Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-31

of his administration, betraying want Oh u"'J
Of design, and evincing contrariety OF purpose
necessarily consequent upon the variant ana III
some Instances contradictory opinions OF tne IN
dividuas who. at different periods, have onlc'at'
ed as his confidential advisers. Thus, at one Pc
Rod, he ahxes his veto to bill aPproPr'a'ins
sum of money to aid in the construction OF
road between Maysvie and Lexington, in Ken
lucky. on the ground of its unconstitutionaiity;
and. AT another, he approves and signs another
bull. making appropriations for the repair OF a
road between Mars Hill and some other unheard
of place IN Maine, and containing variety oil
provisions, in aid of other improvements, OF as
little celebrity and utility. Without asserting
or DENYING the constitutional right OF the gene
| raj government to take cognizance OF this SUD-
iect, It may with propriety be affirmed that the
policy of the Executive. for the time being, In
relation to constitutional doctrines at least,
should be fixed and settled-because. u the con-
su,utionaIity of laws Is 10 be determined by any
fuctuarlng standard, there must of necessity be
much useless legislation, much needless excite.
ment, and much gross partiality in the approprla-
ton Of the public revenue. And it will not be
deemed too harsh to say, that when law Is to-
day pronounced unconstitutional by the Presl-
dent, and another, Identical in principle, and ST.
milar in detail, is tomorrow pronounced consul
tutional, such contradictory course must pro-
coed either from lameniable ignorance. or some
thing worse. In relation to the present incum'
bent, this ground NAV be assumed without oifence
even to those who sincerely believe him TO De an
honest man: because il is readily conceded, that.
although he may WELD the pen which gives vail
dity 10 one law and renders another nudity. he
is imp.lled to this course by "a power behind
the throne greater than the throne itself'-a si-
santc shadow. papable neither 10 sight nor touch,
but whose baneful influence Is felt in every cor
ner Of the land.
When Gen. Jackson was candidate tor the
Presidency in 1928, in opposition to Jno Quincy
Adams. he emphatically declared that no Indlvl-
dual ought to be twice elected to fill that ofhCe
"a sentiment which was echoed and re -echoed
by his friends, from one extremity OF The Union
to the other, as an evidence of his devotion to
the cardinal principles of the Republican party
of ISOl.-one of which principles was " ire
Uueut rotation in Office" 1t is we'll known that
.he enunciation of this sentiment was not without
its effect: it won many partIzans to the standard
oil Gen. Jackson, who vainly dreamed that the
doctrines of so were about 10 be revived, under
the auspices of "a second Jefferson! But he
was eected-he tasted of the sweets oil power
aud 10!
a change came DER the spirit of his DREAM"
In defiance of the pledge to retire from office
at the end of one term, and as it in solemn mock
ery of his recommendation to amend the constl-
tuition in such manner a. to restrict his success.
sUrs bv this limitation, he Is candidate Tor re-
election: and not reluctant candidate. con.
strained to occupy that pns.!nn by the affection
ATE entreatics OF a COAT l'as peopr-bnt voun-
tari, a canddate-and. even worse than that,
nominated by the Legislature of a powerful Com
mnnweallh. in obedience TO the solicitations OF
! his nephew and confidential Secretary. .On,mu.
nicaiei n member OF that boty in letters frank
Ell by The President himself!
! MI is Gen. a,k.sn contcnted to plan schemes
: for the promotion of his own AMBITIOUS views
Mr.. Van Barren, the arch-intrisuer. To whom may
be attributed many of the alterations os Gen.
jacks himself-the man whose nomination 10
: a hish otfi,e was recently rejected by the most
disnified body of men in the world. majority OF
whom were his political associates-the man
whose reputation is so otllOus that his nomina.
ton as Vice President has already created a
schlsm m the party of which he aspires to be the
head and Ieadcr-this man, by practising the SER
vile ats of the courtier, has obtained an ascen-
dancy over Gen. jackson, the deIeterous effects
of which have long been visible, and viii be felt,
if not speedily arrested by the defeat of both for
years to come lie must indeed be blind, VIM
does not see that the whole policy OF Gen. Jack.
son, and of those who are supposed to be most
conversant with his views and to speak his senti.
ments, is directed steadily to the advancement
Of one object,-and that object is the election Of
Martin Van Buren, as his successor. Strange,
indeed, that one who is sensitively alive to the
freedom of elections" should not only exer,
the patronage of the government. but even bend
the policy Of the country, TO promote the eleva.
ton of the Court favorite, to the Presidency, az
ter the purple shall have lost all charms for him.
self, or shall have been placed beyond his reach.
The course pursued by Gen. Jackson, in rela.
ton to the Tariff Laws, is likewise strong evi.
dence Of his disposition to palter with the people
in double sense. Without pretending to- ex.
press any opinion with regard to the constitutions
atty or eyprdieucy of the Protective System, we
do contend. that, on question of such vital im-
portance, the sentiments of candidate for the
high office of President should not be matter Of
speculation and doubt. II they be SO, after he
has had opportunities Of making them known. it
is confirmation, strong as prcofo Holy Writ.''
that his designs purely selfish and anti-patrl.
otc--that the end he aims at is his own asgran-
q g E,n