Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-04-15

In this wide world, / am pleased to know, there
is not TO be found one single man more thorough
going and sincere in his opposition to this lnstl-
tuition than amt is the shirt OF Nessus upon
our body polite, with, if possible, ten thousand
aggravating qualities. In it is to be seen the
height the breadth, and the depth OF anti-demo-
cracy-nay, of despOtsm. | shall regard the
hour when the United States Bank is recharter-
ed, if ever, as the most portentous OF evil ever
known to this country. shall regard II as a
decree of the people themselves against the per-
petuity of our present plan of against the
much longer prosperity of our republican and
free institutions Fellow citizens, we must dis
regard men, and look to principle, or our Ia
theirs abored in vain to prepare code OF poll
teal rules for our Government; Tor be assured
that no republican Government can endure long,
where the lights of history are rejected, prlncl-
pies are secuted and man-worship becomes the
order of the times. It's said that we are at TINS
moment in the midst of revolutlon-lt Is no
time then to cheer on power IN IT'S eXcesses.
What shall be countenanced In one president
10. day as precedent will be seized on Dy ano-
Their tomorrow as law, and a few days after
Won will find your Constitutions, every trace of
free Government, covered over by mass OF
nsurpations. We should bear in mind, constant
lv bear in mind. that whilst the Constitution has
Given to the Executive the right of seeing that
the laws are executed, it does not constitute him
accuser Judge and eXecutioner too, as regards
all the independent operative powers OF the Co
vernment and that while it has cOnhded to his
keepino the sword. it has wisely withheld from
him the purse, and placed it under the superln-
tendance of Congress. Now, when believe
this to have been the design OF our fathers
when the Constitution itself imports it to have
been their only design, will not stand by quiet
ly and see the exercise OF them both usurped by
either department of the Government. When-
ever shall be ready to receive such innova-
a.. oh a n
list in any traitorous design, or cabal against
nv country-shal, like Nero who fiddled while
Rome was in flames, be ready to rejoice at the
downfall of the fairest of all fabrics OF liberty
Gen Jackson, fellow-citizens, as you know was
the President of my choice; entertained the
kindest feelings for him as man. had high
hopes of him as civil magistrate. | have more
than once raised my voice in his behalf from this
bench. when scarcely friend was to be found
to cheer me in the gloom produced by the dis
parity of numbers. Then, when believed nm
right nothing could deter me from his support.
Now that believe him wrong, neither shall any
thing cause me to suppress the avowal OF 1t. IL
may be unnecessary in me to state, but 1t IS
nevertheless true, that in being forced to pro-
nounce condemnation upon Gen. Jackson's con-
duct, was oppressed by the weight that would
attend a son in being compelled to pronounce
Judgment against the conduct OF his father. But
was called upon by the Constitution-called
upon by our proud and free institutions, TO throw
my unimportant self in the breach, and to carry
out the principles had ever avowed, to redeem
the doctrines | had ever preached, and could
do no other than obey. | was called upon
| to do no more nor less, than to surrender long
cherished predictions, as ut individual TO
preside over the detinies of this nation, or to sa-
crifce at the shrine ofsuch predictions my prn-
ciples The pride ofopen self-respect forbade me
for moment to hesitate betweenthe alternatives.
m - .~~ ,rnlxr t(rff
formed you do, that you should reprobate IN I'M
measured terms the recent intermeddling ofthe
President with the public DeposlteS; but 1t is to
nv mind somewhat surprising, that while some
fyou at least are engaged in this laudable con-
domination, that if you do not openly commend,
you are willing to pass by In silence, the Con-
gress that passed, and the President that APPROX
ed the charter of the U. S. Bank, which acts
were as gross violations of the Constitution as
any of which Gen. Jackson was ever known to
be guilty. Why will not gentlemen be consist
ent? Why will they not deal out justice alike
to all? Why revie and reprobate Gen. jackson
for the violation of law, whilst at the same time
they urge on Congress to an act OF equal, II not
greater constitutional transgresson. Why do
they not in their republican fervor smother eve
ry germ of opposition to the principles of this
! American land outright denounce every en-
croachment upon the Constitution! DO gentle
men resort to the doctrine of expedency and
policy to cover and shield them from the re-
proach due such constitutional vlolatlons?-
Away with so pitiful subterfuge-away with
such disregard of the Constitution. We should
discountenance any attempt to compromise
away the most republican ordinance ever tram-
ed for the rule of civilized man.
What does it matter whether our government
goes to peices by the Hsurpatons of the Pres-
dent, or the corruptng influences OF the Bank?
The ultimate end of death to an individual is
the same whether procured by assassination
through the agency and influence of money, or
is the result of bilious fever or consumption
and so it will be with the American people when
their libertyis gone-ttle will it avail them to
know whether it had been brought about by the
corruptions of "a monied institution, or the usur-
pations of Cesar. Fellow citizens, beseech
you to be upon the watch-there are certain
great immutabe landmarks which we should
never lose sight of as there are certain great
principles we should never pass unobserved.
In arriving at conclusions upon any great ma
tional question, we should endeavor to absolve
ourselves from all party influences, and decide
upon the man or measure presented agreeable
to his or its intrinsic worth. For my own part,