Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-08
PUBLISHED DAILY BY
SAMUEL WIDEN,
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1851.
From, The Philadelphia National Gazette. FEB. 4

The public meeting IN reference to the re-elec-
ton of General Jackson, which was called for
yesterday evening, was held accordingly at the
District Court Room. 1t consisted, we learn, of
about two hundred persons. The Chair was ia
ken by Mr.. Henry Horn; General Robert Patter
son and John Nagle acted as Vice Presidents;
and Colonel John Thompson, and Colonel ]. w.
L. Freeman, as Secretaries. Colonel James Page
offered resolutions, which he prefaced with
speech, and which were passed without debate.
4 committee of correspondence, consisting of
thirty-six persons, was appointed, the customary
resolution relative to the publication Of the pro-
ceedings adopted, and the meeting adjourned.-
1t may be affirmed, without the least disparage
ment of the personal character of the gentlemen
who were prominent and active IN this procedure,
that the meeting did not represent even the Jack
son party, SO called, of this city-much less the
whole community. There will be, in all proba-
bility, other movements, by which public opinion
may be more authoritatively and Justly indicated.
With regard to General Jackson, 1t is known
10 US, and indeed is matter of nOtorlety, that We
~ many of our respectable and truly patriotic cl-
tizens, preferred him originally to Mr. Adams
are now averse to his reelection, from various
motives. Some believe that his consent to this
measure is utterly repugnantt to his former declar-
ations, the general understanding Of his friends,
and the unavoidable text of the last elaborate
Message. Others agree with him in his printed
doctrine concerning rotation in office, particularly
IN reference to the Presidentship, which he has
declared to be especially exposed to injurious
temptation. They cannot admit as very sound
or patriotic, such logic as ths-'s If YOU the PeO-
pie Of Congress, allow this evil or abuse IN our
political system to continue by law, | will prac
tise or execute it, however grevous in Itself
Though the practice is the real grievance, much
worse than the mere illegali'y would be.-yet 1t
shall endure even by nay agency. seeing that you
do not make it unconstitutional on my part"
Others think that General Jackson has violated
his own theories or professions, in several other
important points, such as-the protection of the
Tariff system, and Of the cause of Internal I'M
proyement; abstinence from the choice of mem
6ers of Congress for office,-impartiaity in rela-
ton to the abilities and character most desirable
for the public service, and so forth. A consider
able number are allenated by his deadly enmity
10 the Gank of the United States, deeming it
groundess, and certain to be more productive of
mischief to the nation, II it should prevail, then
even all his military exploits had been useful
Another serious impression against him is-,hat
he is entirely under the influence of politicians
who would not merely destroy, by undermining
or dissol,ing. the Tariff policy, and arrest Inter-
nal Improvement by cOunterfeiting alarms and
exaggerated representations. but also advance the
doctrines and designs of the Southern NuLffers,
and disable Or overthrow the Supreme Court
who. in short, mean, if they can, to reduce the
Union to mere Confederacy. Most of the yo-
tiers who are capable OF reflection, are aware that
a President should be really, substantially, con-
stantly such, according to the intent and prOvi-
sioGs OF the CONSTITUTIONAL independent, pri-
mary. enlightened functIoaary--equal to the du-
Ia Inc tc
man to lead, not follow, to control ambitious in
triguers,n not to become t,@ir instrument. Every
one perccives that 1t would be material disad-
vantage for the country,-a wide deviation from
the theory and true drift of our Ipstitutions,-to
allow the Chief Magistrate TO fall into condition
like that of king of Engand-a mere autOmatOn
in the hands of the ministers. The trainers of
our Constitution studiously reversed this exam
ple; they resolved that the head Of our executive
department should be directly responsible. an ar
ransement salutary and indeed essential to the
Republican policy, and implying aptitude IN the
President for bis allotted work. The last Mes
sage has convinced mulhtudes that General Jack
son had, in a manner, assigned his whole trust;-
1t is a vast scheme of construction and admins
tration, to which he was not an original party
Such Of his advocates as have attempted to paint
him as an Apollo and Il Scion, in connexiOn with
much of the ridiculous into case of the gravest
national import and regret.
1t is obvious that the experiment of Presi-
dent. whose studies, attainments, intellectual
habits, and general moral temperament. were not
adapted to The office. has utterly failed and that
the individual cannot now be made competent.and
directory or primary in his sphere. The alter
native is then, the choice of another with the
quisite 9ualities--one of due promise and respon-
sibity-or persistence in an order Of things, which
conflicts with the true constitutional order, and
amounts to a new and very dangerous kind OF
government. 1t is no derosation from the mill
tary or general merits or repute of General Jack
son, to say, that he has mscarried, or disappoint
ed the expectations of large proportion Of his
friends. in an.ofice requiring accomplishments
and degree of selfcon6deuce, which he could
not possess. If we should be called to name
the character that we most admire and are inciin-
ed to love, we would designate that of a naval
officer, imbped with the spirit, and knowledge