Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-05-28

dor and consistency even, the part OF those who have
isbored 10 represent Gen. Jacksos agency in Fastening
the exngushmcnt Of the public debt the conse
qucnce OF laws which he had no control and from
the execution Of which he could derive claims TO the
applause and gratitude OF his fellow citizens Who now
that is aDywise capable OF sppreciang the cam in the
face OF the happy consequences that have attended
stand he made this OCCASION refuse to accord hin
the praise due togreat servieel Resouey rejecting
ry consideration but the public good nothng could dete
him from assuming the responsibility which his views
the public good called upon him to encounter. Neve
was the moral hrmness OF President put to so hard
trial No influence could be stronger than that which w
arraycd against him in this instance composed II vas IL
great measure OF representatives, known his persona
and political friends and who supposed to be acting
in conformity with the views Of the great body OF the
Pile, whose confidence and attachment had him L
the post Inc occupied Fortunate is the country that
ITS head under such circumstances, man who, superior
to all party weaknesses well all selfish fears can
not be turned from the straight path of duty And foru
nate is that country in its own character when its jug
msnt " too strong and too steady be deferred by
TO the pride oil opinion from justly estimating the cenuc
Of such man. by the cry Of dictaon from giving heet
TO his counsel
There nothing so seductive in government, like Ours
as those systems which promise the
power OF country, and multiply the sources wealth
and enjoyment TO s citizens They have their origin n,
the came mistaken views that often witness in p
vate lie, tempting individuals hazard their subsanc,
upon the chances OF loose speculation. II their tcnde
Is not apparent, is because tho field on which the,
act so extensive, aud the they affect 20 dive
hed as TO require more time to demonsi true cha
racer and IL is hen generally too late repair tho cyi
which has been produced The individual may see h
error, anc by economy and industry resto his fortune
but the nation, exhausted by the anticipation of its
relaxed in its power over the Government, which b,
minsterng TO combinations OF local and par.l
ha, subjected itself 10 their CONTROL and ene,bied b,
The corruption engendsred by the contrac of debt ant
the rroiligate expenditure OF public money! either SIM
into the apathy which tolerates desposm or rights se,
ny one oil those commissions which dssolves and 70
ICES il.
That such, under form of government particularly
was the tendency OF the views prev ang in tho
present Administration, in regard policy of int rna
Improvement and tho Congress subject
no one now can hesitate TO admit.
But this is not the only act of the Administration con
neced with this subject which deserves our attention.
evincing the injustice Of those who deny to it any cred
Tor hastening the payment Of the public debt is obvi
Gus mat strict enforcement OF pecunary responsibility
not only indispensable to the purity OF tho public morals
out constitutes an essential feature in every practical sys
tom OF public economy Peculation is the inevitabl
fruit OF remissness in the discharge Of this
whether il proceeds from inattenon or from tho weak
ness oil mistaken and unjustabe lenity. Yet we hay
seen the performance Of this cd with the utmos
bitterness. Scrutiny into abuses the cxaction of the pub
lie funds from detected deauers, the enforcement OF pc
naies Inflicted by the law and the dmnution of expen
dtures wherever the Executive discretion could reac
them, have all been embarrassed by evety obstacI
which twas in the power of ingenious and artul oppo
neh,s 10 ih'erpose They have each in their bee
ascribed TO that spirit Of prescription and wanonnes
with which 1T has been sought to identify the character
Gen. Jackson and TO stamp all his leading acts But IN
people havo rescued him from the odium of this spr an
done justice to his motives They tho tire
until its fruits could be judged and there but no,
who would cut il down.
During the first four years Of this administrations Their
mas been applied TO the payment of the public debt in ad
don to the sum OF $iOOoO,cOO, for which provision ha
been made by law, by the annual appropriation of &c
millions the sum OF $l7992 739: leaving only the sum
S1ool ,69S short OF its total extnguishment(d Ii
we'll known that the stock owned by the Government
the Bank OF the United States is than equal to h
so that we are warranted in saying that tn
4th OF March last, the debt was only nominal
We now therefore, exhibit to the world the spectacl
OF powerful and iourshng nation FREE OF DEBT. Tn
distinction is the importance of which to the success
OF our system, and its value the great cause of free
vernment cannot be too highly appreciated 1t is
Ell by the peculiar circumstances in which our counr
rounded itself at the critical uncture when the voice
the PEOPLE called Andrew Jackson to the helm: and i
tho sound, practical craftsmanship and patriotic ine
~ dplaycd on this subject by the Of their choic,
strongest illustrations OF their capacity choose wisely