Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-06-15


raj Jackson'S professions, with his practice
! The first me ASSURE of his administration was omi-
nous OF coming evil. large number OF faithful
and experienced officers dismissed from their
posts, without the allegation of fault, and that
too with haste which prociudcd alike all enquiry
into tho fitness OF the party dismissed, or ot the of
tccr substituted in his place. We would dwell
upon the cruel injustice Of such proceeding, if
our sympathy for these victims OF party spirit,
were not lost III wonder, at tho character of the
persons who, in many instances, were promoted at
their expense. Talents, knowledge, experience
IN public business wcrc longer received pass
ports 10 Office Personal devotion To the President.
activity in promoting the schemes of his iavurtcs,
and I willingness to adopt his views ON all subjects,
and without scruple-these were tho qualities tha,
secured his confidence. II follows necessarily,
that the whole period of his administration has
presented di>graccful and demoralzing scramble
after office, u scramble, from which is ex-
cluded bv his want Of character, in which the alb
scncc of any reputation to lose, gives to the bad
man decided advantage, and from which the car.
ly and real friends OF General Jackson soon retired
in disappointment and disgust. In such Il state OF
things, the promised reduction of the public cy-
pen iturc, the promised adherence to tho most ri.
gid economy, has become utterly impractcabc.
/ The claims upon The President for rerorG exceed
ten fold his ability pay and offices which, in tho
days of his predecessor, he pronounced useless TO
the cOUatry have now become necessary 10 the sup
port of putty. 1t has even been necessary TO
diminish the pressure OF hungry expectants by
the creation of Offices unknown tho laws OF the
/ land, or 10 the usagcs of tho government, and by
squandcr'ng larg" sums upon their support without
regular appropriations by Congress, and without
asking The advice of the Senate. By this course
dby the we'll known fact, that somo individuals
oil dishonest character, many without talents, and
large proportion without previous experience
have been called TO Office 10y President Jackson
VIC account tor the startling result, which the do
cuncntS of the present and preceding sessions of
Congress incontrovertbly prove, and which his
trends have been unable TO deny, that tl,c cxpent
lures al the Government have aiarmiugly incrcas-
Glalt tNsStr ,,ctl,,
that Department which is especially within the in
hucncc and control OF the President. Thus VIC
explain what otherwise would seem uminteg blc
that "A President who came into power under So
lcmn pledge TO relieve the Departments at Wash
ington, of large number of clerks, and other of.
icers. supposed ny him to be useless tax the
industry of the people has not suffered session of
Congress 10 20 by, without proposing and Strcnu-
ousIy urging an increase of their number. So
much for tho 5oar'cd economy of General Jackson;
so much for his promised rcncHchmcnts; much
for his rise and Gi&inicrc%tcd distribution of the
patronage of tho government.
The independence of character claimed for Cen
Jackson, has been strongly excmPlihed, by sys-
tcma'lc abandonment of every carly, and sincere
friend, who has venturcd to ntrudc upon him.
with advice or rcmoustancc, and by uncondi-
tional surrender of himself and his countrys no.
nour into the custody OF faction in whose intc
gritty the people have no confidence and whose
selfish purposes arc clearly perceived. From the
date OF this surrender, all reasonable hopes Of an
honest or prosperous, consistent admmis ra, ion
| of the Government, failed. TO this influence we
may trace long series of corrupt, and uncousttu
tiomul measures, both and open, all tending
to tho single purpose of promoting his reelection,
though contrary to his OWN voluntary pledge, and
to his once settled and declared opinion. We do
him the Justice TO believe, taal when lie announced
40 emphaticay, that President of The United
States, should under no circumstances, be re-ccct.
ed, he expressed the candid opinion Of the III omcnt.
We do him the justice 10 believe that he entered
upon the office, with sufficient conviction of his
practical untltncSS, uOt a of is
duties, to feel that retirement the end of his
term would be relief to himself and benefit TO
tho nation. But unfortunately for himself and
i"r MS rcIi friends, still moEc unEGppily FOR the
character and prospects of his country, he fell into
the snares of an artiu politician, whose vaulting
ambition, had so far ovcrlcapcd his popularity and
ms claims, TO render its qualification impossible,
/ Ivy any hut the most covert, and indirect means.
| 10 CRAFTY the ambition of Martin Van buren,, 10
open for him road TO the Presidential Chair, by
some other route than through the affections of the
! pecPIc-and TO promote the interests of faction,
closely eagued with that individual, General Jack
sen consented to fnrego pledge soemnly given.
and repeated 10 the American People, and once
more TO become candidate for the Presidency. |
with this step, his claim ia diSnercsted and pari
otto motives, his title t" the praise of neither seek
ing nor declining office, if they had existed,
ceased for ever.
The consequences of this step have been so seri
Gus, they have mingled with the clements of our
national happiness, and poisoned the of our
national honor they have varied Thc attitude of
fennsy wanna, relatively with the administration of
the General Government; they have released her
from all obligation, and deprived her of all reason
able motive, to support General Jackson; nay, they
have placed her interests and opinions in such di-
rect hostility to The feelings and designs of the
! party ascendant at Washington, that VIC cannot
pass them by without particular notice From the
/ moment it was adopted every measure of TIE Elk
ccutIve, whether relating to subject OF foreign
negotiation, of domestic policy became iinged
by its influence. The inquiry no longer was how /
the glory or well being of the country may be af- !
iected by a particular measure, what were the
CLAIMS of truth, what the obligations of Justice;
but how tar was 1t eEpedient in order conciliate
n dangerous interest, TO confirm a wavcrng party,
to silence powerful opponent, to susiain an active
parilZan, and thus the reelection of Jack
son to the Presidency, with . ran reversion to
the successor of his choice In this unworthy
spirit, and with the hope of purchasing a small
section of the Union, Minister at London wa
instructed to supplicate modification of existing
arrangements for tho Colonial Trade, as a favor
from the British King, to the American PeopIc In
tins spirit, that accommodating functinnary hum
bIed himself, the representative of his country's
dignity, to the posture Of Il pencnt and then beg
gcd from The proud monarch, whose father once
uehhIcd at The name OF Washington, act OF
grace and mercy to the President, whom hattcrv
III mood nearly allied to satire has desirnatcd MS
the SCc0Rd washington Thanks o the haste and
ignorance OF the over Jealous ambass ador; thanks
TO The adroltncSs of British diplomacy this unpa-
ralicied mcaDness has diicd OF its effect upon Tic
interests concerned. Thanks TO the American
feeling OF moicy Of the Senate, thanks to the in
uepd spirit and unhcsita,ing patriotism of lis
presiding officer, this uumanly outrage has been
molly rcvcngcd upon tho head of its contrivcr
The conduct of the general government towards
!bc Cherokee Indians and the unfortunate mission
ares resident among them, may Lc traced to tho
same cause; to the same cold bloolcc adherence t
RI lin i,..t