The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-09-26
From the National Intelligencer.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.-No.

fhESlDElN lAL ELCC ION.-NO. ,.
q When the mariner has been tossed for many days.
in thick tceathtr, and on an unkno,cn sea, he
naturally aUaiis himself of the first pause in the
storm, the earliest glance of the sun, TO take has
latitude and ascertain hotc far the elements haze
driren him from his true course. Let ,ts initiate
This prudence and before zoe float farther, refer
to the point from trhich zoe DEPARTED that ,ce
may be at least able to conjecture tchere zoe
noi1 are"
In the survey Of the past course of the admins
tration of the Government undar General Jackson
we have seen the sort Of REFORM with which it
begun, and continued for two years. We have
seen, too, that before tie expiration of two years,
General Jackson declared himself to be candi-
date for reelection to the Presidency, within no
longer space than few short weeks after he had
proclaimed, in a solemn Message to Congress,
that, in his opinion no person ought to serve in
that station for more than one term: We say, he
declared himself to be candidate, because he al
lowed the journal established under his patronage,
and avowedly speaking by his authority, to an
nounce him candidate for reelection. To this
purpose, henceforth, every other consideration was
10 be made to yield. The President had, under
cover of clause Of the Constitution, never in
tended for that purpose. taken upon himself a
a,ge portion Of the Legislative authority, and had
declared his independence of the Judiciary. The
next step was to seek to prolong the power of his
party by his own reelection for another term, and
still further to extend by himself designating his
successor All these things not discernble
to US at least at the time Of which we speak, but
have gradually disclosed themselves as the adyanc-
ing day has thrown light upon them.
In consequence of its want of ductility, or its
supposed devotion to Mr.. Calhoun, with whom the
President was now at open variance, the U. S.
Telegraph, the first recognized organ Of the Exec
utve, having lost the confidence of the President,
a new Journal was established, to which the coun-
tenance of the Executive was unreservediy given.
In the first month of its existence, this new organ
az a factions proceeding q of
Committee of Congress, in exact conformity to the
Presidents recommendation, Of an amendment to
the Constitution to prohibit the reelection of tho
President for second term. The introduction
into Congress at that time of such proposition
though it had been just before fer the second time
earnestly recommended by the President, was ga
zetted (about the 18th Of January, 1881 by the
new Official, as an odous, unjust, and pro-
scriptive measure, intended only to drive Old
Hickory from the field" Through the same chan
mel the Public was appraised, on the 22d of the same
month, by permission Of the President, that if it
should be the will of the Nation 10 call on the
President TO serve second term in the Chief
Magistracy, he will not decline it." The Presi-
dent thus placed himself before the Public in the
attitude Of a candidate for reelection.
The second session of Congress had scarcely ter
minated when il was discovered that personal dis
cord existed in the Cabinet, though entirely har.
monious to public measures, to such an extent
that the President found it necessary to dissolve il
griefs of the several parties we shall not revive
the particulars 1t is sufficient for our purpose I,
state the fact of the dissolution of the Cabinet
and advert to some of the circumstances connect
ed with it which we're at the time compara tivel,
little noticed
In the first place, the fact came out that it wa
the Presidents friends in the Cabinet that advise
the dissolution of it, in order to strengthen tn
hands of the President, or the Party. Thus in III
Official Paper, the dissolution of the Cabinet wa
spoken of MAY A. as that general movemer
which the Presidents best and most disntereste
friends in the Cabinet thought a necessary sacr
fee to the unembarrassed action Of his admns,r:
ton" Neither of the three removed officers, it
clear, suggested this movement, for it came upo
them like clap Of thunder 1t was therefore Nj
| Van Buren, and Mr.. Eaton who advised il.
In the next place, let US see the ground assign
ed by MIR. Van Buren, for his own resignation
We quote from his Letter to the President :
From the moment of taking my seat in your Cal
met, IT has been my anxious wish and jealous en-
deavor to prevent a premature agitation Of III
| question Of YOUR SUCCESSOR and, at all event,
to discountenance, and if possible to repress, tn
disposition at an early day manifested, to connec
MY name with that disturbing topic" " Circum
stances, not Of my creation, and altogether beyon
my control, have given to this subject turn, whic
cannot now be remedied, except BY sELF-pis
rRAScHIsEMIsr," &c If the language has an