Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-07-25

MIR. BANCROFT,s GRAFTON.

MIR. BANCROFT's GRAFTON,
Delivered at Washington Cfty, on the 26h June,
l845, on the life and character of GENERAL
ANDREW JACKSON.
(CoNCLUDED.)
1t would be sin against the occasion, were
to omit to commemorate the deep devotedn ness
OF Jackson to the cause and the right of labor.
1t was for the welfare of the laboring classes
that he dehed all the storms of political hos
uilty. He longed to secure to labor the fruits
OF its own industry; and he INCREASINGLY oppos.
ed every system which tended to lessen their
reward, or which exposed them to be de-
frauded of their dues. The laborers may bend
over his grave with affectionate sorrow; for
never, in the tide of time, did a statesman ex-
list more heartily resolved to protect them in
their rights, and TO advance their happiness.
For their benefit, he opposed partial legisla-
ton; for their benefit, he resisted all artificial
methods of controlling labor, & snbectng it to
capital. 1t was for their benefit that he loved
freedom in all its forms-freedom of the ndi-
vidual in personal independence, freedom of
the States as seperate soverelgnties. He
never would listen to counsels which tended
to the Capitalization of power. The true A
merIcan system presupposes the diffusion of
treedom-organized life in all the parts of the
American body polite, as there is organized
life IN every part ofthe human system. Jack
son was deaf to every counsel which sought
to subject general labor to a central will.
His vlndlcatlon of the inst principles of the
constitution derived its sublimity from his
deep conviction that this strict construction
is required by the lasting welfare of the great
laborlng classes of the Uned States.
10 this end, Jackson revived the tribunical
power of the veto, and exerted it against de-
cislve action of both branches of Congress,
against the voters, the wishes, the entreaties
of personal and political friends. ''Show
me, was his reply to them, ''show me an ex-
preston in the constitution authorizing Con-
gress to take the business of State legislatures
out of their hands," ''Tou will ruin us all, )"
cried firm partisan friend, ''Y gu will ruin
your party and your own prospects," ''Provi-
dence," answered Jackson, ''will take care of
me-; and he persevered.|
In proceeding to discharge the debt of the
United States-a measure thoroughly Ameri~
can: Jackson followed the example of his
predecessors; but he followed with the full
consciousness that he was rescuing the coun-
try from the artificial system of finance which
had prevailed throug hout the world; and with
! him 1t formed part of system by which A
merican legislation was to seperate itself more
and more effectualIy from European prece-
dents, and develope itself more and more, &C.
cording to the vital principles of our political
existence.
The discharge of the debt brought with it,
of necessity, a great reduction of the public
burdens, and brought of necessity, into view,
the question, how far America should follow
of choice, the old restrictive system Of high
duties, under which Europe had oppressed A
merica; or how far she should rely on her owr
freedom, enterprise and power, defying the
competition, and seeking the markets, and re-
ceivng the products of the world.
The mind of Jackson on this subject rea
soned clearly, and without passion. In the a
buses ofthe system of revenue by excessiveim
post, he saw evils which the public mind woulc
remedy; and inclining with the whole nigh
of his energetic nature to the side of revenue
duties, he made his earnest but his Tranquil
appeal 10 the judgment of the people.
( The portions of country that suffered mos
severely from system of Legislation which
in its extreme character as it then existed
is now universally acknowledged to have
been unequal and unjust, we're less tranquil
and rallying on the doctrines Of freedom
which made our government limited one
they saw In the oppressive acts an assumption
t of power which was migratory, because it wa
exercised, as they held, without authority
5 from the people.
The contest that ensued was the most mo
5 mentous in our annals. The greatest mind
of America engaged in the discussion. Flo
qnence never achieved sub!imer tridmphs il
} the American senate, than on those occasions
, The country became deeply divided; and thu
antagonist elements were arrayed against eacl
other under forms Of clashing authority, me
nacing civil war; the freedom of the severa
States was invoked against the power of th'
United States; and under the organization O
a State in convention, the reserved rights o
the people were summoned to display thei
energy, and balance the authority and neutral
ize the legislation of The central government
The States were agitated with prolonged ex
citement; the friends of freedom throughou
the world looked on with divided sympathies
, praying that the union of the States might b.
perpetual, and also that the commerce Of thu
world might be free.
Fortunately for the country, and fortunately
for mankind, Andrew Jackson was at the helm
Of State, representative of the principles tina
were to allay excitement, and to restore tn
hopes of peace and freedom. By nature, b.
impulse, by education, by conviction, fren
!; to personal freedom-by education, politica
, sympathi8s, and the fixed habit of his mind
friend TO the rights of the States-unwillin
- that the liberty of the States should be tram
v pied under foot-unwilling that the constitu
ton should lose its vigor or be impaired, h
rallied for the constitution: and in it's name h
- published to the world IS The UNION: 1
MUST BE PRESERVED" The words were
If spell to hush evil passion, and to remove OF
Il preston. Under his guiding influence, tn
3. favored interests, which had struggled 10 pc
5, petuate unjust Legislation, yielded to the voc
$. of moderation and reform, and every mind TIL
had for moment contemplated rupture
= the States, discarded it forever. The who