Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-09-14
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER IA. 1891.
I COMMUNICATED

election OF ANDREW JACKSON, ana IN favor OF the
election of HENRY CLAY to the Presidency Of the
United States, held at the Mechanics Hall. on
Saturday evening, September 10, 1881, pursuant
to a call published 10 the Alexandra. Gazette,
signed By t,oo hundred and tpenty citizens, Ca;F
BESJAMiN T. FEsDALL was called to preside over
the meeting, was conducted TO the Chair by 10.
seph Eaches and Samuel Messersnith, Esqs. and
JAMES NJ. MoREA was appointed Secretary.
THos. w, HEwrrT, Esq. moved that Com
mittee Of SIC be appointed to prepare an address
and resolutions expre~iye Of the sentiments Of
the meeting: WhereuPon, the following named
gentlemen were announced from the chair:
7hos. ". Hewitt, Robert H. Miller,
Edgar Siowdea, Benjamn HaLioUeH,
.foseph Eaehes, Samuel Messersmih.
After retiring Tor short time, the Committee
returned, and its Chairman, Mr.. HEwrrr, pre-
sented the following preamble and resolutions,
which he read. lie then addressed the meeting,
supporting the arguments used in the preamble
and resolutions, and urging their adupton:
The citizens Of Alexandria, in the District of
Columbia, opposed to the reelection of Andrew
Jackson t. the Presidency Of the United States,
and IN favor of the election OF HENRY CLAY.
deepy impressed with the necessity Of this
change, though fully sensible of their political
lisfranchisement, cannot refrain from frank
exposition of their wishes and opinions to their
fellow citizens OF the States, upon this interest
inc subject; and they are not without hope that
their opinions may have some influence in the
determination of this great question. They have
observed with deep regret the general course and
y,F TIN drNvf. Pr 'ka
vernment had for a series of years, prior 20 the
election Of the present incumbent, been admin
istered upon the most liberal principles: il had
never nterfered in the contro Of public opinion,
disdaining to eject by patronage with the:poeple.
that which Il could not obtain from their honest
sentiments. During political contest r"marSa-
Die for its aCrimony, some OF those holding high
Offices under the government were prominent In
their opposition to the then Administration, and
when vacancy was to be filled, the inquiry was,
.sis the applicant honest and faithful" not "is
he of our party" These American and purely
republican principles, although out Of fashi II at
present, meet with our warmest appreciation. -
Upon the election Of the present President, al
though change of men had taken place, we
fondly hoped that political measures so entirely
correct and unexceptOnable would continue to be
pursued. Ii is true, that from the ,nexperence
and previous habits Of the individual who had
received the highest mark of public confidence,
we distrustsd his ability to conduct the affairs Of
the country with the skill and Judgment which
had characterized the administrations OF his pre-
tlccessOrs. but relying upon the confident asser-
tons of bus tliends, we trusted he would bring
intohis cabinet, statesmen competent at least to
conduct the government decorously and hon0ra-
~bIy. A few months convinced US OF our mis-
take in that particular, and subsequent events
have confirmed us in the opinion that he Is not by
habits, education, experience or talents, capable
Of fulfilling in proper manner the h'Sh ana
res3ousible duties of President of the United
states. long series of acts have determined
full, our sentiments that The public ,nteres; aud
welfare demand change of rulers. Oar oppo-
sition TO tie reelection of Andrew Jackson is
. founded upon facts which cannot be controvert'
ed We are opposed to 1T
BECAUSE. he has exhibited indecisiOn OF cha
racter and weakness OF intellect IN several OF his
public acts: he has violated repeated pledges and
the seneral understanding at the time of his cleo
ton. nv consenting to be candidate for another
term: he has violated his solemn declaration that
he would not suffer the patronage of the govern
meut 10 come in coaflict with the freedom OF cleo
tiops: he has violated his recorded opinion that
members of Congress should not be made the re-
cipients of government patronage; ne has partial
Iy corrupted the PRESS uc VI oui IL
bsri,es by appointing partizan editors to Office,
buying tle,r support and holding out inducements
TO others to be equally unpriucipIed and subser-
Went: he has introduced system Of prescription
unexampled in the history of this country, by
which the freedom of opinion has been utterly
FRUSTRATED; filling the public Offices with his known
partzans, with the secret if not avowed purpose
Of perpetuating his power: he has shown'a disre-
gard of the Constitution, and contempt of the
Senate in his conduct with reference to the Turkish
treaty. and in the denomination Of persons to a
meagre after their rejection by a full Senate. We
are also opposed to his reelection, BECAUSE his
wayerins policy concerningInternal improvement
is calculated to injure it more than adirect&decid-
ed opposition. and his sentiments with regard to
a ..iudicious" tariff are time serving and not de-
signed for the interest Of his country. Our ap-
position is still farther strengthened BECAUSE ne
has elevated to Office some of the worst and most
unprincipled men in the nation, making them dis