Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-07-27


their constitutional sovereignty, and where ~
ranny may be we'll apprehended to spring up III
some favorable emergency. Against such IN.
roads, every guard ought to be interPosed, ana
none better occurs than that Of closing the sus-
pected avenue with some necessary constitution
; al restriction. We know human nature to be
prone to evil; we are early taught to pray that
we may not be led into temptation; and hence
the opinion, that by constitutional provision, all
avenues to temptation on the part OF our polItlcal
servants should be closed"
Yet this corruption so justly described, and VI
wildly painted. IN all it's ranihcations and conse-
quences, has General Jackson practised to per-
nicious extent, unheard-of among his predeces-
sors! Comment OH such regeneration is need
less; and surprise is stiaed by grief and north
cation over the weakness Of nature, and the frall'
ty of the man. Without good faith there can be
IL" morals in government. & the support OF Gene,
raj Jackson for reelection, after the fagrant
violation of pledge SO solemn, and principle
so important, would be knowingly to put upon
the people fraud and imposition, as insulting to
their understandings. as dangerous and destruc-
| tive to their iibeties.
But il is not merely one-itis on all points that
lie has proved reckless to his word, and ncOnsis-
tent with his professions. On no part of his pub
lie character did he boast with much pride and
ardOr as his Democracy. In his letter to Doc.
tor William Dickson, lie makes full avowtu Of
the entire principles of the Jefferson School. he
says:
:. Believing as do, that any citizen who does
obtain the sufrages Of the ireemen OF len
nessee, must be character, the composition OF
which is virtue talents, and the true whig prin-
cpes Of seventy-six; in short, sir, that he must
be republican, and IN politics, like CAESARS wife,
not only chaste, but unsupported"
"The first two component parts of this cha
racter know you possess; the latter, as to my
SELF have ever thought you did. But sir, the
your political sentiments are doubtful, and some
have held YOU up as an arstocrat. These reasons
have operated with me to cali on you TO answetthe
following int. rogatories:-First, are you, and
have you always been true admirer Of the wing
system of seventy-sixs Have you always been
an admirer of the Constitution of the United
States, friendly to its administration, agreeable
to The true literal meaning Of the instrument, and
banishing the dangerous doctrine of implication?
Have you always been, and are you now,
opposed to standing armies in time of peace?-
Are you now, and have you always been inlmlcal
to standing armament Are you HOW, and have
you have you always been, opposed TO foreign
political connections? Are you now, and have
you always been, opposed to the extension Of ea-
ccutive patronage? Have you always been, ant
are you now, an advocate for freedom Of religion
and freedom o. the press? are you now and
have you always been, friendly to economy in
the public disbursements and an enemy to the
system of loans! And lastly. are you real re-
publican IN principle, and will you be rePubli-
can in practice!'
| From creed 50 full and ample, we had every
reason to believe that his practice would have
correspondent to his professions; and his appoint
ments and measures assume congenial shape.
But when once licensed 10 power, what was his
conduct He called to his councils and his con-
fdence, some of the most conspicuous ultra-fede-
raists uf the country, who had distinguished
themselves for their opposition to the late war, to
compose his original cabinet. The present even
exceeds the first, in this Inconsistent association
of the federalists of '98. with disciple at least.
protesting dspIe Of the Jefferson school. The
Secretary Of the Treasury, the Secretary Of the
Navy, ard the Attorney General, have ever been
noted for their ultra devotion to the antagonist
party; aud in his local and minor appointments,
similar preference is generally perceived to pre-
vail. Fidelity to the principles Of Thomas JEFF
ferson, consistency with past lives, honor, vir
tue, and true regard for the rights Of man, all
forbid US to yield our support to one who has so
totally sacrificed his principles, and SO entirely
abandoned his party AS democrats. we cannot
support Andrew Jackson, or give colntenance to
his federal appointments, & arlstocratcal career.
When it is considered how intimately connect
ed the purity Of the press is with the freedom of
elections, we cannot be too jealous of the exer-
else OF government over this controlling lever of
public opinion, nor too indignant, when we behold
it extended over the States for the purpose of pro-
noting his reelection; his own words on this sub
iect must be conclusive. In his inaugural speech
he declared that.
..The recent demonstration of public senti-
ment inscrbes on the list of executive duties, in
characters too legible to be overlooked, the task
Of rcform,whicb will require particularly the cor
rsction Of those abuses that have brought the pa
tronage of the Federal Government into conflict
with the freedom Of elections.
1t would be our desire to conceal, not parade
his alterations, were such tenderness compatible
with public duty, or consonant to the justice due
to ourselves. ,fhe und,sguised purchase of the
public press by officers and minions. furnishes a
sad comment on his professed regard for its pur-
tv and freedom; when he erects in the metropO-