Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-01-05

done by himself that should tend to re-


vive them. He bad given ON public oc-
casions, opinions on oints of administra-
ton which-howcyer N the time incor-
rcctIy applicd-wouia have served eX.
cellcntly well as guides for his own con-
duct IN office, and il vas perhaps not ur-
reasonable to hope hs actions would cor
respond, in some imperfect degree at least,
with his previous p.olessionS. lad this
been the case, his administration would
have given complete satisfaction 10 the
country. Whether It's complete and ac-
knowlcdgcd failure has been owing 10 de-
tccts III his own character, or to the in
huence of evil counsclS ON his mind and
measures, is point which it is unncces-
sary, and would be ungratciul To discuss.
We should regret to visit with too severe
censure the last days of one, VIII" IN IL
mother line of duty has done the state mu, h
service, and whom nothing but the i'm
prudence of inludicious friends, or rather
the efforts ofpolitical parinans, who ionnd
it convenient to make use OF his name and
popularity for their own selfish purposes,
has prevented from going down TO pos
terty with high military rcpuiaii1n,aGd
filling an honorable place in our history.
We are rather willing to believe that plac-
cd in situation for which he was by d
uca,ion s character totally unfi,wurn out
bytols, infirmnics & the natural progress
OF age, he acted under Influences which,
morally speaking, he could not well con
troll. However this may be, it is certain
that the expectations aud hopes which
some persons may have brcu disposed TO
indulge Of the success Of his adininstra-
ton, have been 81 gnally diSappoinicd ard
that his failure has been more complete
than even his enemies could have posi-
bly, anticipated. The political history OF
the Urion for the last three wears. eNhlb-
its a series Of measures plainly dictated
in all their principal features hy blind GU
pidity or vindic.Ive party spIrIt, marked
| throughout by disregard lor good poll
! cy, Justice, and every high and generous
/ sentiment, ald terminating IN disSolu-
ton OF the cabinet under circumstances
more scandalous than any o' the KIND to
be met with III the annals oi the civilized
/ world. The voluntary dissolution of the
/ cabinet authorizes the remark which We
! have made above, that the Igilure OF the
administration of General jackson was
not only signal and complete, but acknowl-
! edged; and it is remarkable that after tins
public Acknowledgement of his lncapaci-
,ty to execute the duties OF his Office,
| through agents appointed by himself, even
! to his own satisfaction, he should deem It
/ expedient to offer his services 10 the na-
ton for second term.
/ The first official act Of the President
indicated, in striking and painful man
ner, in how small a degree any favorable
anticipations that might have been form
ed of his conduct were likely to be reaIl-
zcd. We allude to his Inaugural Ad-
dress to the People, in which he levci!cd
4 against the administrator Of his prcde
cessor a sweeping charge OF mcdpaci;y
! and corruption. A charge OF Incapaciiy
. to conduct the civil affairs oi the country,
! preferred by Andrew Jackson against
! such men as Mr.. Adams, Mr. Clay, ana
their distinguished colleagues III oihce,
was of course merely ludicrouS; but the
| imputation of corruption was oi more
serious character. Had there been The
! least foundation for it in fact, II is obvious
| that the last person who ought to have
made it his business to dcnounce II To the
.public was the President of the United
States. who has no other constitutional
/ agency i'm regard to such offences buttht
bower of pardon The indecorum OF tins
! denuncation was hardly less glarlng that
its essential injustice, and can only be
:. rarallelcd by that of the subsequent de-
, nunciation Of the same administration, Oh
/, the same authority, to foreign govern
mcnt
This proceeding awakened in the mn'
of every good citizen very painful lore
bodinrs as TO the consequences whicl
, were to follow upon such commence
: mcnt =,
, These forcbodings were too soon rcai
lied. The next act ofthc administrator
was n general removal OF such OF the pup
, lie agents as were not recommended ny
{ attachment to the person or parry oi 'ne
President. The extent to when 'his sys
tenn was carried is strikingly evinced ny
the fact, that within monlh a''cr tie III
aururation of General jackson, more
ncrsons were removed from office than
t dur;pc the whole forty years that had C.
= lonscd since the adoption of the constl'
| ,u,;on The motive which led to thus pol
e icy is illustrated by the fact that 1t was
nnp,icd principally in states where the
/ majority Of the people were opposed t'
: the administration, while in the other
: there were comparatively few removals
n Such was the practical comment on th'
$ text or the Inaugural Address which dc
e nounocd the preceding administration u
: having brought the patronage oi the gov
f ernment into conflict with the purity {