Mississippi Democrat., 1845-07-23
JAcKsoN,s PROTEST.


+ bank were arrsyed against him, and III
d stoutest of his friends were almost ready /
: yield the contest. and submit to The rule 3
: the paper money despoiism, the whg ma
y jorily in the u. s. Senate assumed 10 pas
Judgment upon his conduct, and charge,
8 that no had violated the Constitution ant
laws. Ho rebuked this Unprecedented
Z proceeding, and defended himself, in
4 Protest, the most eloquent Of all his Stat,
papers. We make the following extrac
from this memorable document, embody
ing the Old Hero's view of a pure Repub
J ican government:
nrhc resolution Of the Senate contains
an lmputasion. upon my private as well as
lny public character; and as II must stand
forever on their journals, | cannot close
this substitute for that defence which
have mol been allowed TO present in the
ordinary form, without rcmnrking that
have lived in vain If il be necessary 10
enter into formal vindcation Of my cha.
racter and purposes from such an imputa.
tion. In vain do bear upon my person
enduring memorials Of that contest in
which American liberty was purchased =
in vain have | since periled property,
fame and life, in defence of the rights
and privileges SO dearly bought--in vain
am now, without personal aspiration,
or the hopo Of individual advantage, en-
countering responsibilities and dangers,
from which, by mere inactivity in relation
TO single point, ! might have been exempt
If any serious doubts can be entertained
as 10 the purity of my purposes and mo-
tives. II had been ambitious should
have sought nm alliance with that powerful
institution, which even now aspires to 10
divided empire. II had been venal, !
should have sold myself to its designs
had | preferred personal comfort and Off
cial case, TO the performance Of my ardu.
Gus duty, should have ceased 10 molest it.
In the history of conquerors and usurpers,
never, in the fire of youth, nor in the vi.
gor Of manhood, could find an attraction
to lure me from the path Of duty; and
now, shall scarcely find an inducemeni
to commence their career of ambition,
when gray hairs and Il decaying frame,
instead Of inviting to toll and battle, call
me to the contemplation Of other worlds,
where conquerors cease to be honored,
and usutpers expiate their crimes. The
only ambition | can feel, is 10 acquit my.
self 10 Him TO whom must soon render
an account Of my stewardship, 10 serve
my feIow.men, and live respected and
honored in the history ofmy country. No;
the ambition which leads me on, is an ark.
ious desire and fixed DIET crmination to
return TO the people, unimpaired, the sa.
cred trust they have conflcd 10 my charge
Ito heal the wounds Of the constitution
and preserve it from further violation; 10
persuade my counirymen, SO far as may,
that II is not in splendid Government,
supported By powerful monopo,iss and
aristocratic establishments, that they will
find happiness, or their liberties proicc
ton; but in plain system, void of pomp
projecting all, and granting iayors to
none--dispensing its blessings like the
dews Of Heaven unseen and unielt, save
IN The freshness and beauty they contribute
10 produce IL rs. such government that
the genus Of our reoeple requires--such
an one only under which our States may
remain ior ages 70 come united, prosper
Gus ana iree, u me Almighty Being who
mas hitherlo sustained ana protected me,
will bu' vouchsaie 10 make my feeble pow.
ors instrumental 70 such a result, shall
anticipate with pleasure The place to be
assigned me in the history of my country,
and die coniented with the belief that !
have contributed, in some small degree,
ration Of American Liberty"
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