The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-02
BY JAMES r. NORRIS.
From the Indiana State Sentinel.

LETTER FROM GENERAL JACkSON.
The following letter from General Jackson was
received few days since by citizen Of this coun
y. AT the request Of several citizens to whom its
contents were communicated, we take great pleas.
ure in giving it to the public.
HERMITAGE, June, "a, 1874.
Sra am in receipt of your letter of the llth
instant, and, though in bad health myself, cannot
forego the pleasure ofsaying few words in reply
to il.
You request my opinion Of the nominations re-
Gently made at Baltimore by the democratic party.
lam entirely satisfied with them, and have no
doubt, If the gentlemen nominated are elected,
that the people will find their administration true
to the old republican landmarks, and every way
worthy of their support
Mr.. Polk was raised in my neighborhood, and
went into public life as Jeffersonian democrat
To the great principles of that llusrious reformer
of our system of government he has been ever
faithful; and has proved himself on many trying
occasions the able advocate of popular rights, and
the sagacious friend of the measures which were
necessary to defeat the Vaccinations Of the federal
parry thuIdi CHdIdCtCI ID puiC, Ho CdPuCip
for business great; and to extraordinary powers Of
labor, both mental and physical he untes that tact
andjudgment which are SO requisite to the sue
cessful direction of such an office as that of chief
magistrate ofa free people.
With Mr. DallasI am notso intimately acquaint-
sented Pennsylvania in the Senate of the United
States. and was charged with high public trusts in
various other important stations at home and abroad
itcannotbe doubted that he equally deserves the
confidence and admiration of the people The fa-
vors that have been conferred upon him by the
Keystone State, whose citizens are distinguished
for love Of order and for the support only of what
is calculated to spread the blessings of equal laws,
are proof that he has all the characteristics which
are needed in crisis like this, to rally the sound
feelings ofthe country at large.
thank you, sir, for the solicitude you have ex-l
pressed for my personal welfare. My race is near
ly run am now not able to attend to the duties
of correspondence without the aid of an amanuen-
SIS but thank God for the privilege yet accorded
to me of ofcomprehending the designs OF the federal
party. Aslong as live will warn my country
against the dangers which will attend the success
of Mr.. Clays proposition to establish another
mammoth bank; to break down the security which
the people possess in the veto power given to the
President by the constitution; to change the system
of taxation under which we have SO long prosper
ed, by admitting the principle claimed in his bill
for the distribution ofthe proceeds of the public
lands; and lastly, to prevent the annexation of Tex
as to the United States-for it cannot be denied
that his position this question is utterly at war
with the true interests of his country He says
virtually that Texas ought not to be admitted into
the Union while there is respectable and con.
siderable portion Of our citizens opposed to it. On
such condition it IS obvious annexation can never
take place. British influence had considerable and
respectable advocates In this country in our revo-
lutionary war, and in our second war with her,
Will It ever be without them! Never. As long as
there are fanatics in religion, as long as there are
diversities and differences in human opinion re-
the people, such advocacy will be found resisting
the advance Of institutions like olrs, and aboring
to incorporate with them the features ofan opposite
system
Who does not see that the people Of the United
States are competitors with the people of England
in the manufacturing arts, and in carrying the trade
of the world! andthat the question is soon to be,
if it be not already, whether Texas and Oregon
are to be considered as auxiliaries 10 American or
British interests! whether these vast and fertile re-
gons are to be settled and worked by our poserty,
blessed by republican government, or are to'be-
come the theatre of British enterprise, and thus
add another link to the vast colonial chain by which
that great monarchy upholds its lords and mobiles,
and extracts from suffering millions the earnings of
their labor'
Nor is the question altered by the alleged inter-
estof Mexico in the Texas territory. As far as
treaties are concerned, good faith is not involved in
our decision. If the proposition were to annex
Mexico with her assent, Texas could not complain |
But we all know that the treaty argument is not
only inapplicable, but incapable ofuse in the de-
termination of the question: either as it affects u.s.
Mexico Or other powers. Texas is independent
of Mexico-made so by the power of her arms, In
the same sense that we became independent of
Great Britain. She is Independent Of Mexico in
another sense that is in never having constituted
a part of Mexico, except by compact which the
latter has violated, and which compact would new
er have been formed If the United States had per-
formed It's duty.
But, without pursuing this view Of the subject
It is enough for tolook at the question as it
practically presented to Us. Texas tells US she is
anxious to come into the Union. Being originally
part Of our Union, knowing that she cannot exist
happily as State without the protection Of our
laws, that her geographical position, as well as
the character and interest Of her citizens necessar
" attach them to our territory; and feeling, aswe
may wen suppose she does. greater concern for
the fate Of our free institutions than she can for
those Of any monarchy she is desrous that her fer
lie lands and genial climate should share the glo-
rious ipstrumentaty Of cherishing and maintaining