Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-10-20
TEE GAZETTE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 90, 1881.
GEN. JACKSON AND MR. CLAY.

| President Of the United States Under the
influence of error aud infatuation, ty sys
TEN of duplicity and deception, Gen. Jack
SON has been raised to his lofty pinnacle OF
bis ambition The people were every where
ssduced by their passions into an ldolatry. OF
bis name.'in consequence of his military ex-
! ploits, and looked with partial and very su-
II perfcial observation at his qualifications for
Hoilice. They elected him upon faith. They
hook his pledges as sureties which could not
|]be liable to doubt Men Of opposite creeds
land sentiments joined the popular pageant
(which carried him to the Republican Throne,
land threw up their hats, and shouted, in all
the wild enthusiasm of the moment, hosan
znahs to his greatness. How has the fact e.
3ventuated? How have these political wor-
3shippers been treated How has this medly
I of partzans been rewarded? Gen Jackson,
within two years of his Inauguration, has
euarreed with those of his friends IN whom
he had evihced by calling them to his Cabi-
net, that he had the fullest confidence. This
shows either his ignorance of men and OF the
motives of human action, or fckleness OF
feeling and purpose. Are these fit qualtica
tions Tor the highest office 10 the gift of the
people. He las broken every pledge which
he gave to the people previous TO his election.
He pledged himself 10 serve but for four
H. - To ba pIa for
second term CT four years He pledged biln-
self not to appoint members of Congress to
ottice:--He has appointed to Office more
members -of Congress than all the Presidents
who have preceded him He pledged him
self to respect the freedom of public opinion:
He has prescribed every public officer who
had dared to utter an opinion in opposition
to his election. He pledged himself to ad-
minister the Government for the public ben-
efit:-He has administered il exclusively for
the advantage OF his personal and political
partizans. He pledged himself to promote
Internal Impreyement:-He has uetoed the
most important of the measures proposed IN
der that system. He pledged himself that
his administration should be an exhibition of
unexampled economy;-He has expended
more since his election than the President
who preceded him in the same time. He
pledged himself to prevent the influence Of
the Federal Governmental popular elections:
He has introduced it there with more zeal.
perseverance and effect than any other Ex-
ecutive. Has he thus exhibited the fit quail
iGcatons for the highest office in the gift of
the people? Only folly the most perverse, and
ignorance the most desperate. would answer
these questions in the affirmative. 1t is de-
monstrated then, by facts which are publicly
recorded, that Gen jackson has failed to full
I'll the pledges by which he obtained his cleo
ton, aud has evinced a total want of all those
qualifications which ought to characterize the
President of the United States. We ask the
Judgment OF the people shall This man he
chosen again to preside over the destnies r
a nation, calling itself the freest, and most
intelligent in the world, or shall he be sent
back to the privacy from which he was un.
happily called?
HENRY CLAY is presented to the public
eye as the fit successor of General jackson,
at the expiration of his present term There
is no splendor of military about his charac-
ter to east spell on public favor, and dazzle
and blind the multitude We are ready to
admit that he probably would not be able to
set squadron in the field so readily as Gen
erai Jackson. Mr. Clay's path has not been
In the track of heroes: his orbit not that of
war. Battle and brol have not developed
the energies of his mind, or marked the dis
position and direction of his genius But he
has served his country, perhaps, with more
substantial benefit, lifting her character more
loitIly in the scale Of nations, Than if he had
carried the baton of Mars, or brandished the
spear Of Bellona. He has stood by the land
Of his birth in the days Of her greatest peril,
III The contests of diplomacy, and in the halls
oil legislation; and his proves in all these
departments is written down. and will stand
recorded and remembered so long as the his
tory of our republic shall remain to elevate
and edhy mankind. Are not these fit quail