Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-06-22
SPECTATOR.


very good figure, but a very bad application.
With much more propriety we might ask,
what would be thought ola Farmer who re-
tanned in his employ servant who is not only
incompetent but who has broken everyprom-
Use he ever made him, misused his goods, and
perverted the power with which he was tenn
porarily clothed 10 the oppression of his fell
low-servants and the corruption of their
morals; 10 the rewarding of favorites and
punlShng Of those who would not be made
he instruments of his ambition? That this
has been the case with President jackson,
we can show by something more real than
the rickety assertions which a Mountain Boy
employs TO bolster up his hypothesis that the
General is ga capable, faithful and honest
servant" In doing so too, we are pleased
that we shall have at least the appearance of
gratifying the curiosity of the "Boy," as he
says | would like TO know what malver-
Satlons our President has done )" and he holds
out the idea, moreover of amendment,
should he be convinced the cold chief has
acted improperly. But in this, we con-
Tess, we have little confidence. "Mr. Clay
and his deluded parasites ''-"the table ora
tor, and his infatuated satellites"-are phra-
ses which show that the mire from which he
croakes in his own chosen bed, and that he
TO be convinced of error, but that he feels
privileged TO insult all who may differ from
him.
The next question which the Mountain
Boy asks-evidently with an air of tr-
umph-is-'Ha he (Jackson) inundated
the country with blood and carnage, as was
predicted i'll the event of his election by the
veracious soothsayers?" Now we would
ask him who it that made this predic-
lion Is il not Benton's prophecy which
the boy has got wrongly into his head? If
so, we can tell him it is fulfilled-the times
are full ofits illustration. Col. Benton said
''If Gen. Jackson shall be elected, he will
surround himself with pack Of political
bull dogs, to bark at all who dare TO oppose
his measureS.-For myself, as cannot think
oflegisating with brace of pistols in my
belt, shall, in the event of the election of
Gen. jackson, resign my seat in the senate,
as every independent man will have to do,
or risk his life and honor"
AgaIn--"or in other words (the Noun
tain Boy asks) does the land mourn on ac-
count 1.-THE administration? :" We can
only say that we think it ought-we know
that may dc--and we would fain hope that
they might prove TO be the majority at the
next election.
A Mountain Boy must be singularly hap
Ply in his disposition. He would praise Jack
son because we are sat peace with all nations
of the earth"--as if we were not so before he
came into power-He would praise him be-
cause our F'treasury is filled to oYerfowing;"
yet with the tariff, and the enterprise of our
merchants. which produced it, Gen. jack
son has had nothing TO do-'Our national debt
almost liquidated," is also subject of praise
10 Jackson-yet the sinking fund system
which has been accomplishing the result, has
lis date long before the "hero" came into
Office. "Our commerce and navigation eX
tended" is another theme-Now we doubt
whether this be the iact-we think il quite
a debateable point whether every thing
which Gen. Jackson has done TO extend our
commerce (even allowing him the credit of
the arrangement with Turkey, which be-
longs to the last administration would
make up for the injury inflicted on il by his
adjustment OF the British colonial tradea -
But hear him again--'our manufactures
flourishing' guarded by an Executive
vigilance that never sleeps" WelI-well
if this does not "cap the climax" as lie says,
of reckless assertion, we know nothing about
it. What is producing the present uproar
among the manufacturers Is it not the
treasury scheme for the arrangement Of the
tariff, which was announced as having "the
appreciation of the President" and which
we have since been told by one who has his
confidence would have been made still "mOre
favorable 10 sOnthren interests" (prejudic-
es would he better word) elf the President
had thought il could pass Congress! !"
But, we have done with the matter Of
Mountain Boys production. We shall
| now proceed 10 show some of the reasons
| which exist why General jackson should
| not be re elected:
! In the first place, he is incompetent 10 the
discharge of the duties OF President. And TO
prove the position we need but refer TO his
own declarations on resigring The stations Of
| a Judge and senator 10 the Legislature Of
! Tennessee-and his declaration, when first
| spoken offor the Presidency, in the pres
! ence of Judge Breckenridge. "Do they think
| / am such id fool as TO think myself fit
! for the President ofthe United States? No
| sir | know what am fit for ] can COM
mand body of men in a rough way, hut
/ am not fit TO be President" Nor can these
| declarations be upset By saying he has been
! President for three years past.-Does any
! body believe he ever wrote a paragraph in
! one of his messages? Certainly not if they
recollect any thing Of his scholarship-his
! Dinsmore letter, ect ect. Then is il come
| 10 this, that the Presidency of the United
| States may be filed by n mere man Of straw
| The country loses much by not having a
a man Of talents in the Executive Chair-an
/ incompetent President might pick a good
/ cabinet, but the chances would be against
his doing it, not having the qualifications
necessary 10 Judge Of men. But still the