Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-21
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FoR THE WlitG.


Indicate the approach of close and severe con
test. This state of things is ra pdly succeeding
tn The deepest calm that the political world has
ever known; calm arising not SO much from
sliisfa ction at the conduct of our rulers as from
the exhaustion consequent upon the fury of the
last Presidential canvass Every man has he
Come more or less Disguised with the unnatural
violence which disgraccd that momen,ous per,
Cd Ftcnds have become recuncilcd 80 friends,
neighbors have made peace with their ne,uhbors,
and brothers, ashamed of the unnatural Guarrcls
which caused each house tn be divided aoainst
rscif, have returned into the embrace of their
brothers. with a tervour he, oh, ened by that ac
ccssion OF affection which temporary in,crrup-
ton of friendly Intercourse never fails to pro
ducc. The politician in vain harangucs upon
the situation OF The country, and the danger of
the Constitution; the editor i'm vain deprecatcs
EASTERN TYRANNY, existing at the seat Of Go
vcrnment. They turn deaf ear to both; and
fearful of the recurrence of that state of things
which formerly produced so many unpleasant
feelings, they content themselves with awaiting
suplncly the result OF circumstances and the is
su" which time may produce.
From torpor SO sweet, and yet so fatal to the
health OF our institutions, it is time that the pco-
pie should be reused; it is time that they should
again be apprised of the critical situation in
winch our Constitution is placed by the intrgues
OF demagogucs, and the violence of despot; it
is time that they should begin to ret.c, seriously,
whether 1t is safe or expsdient to permit those
demagogues, and that despot, to continue their
career OF fraud and violence, or to strike the
sccptre from their grasp, and place it in ADLER
and more faithful hands Such are the consid-
crations that should occupy the serious moments
of every man who is DESTROYS of being consider
cd friend TO lis country, and an enemy to tv-
| ranny. The busy, busling scenes of a canvass
are indeed injurious 10 the cause Of freeGom.-
Fraud is but too npt to supply the place of force
| nr no. po Ippt fDn nm
ploy the latter. But there is nothing so fatal to
| the very name of liberty as the sulen unruf
| lied calm OF despotism, where the rodoubts of
| the Constitution too strong TO be taken, by a
| COUP DE MAIN, are subjected to n course of
| sapping and mining, slow in its progress, bu,
certain OF It's ends. Let not the friends of free
dom indulge in the hope that the present calm is
more than hollow ami deceitful truce; let them
not believe otherwise than that the Constitution
is already undermined, the train laid, the match
in prepar alton, and that some moment when the
event appears most likely, they may see the hul-
warks of liberty blown into the air. Our ty-
| rants will never resort TO the open method of
reducing us TO obedience by blows. They will
not undertake TO torture or bodies, coniiscate
our property, or bring necks to the block
They want the power, and trust, for the honor of
human nature, the WILL also, nct injuries of so
deadly nature. A direct and open attack upon
the Constitution is neither to be expected nor
dreaded. The spirit of the people would imme-
diately take fire; one wide confla grafton would
soon extend from Maine to Florida, and our per-
secutors would be among the first to perish in the
flames they had themselves imprudently kindled.
But there arc other ways fatal, though not so
pdlpoblc, of destroying the effects, and corruptng
the fountain ofberty. The ship is seldom i'm da IN
ger when the coast is visible on hor leo bow. Ii
| is concealed breakers and secret quicksands that
are most adverse to her safety. When Prcs-
don't resorts to the method of rewardng the instru
ments of his elevation of furnishing those who have
| n m tn htnl
fled as another, of corrupting the press, of black
ening the reputation of those whom he has DESTROY
ed to Justify their destruction, of ging all
! manner of hagtiossness by bestowing immense re-
wards on such of his partizans have boon guilty
of it, of suppres=ing free expression of opinion
by threatening those within his power, then are We
justified in believing that that President is secretly
bent on. exhaustlng the yigor and sappipg the
foundations of the Constitution; that he is utterly
regardless of means, provided the end be his own
elevation, and that he is continually attacking the
spirit, though he may not think his strength suffi
Gent to essay an attempt upon the substance OF
| that sacred instrument.
That such has been the Of Gen. Jackson,
few men, unbiased by the prejudices, or uninfiu.
enced by the hopes, of party, will venture deny
The last Presidential canvass was one Of the most
singular "moral spectacles," TO a phrase fresh
from the mint of Jacksonsm, ever exhibited before
people, the very essence of whose Constitution is
liberty. There was no contest for princple-no
| struggle Tor doctrnes-no question of political in
|
| OF tho rival candidates were the same-thc prnci-
pies of could not be assailed without also at
| lacking the doctrines of the other. The contest
thcn was narrowed down TO struggle for power;
ana, as all contentious ere most violent where the
cause OF quarrel is least, country wore the ap-
pcarance ofa State the verge of civil war An.
peas to the passions, the prejudces and the inter
est OF men, kept the whole community in state of
| violent and unnatural excitement. Success is not
always on the side of Justice, and, accordingly the
r.. wn yprfh rpu, h
successful rival occupied his seat and he himself
pursued by the malignity of press that found no
apology Tor his conduct in the difficulties of his ST.
tuaion, no palliation for his offences in tho great
mes ness OF MS former services, no cemmseraton for
MS ieeIiDgs In the modification Of defeat, sought
In the shades Of retirement that balm to his'wound
ed feelings which the splendors Of Office had failed
TO afford. No monarch, flushed with victory at
the mead OF mighty and inyincibe army, in full
possession of rival territories ever proceeded to
| divide the conquered lands among his mercenary
| adherenls with more insolcnce and deberation
tnan the successful candidate displayed in his divi-
sIon OF tho Presidential spoils among his favortcs
worm competency and every consideration which
should have influence in favor of an applicant for
ONCE, became mere words, subjecting their owner
10 the derision of the Jacksonians. The most
abandoned profgate was Of his reward, pro-
Sioed ne brought authentic testimonials of his zeal
Ior the Hero That Hero established around him a
! SORT OF feudatorcs, whose reward was invariably
ProPortloned to the extent of their services The
principles he had professed previous to his eIeya-
uon were treated with as little ceremony as the in
cumoent enemies whom he found enjoying the
enolumcnts Of the several Offices within the reach
OF nus power. One, and one alone, was Invariably
adhered to; that of "rewarding his friends and
Punishing his enomcs," which his adherents loudly
proclaimed would be the rule of his conduct.
IL is curious to contrast General Jackson's views
with tho practice of President do While his blood
was yet warm with the late contest he detained
against the corruption existing at the Scat of Co