution
should not be obtained, and mpOrtdRt appointments
continue to devovc on the representatives i'll Con
grcss, 1t requires depth of thot TO lie convinced,
that CORRUPTION WILL ORDER OF THE DAY,
aud that, under the gdr5 gt conscientious sacrifices
10 cStd6tiSh preccdcHS for Tire pjlic g0Dd, evils of
serious importance to the freedom and prosperity
oil the republic may arise. 1t is through THIS
MEL that the people may expect to bo attacked i'll
Their constitutional sovereignty, and where TYRhN-
Ny may be well apprchendcd to spring up i'll some
favorable emergency. Against such inroads every
guard ought 10 be nstcrposed, and none better
ours than thut of closing the suspected avenue
with some necessary constitutional restriction
We Know human nature to be prone to evil; we are
easily taught to pray that we may not be led into
temptation; and hence the opinion, that by consti-
tut"nal provision all avenues to temptation the
part of our political servants, should be closed"
Yet this corruption so Justly described, and vivid
~ painted, in all its ramiications and CONSEQUENT
ccs, has General Jackson prdctiSed TO Il pernicous
extent, unhcard of among his predecessors Com
ment on such tcrgiversations is needless; and sur
and, al,
weakness OF nature, and the frailty of the man.
Without good tath there can be no morals in gov
ernment and the support of General Jackson for IA
reelection, after the fragrant violation OF pledge
so solemn, and principle important, would be
knowingly To put upon the people fraud and inn
position, AS insulting to their Understandings, as
dangerous and destructive to their liberties.
But II is not merely one--it is on all points
that he has proved reckless to his word and inc.n-
sstcnt with his professions. On no part of his
ptniIc character did he boast with so much pride
and ardour as his DEMocR,cY. In his letter 10 Doc.
tor William Dickson. he makes a full avowal of thc
entire principles ofthe JEEJ&RsoNIAS SCHOOL Hc
says:-
believing do, that any citizen who does
Obtain the suffrage OF the frccmen of rennesscr
must be character, the composition of which IL
tHfHe, dlenfs q the TRUE PRINCIPLES OF SEVEN
rf-siX;in short, sir, that lie must be Il republicans
ana I" politics, Hhc CgsarS rife, not only chaSis,
bit UNsUsPEcrED.
The first two component irts of this charac-
ter know you possess The latter, as TO myself
nave every thought you did. But sir the public
mind has been lately led 10 believe, that your poll
teal sentiments are doubtful, and some have held
you up an aristoorat. These reasons have one
rated with me to calupon you to answer tho follow
ing ntcrrogatorics:-First are YOU * have Won al
ways been true admirer ofthe rhg yrincipls If 76?
Have you always been an admirer of the state au-
thorIties: Are You now and have you ALWAYS heen
an admirer OF the constitution Of tie Enifed States
JFendiy 10 its administration, agreeable TO the fle
literal meaning Of tie Instrument, and banisiing
fhe ddnGeroHs d0ctTine IF implication? Harc y0s
arrays OeoH, and yOW RDlc opposed to stqYdiDD
armies !" time Of peace? ire yOun0c, and hare you
at'rdy& been ihiDticai 10 St0ndjng armament Are
y0u Ho5c and hIre you diLr0yS been 0pposed 10 for
e'gH PoL'ticai connections? Are yOu ROlr and hare
y0" GLIrGys been, opposed to The extension of Green
Soh now an advocate for freedom Of religion and
Jrecd0H' NJ tie press? Are goa n0Ir, ana hare von
@'''dys "eeR, trte"diy to economy in tile puJlic dis
1"iSfmentS Ind an enemy to the system lOaI3? ind
Justly, are yo" real republican in principle and
I1iH yr" be Il republican in PrGctice?'
From creed so full and ample, wo had every
reason to believe that his practice would have cor
responded to his professions; and his appointments
and measures assumed congenal shape. But
when once licensed in power, what was his con
Duct! Tie called TO his councils and his confidence
some of tho most conspicuous -fedcralists Of
tiie country who had distinguished themselves for
their opposition to the late war, to compose his
original cabinet. The present even exceeds the
hrst in this inconsistent associations of the fcde
ra!ist of'9S, with disciple; at least a pyotessinc
disciple ofthc Jc8erSoR schoOi. The secretary of
the treasury, the secretary of the navy, and the
attorney general have ever been noted for their nj
ira devotion to the antagonist party; and in his 10
cal and MINOR appointments, Il similar reference is
generally perceived TO prevail. Fidelity to the
principles oil Thomas Jefferson, Il consistency with
orr past lives, honor virtue, aud true regard for
the Tghts NJ num- all forbid TO yield our support
TO one who has so totally sacrificed his principles
and so entirely abandoned his party As demo
Gratis, we cannot support ANDREW JACKSON or give
conhtcnance to his federal appointments, and arts
tocrntical career.
When it is considered how intimately connected
the purity G the press is with the FREEDOM OF E1Ec-
TONS, we cannot be too jealous of the exercise of
government over this controlling lever of public
opinion nor too indignant, when we behold it OK
tended over the states for the purpose of pomotinp
ms reelection; his words on this subject must
he ccncluSve-ln his inaugural speech he dcclar-
ed that
''Ihe recent demonstration Of public sentiment
mscrIhes on the list of executive duties in charac
tiers too Icgbc to be overlooked the task of REFoRu
which VIII require particularly the correction Of
those abuses that have brought the PATRONAGE Of
the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT into conflict with the
FREEDOM ELECTIONS.
IT would.bc our desire to conceal, not parade his
alterations, such tenderness compatible with
pubic duty, or cOnsonant to the Justice due TO our
selves The undsguiscd pure base of the public
press, by his officers and minions, furnishes a sad
comment ofhis prOtcsscd regard for its purity and
freedom; when hc crccts in the metropolis Of the
nation, and through the agency of Il frcaSyyy of
tcsr dHd the postmaster general, one of tho most
noted partisan newspapers; we not only feel il n
wrong but are compelled TO regard it as an insult
TO the people whose integrity it uucstic ms; and
whose intelligence it dcridcs
AS Americans. Jealous of tho bnnor aud ec,,.;