Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-07-27

| Mars Hill and some other unheard of Mace
in Maine. and containing a variety of pro-
visions, in and of other improvements, ofas
little celebrity and utility. Without as
sertlng or denying the constitutional right OF
the general government TO take cognZance
OF Tins subject, 1T may with propriety be af.
hrmed that the policy of the Executive, for
The time being, in relation TO constitutional
doctrines at least, should be fixed and set
tled-because, if the constitutionality of laws
Is TO be determined by any fluctuating stand
ara, there must OF necessity be much use
less Legislation, much needless excitement.
and much gross Partially in the appropria-
ton OF the public revenue. And il will not
De deemed Too harsh TO say, that when law
is to-day pronounced unconstitutional by the
President and another, identical in princi-
| pie and similar in detail is tomorrow pro-
nounced constitutional, such contradictory
course must proceed either from lamentable
ignorance, or something worse. In relation
to the present incumbent, this ground NAV
be assumed without offence even TO those
who sincerely believe him TO be an honest
man; because ii is readily conceded, that,
although he may WELD the pen which gives
validity 10 one law and renders another n
nulllty, he is impelled TO this course bv ga
power behind the throne, greater than the
throne ltself''-a gigantic shadow, palpable
neither 10 sight nor touch, but whose bane-
!ul influence is felt in every corner of the
| land
| When General jackson was candidate
for the Presidency in 1928, in opposition 10
John Quincy Adams, he emphatically de-
clared that no individual ought to be twice
elected 10 fill that ofIice-a sentiment that
was echoed and re-echoed by his friends
from one extremity of the Union to the 9th
err, as an evidence of his devotion to the car
dinal principles of the Republican party of
1871 one of which principles was s'ire-
| quent rotation In Office" Ii is well known
that the enunciation of this sentiment was
not without MS effect it won many partiZans
TO the standard OF Gen. jackson, who vainly
dreamed that the doctrines of '9S were
about to be revived under the auspices of a
'Fsecond Jefferson! But he was elected
he tasted OF the sweets of power-and 10
"A change come DER the spirit of his
dream ~
In defiance of his pledge to retire from office
at The emu OF one term, and as if in solemn
mockery OF his recommendation TO amend
| the Constitution in such manner as TO re-
strict ms successors by this limitation, he is
a candidate for reelection and not reluc-
tant candidate, constrained TO occupy that
position by the affectionate entreaties of a
coniding people-but voluntarily a candi-
date-and, even worse than that, nominated
by the Legislature Of powerful Common
wedith,l IN obedience TO the solicitations OF his
nephew and confidential Secretary, commit
| ntcdted 10 q member of that 6Odv IN letters
JrGnEed by The President himself!
Nor is General jackson cOnttnted 10 plan
schemes for the promotion OF his own ambi-
tlous views. Mr.. Van Buren,, the arch-in-
trigucr, TO whom may be attributed MANY
OF the alterations of Gen. jackson himself
the man whose nomination TO a hioh of .
flee was recently rejected by the most dir
niiied body ofmen in the world, majority of
whom were his political associates-the man
whose reputation is so odious that his nomi-
nation as ice President has already created
a schism in the party of which he aspires TO
be the head and leader-this man, hy prac-
ticing The seryile arts of the courtier, has OBJ
tained an ascendancy over Gen. jackson.
the dcleterious effects of which have long
been visible, and will be felt, if not speedily
arrested by the defeat of both, for years to
| come lie must, indeed, he blind who does
not see that the whole policy of General
jackson, and OF those who are supposed 10 be
most conversant with his views and TO speak
his sentiments, is directed steadily 10 the adj
5ancement of one object and that object is
The election ofMartin Van Buren, as his sue
cessQr. Strange indeed, that one who is so SEN
| stlvely alive 10 the "freedom of elections /"
should not only exert the patronage of the
government, but even bend the interests oftbe
country, TO promote the elevation Of the court
taUorite TO the Presidency, after the purple
shall have lost all charms for himself, or shall
| have bppn placpl bnvOn6 hIs raorIt
The course pursued by General Jackson
in relation TO the Tariff laws, is likewise a
strong evidence of his disposition 10 pater
with the people in double sense With
out pretending 10 express any opinion with
regard TO the constitutionality or expedien-
cy ofihe Protective System, we do contend
| that, on question Of such vital importance
the sentiments ola candidate for the high Of
| fee of President should not be matter of spec
ulation and doubt If they be so, after he
has had opportunities making them known
! IL is confirmation strong as proof of HOLY
Writ, that his designs are purely selfish and
-patriotic-that the end he aims at is his
own aggrandizement, and not the good oil his
country. Gen Jackson has bad opportuni-
ties afforded him Of revealing lis opinions TO
The people, both before and since his election
to the Presidency. But he has taken care
to deal in generaliles Acknowledging that
he is in favor ola '.iudicious," tarif,-a term
very jUdiciously selected, it will be admit
ted, when we reflect that it accords as we'll
with the views Of the Pennsylvania prohibit
ZIONIST as the free trader Of South Carolina
Yet, this is not the worst feature orbis con
duct since, although the word was wisely
chosen, il may have been done so. without
any design on the part Of the President 10