Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-04-10

faI in progress of time, to ombltcr our social rc
atlons, and destroy the government, ii once adopt
cd as OF general applicationl
OF the vast body Of active and ambitious aspi
rants for public Office and public distinction. in
country like the United States, comparative few
only, can obtain thcm.--lhc OUTS OF this class
must always greatly outnunGcr tie ms. Jho
objects Of ambition with one can best Toe obtained
by diSpoSscssn@ those of the other, IN the enjoy
ncnt of them. Or, in other words let the rc-c'o 1
ION of President Jackson he prevented, and the of
hccS OF all who support him are to lac mode the
SPoi!," to reward his riciOrio"s opponents. VIII
the contest he of the character that n would
were the question one of general principles, as for
Instance, tariff and auti-tariit? Can those III office,
who feel their bread stakcd the issue, act from
pubile prlnciplcsl Can the mercenary, whose eye
Is Fixed solely the ''Sp0itS Of rictDfy" conduct
the controversy in spirit other than one rcsem-
oiln% Too much the prowlcr for prey! Ii, III TINS
city, we should have some dozen, more or less,
who, IN case OF JackSou's defeat have set apart
for themselves the Post Office, the Land Offices,
thc Surveyor Generals Office, the Collectors OF
nee, can THEY feel otherwise tow ards the incum-
DehlS imam as victims to be sacrificed tor THEIR
aggranGiZcmcnt? and feeling so, can THEY meet
and associate with them rs friends, ,vitiC.
OF inc sensations, which disturb even the assassin
IN the presence of he has marked for dcstruc-
ton! III the incumbcnts conscious that the
defeat OF Jackson sets mark upon them, and de-
iN':s their occupation and means of obtaining
bread 'SfolL' to some neil hbor of the success
tai party, can they minglc in the society of their
opponents, untouched by the lonthings that rise in
mems minds, when in the society of those they
believe TO be plotting their destruction? Can they
fa to suspect that almost every opponent OF as
prlng talent, stands, to them, in the relation of
rival, and IA secret enemy? 1t seems me that it
Is thus that the incumbcnts and the real and sup
posed candidates must feel: and does this nfusc
destructive poison into the very source of our so.
cal rclationsl
IL Is well known, that, in periods and crcum-
stances OF great extremity, the selfish principle in
man becomes all predominant and renders him
wage and fierce to desperation. 1t seems to me.
That most men in public employ, when they look
upon dependent families, and sensible that their
bread is to be taken from them ''sPoII" for the
victorS, in election for the President must feel
somewhat of this savage an fierce spirit rise in
theIr minds. They may qucll it, or in the effort
TO do so, they may out their lives, did TIFF.
I'm and Barley, and the fact in either case may he
forgotten by the many. Yet i; sinks deep into
The hearts of the sufferers, to he awakened
Geance at future day, when an opportunity is OF.
tered. III man scducc his nciuhhor's son, ser
want, or apprentice, from his employ. the law gives
hIn an action, and awards him compensation. If
one SANDER another in his trade or profession, lie
has like redress: hut If upon a change of poti.
cal parties, one ncighhor dcSpnH another of the
public employment by which his wife and child.
rem SubSI>ted, the "Spop is lawful Nay, moro, it
may hDHOr0biy be demanded. hOnOrnbty award
cd honorabLy seized, and the dispoiled victim has
not even claim upon public sympathy! | never
can believe that IL is sound safe doctrine. The
code OF modern warfare amongst civilized nations.
no longer allows the rictOr to make a "SpOil' of the
private property of individual enemies. In DAYS
OF barbariSrn, this allowable now il is secuted
and abhorred. And can it be, that this reprobatcd
exploded practice of barbarc days and savage m.
tons, may be properly introduced into the party
conflicts for political power, in free and crligh-
cncd, and christian country? | cannot think so.
On the contrary, | would fam public indig.
nation against it, wherever, wh"usoevcr, or NV
whomsoover ii is avowcd practised.