Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-09-21
A PRECIOUS ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

PRECIOUS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
We find The following article in The
last National Inieligencer. The remarks
OF the Democratic Review had escaped
our observation
Truth WELL EXPRESSED. - Mr.. Brown
son says, IN the last number of til Demo-
cratic Review:
"The grand maxim of Gen Jackson,
IN his administration, as collect from the
history OF that administration, was, The
People are sovereign-lf1 gain their sane
ton, it is enough"
Again:
"lle appears in his administration 10
have regarded the People as above the
constitution and laws, and TO have held
lha: he secured the highest possible s,nc.
ton fr his acts when he had secured the
popular appreciation, formally and nfor-
mally expressed"
We have here full and compl, lie ac-
knowledgement of what we have always
asserted, viz: that Gen. Jackson never
regarded the Constitution or the laws.
when they interfered with any view OF
his own.
IL is fundamental doctrine of our Gov
eminent that TIE people have all power !;
and they themselves, have pointed out
the manner in which that power should
be exercised To this END they have
established the constitution of the United
States, as the rule by which we are to be
guided. They have bound themselves
70 abide by this rule, until il shall have
been altered, annuled, or abolished. Pro.
ceeding according TO the Constitution
then, as long as its binding force exists,
is proceeding according to the will OF the
people. II is absolutely essential TO have
some such rule, in Order, to prevent the
fluctuations of a Government purely Dc.
mocratlc, Taught as they are with danger,
and bearing along with them the elements
OF destruction. 1t is this great "rule of
action" regarded as sacr, and inviola-
BILE by all his predecessors, that we are
told by one Of his admirers, General Jack
son regarded as nothing. when compared
with popular appreciation, formally or
informally expressed" ~!
His successor promising to follow liz
the footsteps of his "ilustrious predeces
sor, " went step farther. "The popu-
lar appreciation" not having followed one
of his measures, he determined to wait
for the sober second thought Of the peo-
pie" This then was the doctrine of
these gentlemen Popular appreciation
IS above the Constitution. I'll cannot
get it a, the first trial, will make sec.
ond. will worry The people into com
p'iance with my wishes. My wishes,
then, finally meeting with the popular
approbatlon, are above the Laws and the
Constitution. Ii this is aot fair deduc-
ton from the premises as laid down by
the Democratic Review, then Aristotle
never made syllogism, having lis foun.
daiion in uuih.
General Jackson took the liberty Of
putting any Interpretation he pleased on
popular movements and considering
them superior to the Law and Constitu-
lion, conlrived to rule without the use of
either. HIS administration was despot-
ism IN every thing but the name. His
successor would gladly have followed
in his footsteps if he had been able to do
so. Fortunately, however he could not
keep up with the gigantic strides Of the
Old Hero, but broke down on the way.
VIII the people of this country enttust
their Liberties to The keeping of man,
whose chef merit consists in an attempt
"to follow in the footsteps" of prede-
cessor, whose admirers boldly declare,
that he had no respect Cor the Constitu-
ton and Laws? We humbly think they
vii! not.--Rich. Wig.