Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-07-04

sagacity, which his previous command ndu 90
conspicuously displayed He accordingly ae-
clarcd, that 10 guard against the evils when WI.
Jefferson had shadowed forth, TO retract Inc 90
vernmenl back 10 its Republican tack ana give =.
stability and energy, an ! preserve TO his Country
her blessings Of nnion and peace should DC ,iie
first and great object OF his duty. And, as his
friends had rightly supposed, few men had clearer
conceptions ofthe public good, or greater discern
nent in The selection of measures and men 10
promote it. Than Gen. Jackson. None knew BEL
Ter the great interests OF his country its history;
domestic and foreign relations the points OF us
public policy; the temper of the people, The genius
OF our political institutions, and the spirit OF nee
| Government He knew that the genius OF our
own Institutions the experience OF other Govern
mens; the records OF history; and The SAD ana me,-
ancholy iate ola long train offaen repuolics, a9-
monished Us that libellywas only safe, whensuara-
ed by the wisdom and vigilance oftrusa lLduslfl-
Gus, and viruous treemen And il is not therefore,
wonderful that The result OF his administration
should have been, that as statesman he was no less
distinguished than as warrior. Throughout ms
whole public career, we look in vain Tor any
OF those vices, which oppose The prosperity
of nations and the peace OF the world anu
which, al ono time, was so much apprehend-
ed, from his rule, By his political opponents,
His State Papers and Administration afford
abundant proofs OF the purity, as well as sodHy,
| OF his principles; and il is Impossible 10 reau
them ant trace The whole course OF his pubic
career, without admitting that he performed Just
| ". skifully and masnanimousy, all the Offices,
both public and private, OF peace and VAL
| That there was n considerable, nay, large, por-
lion of his counrymcn who settled down IN The
| conviction, that Gen Jackson committed great
/ errors in his Administration, and inflicted ueep
| injuries upon his country, is lrue but inns hosli-
lily was TO be expected and must therefore ne re-
/ garded as The resu!t OF party feeling unuer our
! institutions and form oil Government, rather than
the evidence OF deliberate and candid judgment.
| Indeed, in Government like ours, where OPT
Mons are free and spontaneous as The lishl WHICH
surrounds US who expects that we should an
agree in the means 10 produce any gwen emu
II is this difference which creates, and must ever
continue 10 create, Parties in free Governments:
| To time and experience must, therefore, he leiI
| The decision of many OF these great questions.
| But who knows that these convictions anu OPT
niols, even when unnfrenced by party feelings,
may not have been The result Of less profound
views OF The understanding Of many OF those
measures Of his Administration National vlr-
Tue, national freedom and greatness, and inc IS
sue of mighty experiment in Free Govern.
nenl-lhese were the great objects and purposes
which absorbed most Of this great mans alien
ration must be regarded MAY not the views of
others be TOO much overslrained 10 national
wealth and national display Have they looked
10 the consequences, as regard poslcrilv as we'll
as our free institutions? What, if avarce, and
sefshness, and national vanity should supplant
the love OF country What if these vices should
be cherished and nurtured into a growth that
shall chastise those simple and manly virtues,
without which men care little by whom, or IN
what manner, they are governed! Our warriors
and patriots Of the Revolution were not danded
in The lap of pleasure, or pampered with foreign
luxuricS. They sought not substance and wealth
amidst the skirts and guicksands OF inonled IN
s,irulions, nor fought for the trappngs which deck
Fictitious greatness, onl' To conceal the miseries
accumulated in its tain. No man ever dreaded
more than Gen. Jackson the baleiul influence
of passion for gain, in lis progress often
so degrading 10 national character, dangerous to
the tranquility Of the world, fatal to every emo.
bling sentiment, so destructive 10 social leeilnS,
and which, becoming The vulgar passion OF free
Governments. cnslavcs their people. lie dreaded,
moreover that extension of the spirit oil traihc
and trade, apart from Legitimate commerce, which
can only flourish in the in,risues and articles OF
Femorselcss Spectators He had before him The
experience and history of the world the long
catalogue Of fallen nations and the annals Of that
ruin and decay produced by the love OF gain, and
the ravages of luxury and corruption. He had
not forgotten that I.acedrmon, with her savage
manners, her rigid sumpuaIy laws, and her stern
Ephori, was al last 50 contaminated by wealth
and Injury that the most illusrions virtues and
examples could not restore her ancient institutions
and that Rome the mistress of the world, and
the arbtcr Of the fate OF nations was overturned,
more by the excessive love OF wealth, and The
prOtgacy of her manners, than the arms oil The
Golhs and Vanials II was under these views
and 10 these ends, that some ot the most import
ant and efficient measures OF his administration
were directed. It was the boast Of one OF The
Roman Emperors, that he found The city of orick
and left il OF marble. II was General Jackson'N
| that he found the Government one Of paper, and
he determined 10 leave il one of gold
know, fellow. citizens, that il has been charged
against him, that he mistook the lust Of power
for the love Of liberty; and that power, and amh-
ion were the predomnang passions OF his soul
TO acquire which, he would sacrifice everything
else-ihal he sought 10 govern by terror, rather
than opinion, and that one great passion swallow
ed up every olher-the means of acquiring and
perpetuating his own authority. Never, never,
were there more uniounded accusations. His
ambition was TO deserve not acquire, the adnira-
lion of his fellow men; and il was therefore, never
too strong 10 leave him, al all times, honest. His
ambition was TO serve his country, which he had
| loved TOO we'll as his whole life allesls He never
ceased TO remember, that those who would do
public service, must forget theniselves-that
their rev ri was from within. When did
he ever attempt the articles OF The dema-
Sosue, TO enlist the passions and feelings oil
he people? Whom did he ever court =
To whom did he ever bow? What dissimua-
lion did he ever practise? What office did ne
ever solicit? What office did he ever fill, in
which he proved himself unworthy OF power, or
public confidence? When did he ever atlempt To
disguise his designs or, under the prelence OF
consulting The public good, crafty his own sci
| fish passions or veHal wants? Let his unstained
and spolless lie answer these questions That
he desired his administration 10 be popular, IS adj
miited-but il was not for his own selfish pur-
poses, bul the general good. He knew that, in
every country, however despolic, much must de-
pend on tie will Of the governed, and that no Go
vernment much less Il free one, could long hope
for success whose measures did not TALL IN win
the wishes and feelings, nay, The passions OF The
people That, in urr country, this must ever be
The case No one knew better than this great
man, that, with n people laborous, long trained
10 freedom and independence, and in The posses
sion of that liberty and industry which enables
wealth and influence 10 be disseminated amongst
all classes of society, The voice oil such people
formed, and must ever form, the support OF Tree
Governments; and hence il is not 10 be wondered
al, that his administration should have been one
OF the most popular that this country ever had
So far, The principle of his heart was Democratic.
Blu, he was simply Military Chiciiain, and,
like Alexander, and Caesar, and Cromwell, and
Ronaparte IL ust be ambitious and dangerous 81
Yes, he was Military Chietain and glorious
one TOO, as trust have shown; but where were
TIE armies ofAlexander? the legions OF Caesar!
the soldiers of CROMWELL or the guards OF Napo-
eon2 I'll Tell you, my beloved countrymen;-
they were only to be found in the brave and no.
nest citizens Of this tree country, whom he led 10
battle and victory, in vndication of its Liberties
and glory. This was The ambition OF Andrew
Jackson But was he ambitious? No! His
spirit SCARED beyond Ambitions reach. lie loved
glory but sill more loved his country. That was
his master passion; and, with resistess might, it
ruled his every thought, and word, and deed
But he was vindiciye 10 his opponents and 10
ihnsa Il....., -. !; I;lsi or iknSe " hana he