The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-06-03
From the Petersburg hteliigencer.
THE REIGN OF IMMORTALITY.

~ ul inc tunes VIII pICsuihN " uOhl
Every newspaper which you take up tells
YOU. IN almost every column, of defdicd-
hons. s,sindiings, robberies, and all kinds OF
ylllanes. And these acts of mlquliy are
not confined as they were once, TO what
may be termed the dregs of sociely--'o
men who, from want of education, moral
culture, and good example, were naturally
exposed to the temptations Of uce-but
they are committed by men IN the highest
ranks Of society by men, from whose edu-
cation and whose previous mode Of life,
better things might be expected
To what is this appalling increase Of
crime to be attributed How are We 10
account for the fact, that from being mo-
raj, law.loying people, we are fast becom-
ing reckless, corrupt aud depraYed J
The reply which we shall give to our
own question may surprise some and offend
others, but as we believe 1t TO contain the
true reasons for this change in the morals
OF our people, we shall not hesitate to
give it.
We believe that with The reign of Jack
sonism in the United States, the reign Of
immortality commenced The election Of
Gen. Jackson to the Presidency, was the
commencement oi moral, as we'll as of a
political revolution; and proved, as was
predicted, " curse to the country, IN
more respects than one. From that mo-
meut TO the present time, vice IN the tnI-
ted States has been rapidly on the increase.
Nor is 1t surprising that such should have
been the case for during the Admnlstra-
lions of Jackson aud hts successor, II vir.
tue and morality wcre not drawbacks To
those who looked for Executive favor, they
certainly were not passports to 1t.
The altemp, made BY Gen. Jackson, 10
force woman Of bad character Mrs.
Eaton) into society IN Washington, was
but the shadoNiug forth OF events that
were 10 follow and all the detalcalions
and robbcres which ensued during his
Administration aud that Of his successor,
were but the natural consequences Of the
opinion which soon became prevalent, that
such conduct WINS not bar to the good
will of the President
Surrounded by such men as Benton,
Kendall, Blair and others Of the same KIDD
ney, General Jaek sou aud Mr.. Van Buren,,
as llr as their example could 90, gave a
tone 10 morals 70 the United States which
vas any thing but healthy.
The official acts Of General Jackson
were 10 accordance with his private exam.
Pile. His seizure Of the Public Deposiies
was bu! an act Of political robbery (lf sc
may use such an cxprCssIou,) committed
because he had the brute power to commit
It, The submission by the people, or rath-
er, the encouragement given by them 10
this taWless aci--an aei, hich, 10 any 9th
or country, would have brought the head
pf th~ pcrpet-.-i~. -, tlEe uiUck-was, IN
effect, giving him unlimited power, and
authorizing hun to go Oh IN his career, un-
checked by the Constitution Of the | mon.
the Laws Of the land, the Rights Of the
citizens, or the rules of MORALITY The
public treasure was slblec, to hIs control,
and WAS distributed by HIM throughout
the States-curuptng the morals Of the
.
Der industry to which alone every country
must look Tor is prosperity --slmuluitng
speculation into gambling begctting ha-
hlls Of extravaganza and prodlgah,y which
terminated ID National Bankruptcy, with
is inevitable cuncomilanls, fraud and theft.
The public officers who were his oFcera.
and accountable alone to Aim far tW6r
conduct, we're not appointed because of
THEN qualifications or The Office lhcy filled
bat because Of their fidelity 10 the Presi-
doni and were scpt N Office, 10 many III.
stances, for ycar- alter they had been de-
tccted IN p.mdcrng the public treasure.
W hat blow was this TO the morals OF the
country The President Of the United
States to keep IN Offices Of trust and cmolG.
ment, men who had shown themselves de.
hcIcnt IN common honesty who had
actually committed theft Was not this
in effect premium on robbery aud pcu.
sion for fraud
Is II surprising that, when the highest
officers of the Goycrnment-me to whom
the whole country should look for example
show an utter Indifference TO principle
and integrity, many Of the people should
follow lletr example, and come at last TO
regard as ycnal, acts winch they once
would have looked on with adherence -
When The wicked rule, the people
mourn" When yica and immortality are
installed 10 the highes, places "a the land
when ignorance and dishonesty yulgar.
ity and fraud, are encouraged and reward.
ed, Is i wonderful that yir,1c and mocal.
y should be at a low cbb
When we hear mcu who ardrntly sup.
ported the administrations Of Jackson and
Van Burcn, dcnounce ~ unmcasured terms
dclauItng" bank ofliccrs-wben We hear
them Indignantly discourse Of " rotten and
corrupt corporations, VIC cannot help in.
qurlug, who were Bowl, and Spencer, and
Linn and Harris BY whom were they
appointed to office, and by whom were
they continued in office long after they
were known to be request Who cor.
rupted the Banks Who tempted them
-, o.,cr4,.J, W., Id H.. -