Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-08-24
FROM MIR. SPRAGUE,S.

FROM MIR. SPRAGUE'S.
Look at the downward progress of the four last
years, ana say how much longer such u course
can no pursued before it will terminate in des.
rnctiom! Time will not permit us TO follow it in,
to detail. Let us therefore inquire at once what
Is the governing and controlling characteristics Of
tho leaders Of the dominant party.
ish not adhesion to men instead of principles?
profound regard, not for measures but for office?
devotion to Il chief, the fountain, and dis.
PcnScr OF patronage? When they contcm-
plate the fabric of FREEDOM, it is not the tenn
pic which they vcncratc, but tho gold of
the tcmpc-not the altar of Liberty, but the
gilt upon tho altar. If they continue in party
bondage is it not for the flesh pots of party? Does
any ono douh, this, ask what is the essential
qualification, thcir criterion of membership 1t is
not constitutional doctrine, for all opinions and
all constructions, the most liberal and the most ri.
gid the advocates of state rights and asscrters OF
federal suprcmacy-nullifiers and anti -nullifiers
all may be true affiliated members of the Jackson
party. 1t is not any great measure of national po-
lcy-for tariff or anti-tarf-internal impro ment
or antInternal improvcmcnt-for the Bank or
against the Bank-supporters of the Court and its
opponcnis-oll of every opinion upon any measure
may be enrolled and retained in the ranks of the
party is not the conduct and history of the past
go back to the origin, begin ab urbe condita, not
only those who sustained the Declaration of Inde-
pcHdcncc, but those who have ridculcd it as fan.
iaronadc OF nonsense;-who resisted the adoption
of our Constitutions; the enemies of tho admins
traton of the first President, who upon his retire
ncnt from the public service opposed a simple
vote of appreciation and thanks 10 the father of
his country, ono of whom now holds the first Off
cai rank in the nation, and another the highest of
hcc in the gift of the Executive. The friends and
the enemies of the older Adams-atvoca,es and
opposcrs of the alien and sedition laws-the admi
rers and rovers Of Jeflerson-tiie followers of
Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton-the support
ers OF Madison and the partizlns of Clintom-the
opponents and the advocates of the war-conven-
uonlSls and anti-convetionsts; all, all NAV be ad
united the cordial determination of the Jackson
party;-that party which sometimes arrogatcs 10
ltSeli the name oil exclusive rcpubcanism What
thenls tho essential distinctive quality which cha
TacteIlscs THIS political aSsocaton and for want of
winch sentence of accommodation is pronoun-
ccd? Is it not deuoti0n to 1nea--to n chicf-to the
patronage Of poeer-the cmOluments of office
ASK Iolndexter, and Moore, ard Hayne, and Mil
lot. Ihey were members of the fraternity
but thoy dared to vote against the Presidential ia
vOritc minister to the Court of ST James: and
forthwith. denmnciation loud and long echoed and
rnver0erated from the PARTISAN press to the extrc
mites of the Union They will tell you think
as yoa please upon principles, you will upon
measures, touch not men, touch not Executive
nominations to Office, into, fore not at your peril
with the division of ''hc SpoiLs." In tcspo,ism
tho ruler is every thing and the people nothing
In republic the people are every thing and
paid from their labors to servo their in
terests. Has not tho President seized upon
public Offices and the salaries paid from the
peoples treasury, and dispos cd of them by a sys
tenn of prescription and favortsm-romdercd in
strumental for rewarding his friends and punish
ing his enemies? To applicant for Office the
question is not what has he done for the country
but what has he done for me? not will he serve
the PEOPLE, but will lie serve the PARTY. Do
you ask for illustrations? Look through tbs land,
you will sec wings of u.s. patriots and soldiers Of
the Revolution, ardent and undertaking Democrats
of '98-thc advocates and officers of the late war
the friends OF every republican administration, are
among the prescribed and the denounced-exclu
ded from public station, denied the name of Re-
publican because they have dared to think for thom
selves i'll relation to the qualifications of candidates
for public trusts.
Do you ask for proof? Behold it here in the per.
son of this venerable and veneraed soldier of the
Revolutions the companion of Lafayette, tho
friend and compatriot of Washington, who served
the whole seven years war faithfully, devotedly,
gloriousy, now excluded from official trust by our
State Executive! What avails it, Sir, that you
achieved our indcpcndencc-that at a time which
tried mems souls you took your life in your hand
and went forth to combat against the oppressor
bidding defiance to the tremendous power of Brf
tain?
What avois it that to you and our associated "a
Tiers we owe every thing-the air of freedom
which we breathc-the soil OF liberty which we
trcad-all that we possess-al that we bope7 What
avdlIs your spotloss Iifc-your unimpaachcd integ
rlty-yonr rreproachablesfide ty-your charity to
the balance ofPariyl You served your country
but you served not the party. You bow before
yonr Maker, but you bow not down to the idol
which VIC have set up, and therefore, you may not
be trusted-you are TO be excluded from public sta
ton, and not permitted to continue in the service
of the People. And this-this is exclusive republi
caDism! From my crude to my grave have drawn
The straight line of primitive rcpubicanisIn, and O.
ver yet have departed from it--and my political
and my natural life too will be brought to close
hr hat
proscrbes the patriots of the Revolution for the ex
ercisc Of that liberty for which they fought
Is 1t not known, is it not avowed that public Of
ficcrs and the Peoples trcasury-so far at least as
1T pays the compensation to officers, held up as
prizes, rs booty to be fought for by contending par
ties? Has it not been declared in the Congress Of
the U. 5. by the leading Senator from the leading
state ut New York-that to the conquerors in our
domestic contests to DO distributed the public Of
iiccs as "thc spells of victory" and has not the
practice OF the Executive correspondent with this
doctrinc7
To the existence and discipline Of such par
ty-devotIon to mcn--to a chief, is essential
How fOrclbly is 1T exhibited in the response OF
our late Minister to the Court Of st. James, TO
Tie letter Of late Minister to his friends
IN N. York, upon his rejection by tho Senate
In reference to the part Inc had acted as Sccre.
tary of State under Gen. jackson, he adopts this
remarkable Ianggdge:-"To have serUed under
such n chief at such a time, and 10 have won
ms confluence and esteem is ? sufficient glory
sufficient glory,"--and what is il that satisfies
the high aspirations, the exalted hopes and the
elevated views of tho who stands in the
loity station of an Americon Statesman? ''To
have scrCed"-not his Country--not the repub
llc--not tho cause Of free institutions, but sun.
dcT n ch5ef,"-and "to have tooH, mot the ap
PIause OF the good and the wisc,-uot the graft
tndc oil tho nation, and Of posteritynot the conf
dence and esteem Of the people--but ofthat Chief;
this ~ the utmost horizon of his political vi
fIc &c ., ell, 4