Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-08-03
wednesday Ecessteg. tug. 4
JOHN RANDOLPH-THE STAUNTON AID.
DRESS-GEN. JACKSON

We concur with tho Political Arena, in its esti.
mate of this production. Whoever the author, it
does honor to his head and principles. He sees
clearly, and states powerfully. The Exaggerated
array OF Jacksons sins would PROSTATE him who
had committed them, but for the observation of
popular judgment by the fumes of party spirit
Every nations history has taught the lesson, that
this demon aroused is destitute of eyes to see
ears to hear, or reason to understand. 1t is the
characteristic party spirit to resist conviction with
strength proportonate to the force of the evidence
which challenges it. knowledge of this princi.
pie of human action may have encouraged the
councillors of the President to urge him upon cour-
ses, which, in more temperate imes no man could
pursue and politically survive and in fused into the
President himself the overweening persuasion that
his popularity could stand ana thing. The
danger which now, to the eye of every intelligent
man, surrounds the Government and public liberty,
is not from JAG kson-still less from the wretched
crew OF third rate, and groveing adventurers who
possess his ear and his affections, and whose little
game is altogether played for dollars and CENTS and
the vanity OF seeming importance-but it arises
from the People themselves, from the alacrity they
have discovered to be duped, the disrelsh they
nifest for truth and the public interest, when they
conflict with their attachment for favorite, and
their utter incapacity, ndsse to discriminate and
to reason from to effect. Here lies the cause
Tor apprehension. To enslave the American Peo-
pie by force or by direct means, level with their ca
paciyto see and understand them is utterly beyond
the power of world ir arms. Not in Sparta at
the Persian, in Rome at the invasion ofthe Gaus
was the love of Republican liberty more universal
than it is in the u States were tho former cities
more ready to lay down life for its defence. From
open and undisguised encroachment, there is no.
thing to fear. From besotted partality to o Chief
from federation of the most dangerous innovations
in the Constitution and action of Government, be-
cause he has introduced them-from the transfer
renee of attachment from the Government and prin-
ciples to men-from the development in this coun-
try, of the identical feeling of admiration for mill
tary fame which has subverted all predecessor Re.
publics-ths is sufficient ground Cor uneasiness to
all minds enough enlightened to reason to the fu.
ture from the past Wise John Randolph. wise
In scanning futurity! foolish often in action, pur-
sued by fatality in being made an instrument to con
summate the mischief which his sagacity alone was
penetrating enough to see in the long distance.
Mr.. Randolph opposed the war for the reason
among others, that it would divert the peoples at
tcnon from civil to military merit, their affections
tension. 1t was his glory alone to foresee and to
foretel, the melancholy change, and his fortune to
become, warped by his individual passions from
the line of duty which his presciencc had previous
ly discovered, the most efficient agent in realizing
1T. CassaDdra was merely unfortunate that others
would not believc-thc Orator of Roanoke was
criminal in aiding to accomplish his sinister vatci-
nations. But for him, will any man venture to af-
firm hiatt "a. ILL .Ist
her principles and upright in her conduct so deem
ly and thoroughly imbued with Mr.. JefIerson's and
Mr.. Randolph's own adherence of the uxta posi-.
ton OF the ePaulctte TO the mace would ever have
become party to the elevation of an ignorant and
semi-barbarous Military Adventurer7 Never
a great and mighty revolution has already been
effected by the campaigning spirit which Mr.. Ran
dolPh foresaw and dreaded a necessary conse-
qucnce of the War, III the habits of popular think
ing and acting. No longer is the upright and dis
Interested judgment of public affairs, the free and
independent criticism, the generous and manly and
deserved confidence in public men visible The
jealousy with which the march of the Government
was examined-a jealousy, the result not of want
of confidence in the integrity Of rulers but of love
Of liberty-exists no longer, or is confined I'm tho
minority. In the eyes of the mass, Jackson is the
Country, Government, and every thing worth ca
ring about, That mass, are studious not of inves-
tigating Of estimating the consequences of public
measures, but Of heapipg glory upon the name of
Jackson, and of chanting his praises. They know
no government but bim-they public moa-
suros but through the medium Of their friendly or
unfriendy influence upon him-they admit no rule
Of testing them, but as they advance injure his
election. To the violation Of every promise--to