Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-23

N,
SO; for rebuilding he had no genius. no taste
The cause of this opposition was well known In
those DAYS; nor can auv one doubt, that knotc
teIge of it has come down to the present Sccrc-
tary of State.
When Mr. Madison came into the presidency,
Mr.. Randolph, if not Nth him was not against
him. His love of change, or of opposition. or
some private political grief, did, 8ll-l2, bring
out this statesman of Roanoke in bitter hostility
to this third President. The last war was the
great Distinguishing Characteristic of Mr.. Mad
ison's administration. On the ooh November,
1911, the Committee Of Foreign Relations report
ed on that subject. and recommended to the con-
sideratiOn of Congress six resolutions. The first
was to fill up the ranks Of the then existing army.
The second recommended the raising of ten thou
sand additional troops. By the third, the Presi-
dent might receive fifty thousand volunteers
The fourth gave power to the President to call
ont the militia. Ships of war were to be in ser.
vice by the fifth; and the sixth authorized pri-
vac vessels to arm in their own defence. When
say Mr.. Randolph opposed these resolutions.
do it merely to show his hostility TO the admins
tratlon Of Mr.. Madison. l will read from Niles
Register, VOL l, p Sl0, small part of one of
his speeches on this occasion, to shew not only
this hostility, but also to illustrate the contempt
which he has ever felt for military men and inca
sures:
NO sooner was the report laid on the table,
than the vutures were Hacking round their prey
the carcase of great military establishment
.--men of tainted reputation, of broken fortune
{ Gf they ever had ANY, and of battered consttu-
tons. choce spirits, tired of the dull pursuits
: of civil lile' were seeking alter agencies and
commissions; willing to doze in gross stupidity
fba IN li,rlt Hla af
81 both ends. Honorable men undoubtedly they
were. ready to serve their country, but what man
: of spirit or self respect, would accept commits
: sion in the present armyP
Sir. let me not be misunderstood. | am stat
ing historic facts; Mr.. Randop h's hostility to
the Their administr .tion; not my own opinion of
| that waor; of his opposition to It, Had |
been here at the time, might have joined in that
opposition; for the representatives from Rhode
Island both opposed these resolutions; nor do |
recolect that the people of that state ever censur
ed them for that opposition. We might 80 thro'
the whole Congressional record, and we should
find Mr.. Randolph, at all subsequent times, e.
uually hostile to the administration of Mr.. Ma
olson.
| When MIR. Monroe came into the Presidency,
MIR. Randol pin was his advocate and supporter
In the last year (1S24-5) of his administration,
he had changed fronts. For at that time it was
one of his common sayings, :. Mr.. Monroe came
into poUer by universal consent; and he mould
go OFT ooih equal ,manimiy." Twill readGom
Gales and Seaton's Register, vol, p. 405, what
he SAID in the Senate NS26 concerning this VEN
Grated patriot statesman: "He (said he) altered
the Constitution 10 guard against that Scoundrei
Il viii not read the name Of the man; though he
NAV have sinned, yet ne has also UNNECESSARILY
sntfered-though not greater than him Vho. after
The event. formed the union of honest men Of all
parties" Who sir was the man said to have unit
ed the honest men of all partiesF James Monroe
Such coalition might be sure of John Randolph
Tor an adversary.
Was Mr.. Van Buren, ignorant Of all these traits
in the character of this man? lie knew them we'll
He knew more; he was fully aware that no person
on earth could be more hostile to military men,
than this same MIR. John Randolph In confrma-
ton of this. will read an extract from one of
his speeches:
81 own natural jealousy of military men
It grows out OF love of country-it is strength
ened & kept alive by the multitude of examples
in history, ancient and modern, of the fall Of
empires and the revolution of States; the mise
sry and wretchedness brought upon the human
race bv the ambition and pride of military
'men?" Vide Speech against Gen. Wilkinson.
81 am willing to give to every man a just and
reasonable reward for his public services, both
in pay and gratitude: but the military character
is so rarely satisfied with any thing less than d.
rect worship. that am of opinion-I always
'was of the opinion, we cannot be too watchfu of
the aspiring ambition q a military commander"
Same Speech.
No man in the nation was more adverse to
Gen. acksop's election TO the Presidency than
Mr.. Randolph was in S22 In that year he said
in his letter to the people Of Charlotte The e.
election of Gen. Jackson to the Presidency is not
to be dreaded. AS IT CA IN NO tVFNT
POSSIBLY OCCUR: the people of the United
States have not yet become so corrupted as to
choose man of military talents to govern the
national councils, in opposition to the splendid
talents of Mr. Crawford, or indeed of any other
good man in the country.'-See letter TO the peo-
pie Of Charlotte, 1922.
The advancement of Mr.. Adams to the last
Presidency, awakened all his luminosity against
that gentleman and his venerated father. He,
therefore, attached himself to the party of Gene
raj Jackson, and especially to that gentleman;