Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-06-05

To The YouSG Mas OF rrE u. STATES:
More than three hundred of your young fellow
citizens, Delegates from seventeen States and the
District OF Columbia, assembled in convention at
the city of Washington, ask your attention to
subject OF the greatest Importance to you to our.
selves, and To common country. The selection
al our rulers is ever matter OF high interest,
the uubcst privilege Of free people; but il becomes
especially when on il may depend, in the pre-
crisis the safety of our Constitution, and the
permanency of our Union. Two individuals are
before you prominent candidates for the
highest office in your gift. Let us examine for
moment their several publications.. The first is
ANDREW JACKSON, the present incumbent,
elected but three short years since by triumphant
majority Fresh from the battle field, with llurcls
yet untadod; unbiased, was su supposed by par
" feeling; uutrancled Ivy pre- conceived systems of
policy; Inc was fondly hailed, who would
form every abuse III Governments: restore insti-
tutons to moro than their pristine purity; and ruo
solely for the good of his country. Four objects
no was especially pledged TO accomplish To re-
ducc the expenses OF Government; to abolish the
practice OF appointing members of Congress 10 Of
fee; to restrict the Presidential service TO Il single
term; and to destroy tho "Monstcr, Party Spirit"
And surely never was there more favorable oppor-
tunity of rcdecmng such pledges. Coming into
power with Il personal popularity almost unequal
led, and at i time when the country was prosper
Gus at homo and respected abroad, harmonious in
Itself, and at peace with the world, he had every
induccmcnt to carry into effect his favoritc theories.
But how has he performed these promises. Let
facts answer. An increase in the expenditures of
Government, amounting, during the three years of
his administration, to more than ten millions of dol.
lars; the appointment of nineteen members of Con
grcss to office, more than twice the number appoint
ed by any OF his predecessors; his appearing not
merely Il candidate,-but a supplicant for
unuancc in office; these alone sufficient to show
the nsinccrty OF his pledges, and also how fragrant
ly he has disappointed the hopes Of his country
lis true he has destroyed party spirit it former.
ly eSlstcd-a contest for principles; but has been
only To revive 1t with spirit purely scsh-a spi-
tI,.t1 1l-.t ~,
knowledgcs principles but his will. An entire
subservency to this will, however capracous and
tyranncal, has now become the sole qualification
for office; and without it, the united virtues and
wisdom of an archangcl would be wholly unavail-
ing. Near fifteen hundred victims have already
been sacrificed on its Mcloch altar No qualfca-
tons, services, could save them Those whose
long and unrcmttcd attention to official duties had
disqualified them from engaging in other pursuits,
were not merely driven into beggary, but insued,
revilcd, and prosecuted by the hiring ministers of
his vengeance, merely because they could not be-
lieve, and would not declare, ANDREW JACKSON TO
be the Greatest and the Best" of men. Even
the hoary veterans Of the Revolution, who derived
from some petty appointment the means of subsist-
cnce, (Which grateful country should have afford
cd in some more ample mode turned out of
Office to hide their pcnurv in a welcome grave
The late Postmaster General, of the most eai-
cicnt officers ever possessed by any Government,
for refusing 10 become an instrument in this ruth
less prescription, Mas driven from the station he
had filled with such honor 10 himself and his coun-
try, to make room for tool power.
Let us next what has been the course of &C.
neral Jackson in relation TO the important fea-
lures OF our national policy. Is there man from
Maine to Florida, who knows his real sentiments
with respect TO those great interests of country
-internol improvement and the protection of do
nestle lEGGstry-or is there enc, who regards his
retSItaSsGS Tor yeracIiy, who can venture TO affirm
that he has any settled policy these Subjects
further than Il determination to render them sub
scrvlent to his darling project of securing his own
reelection, or OF smuggling his wiley tavoritc into
power! At one moment the South is 10 be gained,
and the Executive veto is employed to stop I'M
portant work of internal improvement. AT the
next the North is 10 be cOnciiacd and he sanctions
other works OF precisely the character. On
one day he is friend of the Tariff, and ready
enforce ii at every hazard; the next he advises
10 attack it III detail, at& destroy by piecemcal.
Thus, while he alarms all interests, he satisfies
none; for, while the Northern manufacturers are
aware, that to the vote of the South could
that elect him) he would be willing to reduce their
flourishing manufactures to ruins; the Southern
planters may be equally certain, that, to gain the
object from the North, he would not hesitate
to load them with taxes far more grevuus than
those of which they complain. On one branch
OF policy alone, has Cen Jackson been consistent.
His opposition TO the United States Bank, urged,
again and again, with such zeal and perseverance,
in despite of his constitutional advisers and political
friends, may indeed be regarded proceeding from
fixed opinion, rather from blind hatred to the
institution, stronger than any opinion, originating
institution. 1t is true that, alarmed at the consc-
quences of his opposition, he has lately intimated
that he may change his opinions this subject;
but who, that understands the character of the
man, can be so infatuated to imagine he will?
We have yet graver charges to urge against the
present Administration. The public press, once
considered the palladium of our liberties has as
far the OF the Executive would allow |
been bought up, and rcdercd more instrument to
answer his purposes. Editors, almost nnumerabe |
have been rewarded, or purchased with the highest
Offices In his glt and hundreds of pensoncd presses
scattered throughout the land stand ever ready to
do his bidding 10 laud his viicst acts; to backcu
the reputation of those he NAV wish to nure; and
to weaken, and if possible, to destroy the co.
ordinate branches of Government. And these |
branches have been attacked in a manner which |
shows these hrcing presses ready to assist their
master i'll grasping even arbitrary power, and in |
Frustrating at his feet all who oppose his will
The Senate, with manly independence rejects |
an unworthy nomination, and it is at once assailed
from every quarter, with cpithets foul to be me-
'""d by any but those who them. The official |
organ rs the Executive will, darcs orcn to propose
10 inc American people, TO abridgc its term of SER
vice, and strip 1T d It's powers
Inc supreme Court OF the United states too in |
Inc discharge OF It's highest, its hottest duties
thwarts the Executives pleasure, and INSTANTLY in
answer to the angry dcnunciatiuns of the ,youd lao
dcsPot, tbs adder hiss of the press rcsound hroupb
out the land Its dccrccs not to be enforced
its power is to be set at defiance
But these are not the only acts of his mal-Ad.
ln'nIstratlon The officers of Government created
by the people tor their benefit have as one of
his friends on the floor of the Senate shanicles.Iv
aVowed been seized upon ''thc spoils of the vic
tor" and openly used as brides and rewards for
partisan services.
Persons grossly and VIGOROUSLY incompetent and
nnht--the dctaultcr, the drunkard, the debauchce
and even the fugitive icon, have been nominated
Tor important stations; and when the Senate b,s