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than my worst enemies have represented me to be, (unless, indeed, those who would have kindly shut me up in Bedlam) if I had not obtained it. I may appeal to all my friends to say, whether there have not been times, when I stood in such favour in the closet, that there must have been something very extravagant and unreasonable in my wishes if they might not all have been gratified. Was it office? What, sir, to drudge in your laboratories, in the departments, or be at the tail of the corps diplomatique in Europe! Alas, sir, in my condition, a cup of cold water would be more acceptable, * * * * * Sir, my "church-yard cough" gives me the solemn_warning, that whatever part I shall take in the chase, I may fail of being in at the death. I should think myself the basest and meanest of men,-I care not what the opinion of the world might be—I should know myself to be a scoundrel, and should not care who knew it, if I could permit any motive connected with the division of the spoil to mingle in this matter, with my poor and best exertions, for the welfare of my country.",

Apply the rule for determining character which this passage affords, and what name shall we give to the speaker and his coadjutors? Governor Marcy was more honest, when in receiving his portion, in the division of the spoil, he avowed such to have been his object.

Now, it is in the recollection of all men, that Mr. Randolph too, did not disdain to partake of the spoil. That he was not only in at the death, but received a haunch of the quarry. That in May, 1830, he accepted the tail end of the corps diplomatic in Europe, of that very mission, which is growing offensive to every moral sense, from being the destined reward of the most brawling and thorough drilled, political hacks and that, whilst he thus indulged a morbid ambition, he gratified the other passion which he so vauntingly denounced,—his avarice,—receiving from his country a large sum of money for services which he never rendered. He has left a name, which, though it never paled the world, serves to point a moral,-and all politicians who gratuitously profess patriotic disinterestedness, when seeking to gratify, by office, their ambition and their avarice, may, hereafter, be called-Randolphs.

97. In the selection of a candidate for the Presidency, a party thus constituted could have no views save his aptitude for their purposes. Qualifications for the office were objectionable, not desirable, inasmuch as they would render him

independent of their power, the master, not the servant, of their wishes. Such a candidate the party beheld in General Jackson. The soundness of judgment displayed in the selection, will be conspicuous from a view of the life and character of the man.

CHAPTER V.

QUALIFICATIONS OF GENERAL JACKSON FOR CIVIL EMPLOYMENT.

98. It has been observed to us, by former friends of General Jackson, that his conduct should be reviewed with the greatest forbearance: first, because his advisers alone should be responsible; and next, because a free exposition of the character and motives of the chief will shock and offend those who are still attached to him.

99. We deem both reasons unsound. They degrade the intellect of the General and his friends. He may not have, we know, he has not, originated many measures which he has sanctioned; but he is sufficiently competent to judge of their nature, to be denied the plea of non compos mentis, thus made for him. Nor, would such defence propitiate his friends, who would find greater cause for offence in the allegation of phrenzy or fatuity, than in the charge of ambition.

We shall, therefore, speak of General Jackson as he isas the chief of the republic,-the responsible possessor of the executive power; and shall hold him to that accountability from which he has himself never shrunk. By the Constitution he has not the privilege of an English monarch. He is supposed to be capable of wrong; and his advisers must also submit to the tribunals of the law and of public opinion.

100. Extraordinary, even supernatural ability and virtue, have been ascribed to General Jackson, which, if credited, give a bias to our judgment of his measures, and prevent us from beholding them in their true character. In monarchies we are accustomed to exaggerated praise. Every prince is, during life, "the wisest and the best of Kings." But in the language of Courts, this is idiomatic, meaning no more than conventional phrases of politeness, in an epistle, which may contain the most imperative commands, signed by an obedient, humble servant, or close with the wish that we may live a thousand years, from one who prays our instant death. But it sounds strangely, in republican ears, to have godlike powers attributed to men, whose every act, scents, offensively, of mortality. The apotheosis of the living hero or tyrant, was made only in the corrupt ages of Grecian and

Roman power. A late biographer of the General,* whose turpitude is such that his praise is defamation, describes him as "the bravest and greatest man now living, in this world, or that has ever lived in this world:"-" As the greatest soldier, and greatest statesman, whose name has ever yet appeared upon the records of valour and wisdom." This is but the echo of the fulsome flatteries, uttered upon the American shores, customary in the Presidential circles, and habitual to the administration presses; of which the following is a sample not of the highest flavour; yet we fear the reader will think, that we are sporting with his credulity when we cite it. We refer him, however, to the New York Times, printed on or about the 18th October, 1834, for the letter of its Washington correspondent, from which the extract is made.

101. "There is a mysterious light which directs his intellect, which baffles all speculation upon philosophy of mind and the channels through which conclusions are reached without the aid of that mental operation which can alone shed light, upon the pathway of research. He arrives at conclusions with a rapidity which proves that his process is not through the tardy avenues of syllogism, nor over the beaten track of analysis, or the hackneyed walk of logical induction. For, whilst other minds, vigorous and cultivated, are pursuing these routes, he leaves them in the distance, and reaches his object in much less time, and with not less accuracy. His mind seems to be clogged by no forms, but goes with the lightning's flash and illuminates its own pathway."

This, we have no doubt, is fine writing, since it has the mysticism which commonly pertains to it. But does the reader apprehend the sense? It may mean, that the President is immediately inspired from heaven; or that, like Socrates, he is attended by an invisible demon, who does for him all the drudgery of mental labour, and transfers to him, the ready made conclusions, which he so promptly and easily (we would we could say, rationally) maintains. If the latter be the sense of the passage, then, although, we may not be able wholly to penetrate the mystery, we set up a plausible hypothesis; connecting the "mystery" with magic, the work of the New York Magician, we conclude, that the writer of this strange paragraph meant to say, that the President receives his opinions from Mr. Van Buren.

*Wm. Cobbett.

102. Exaggerated praise, with the intelligent, excites unbelief and provokes inquiry; and of itself might stimulate investigation into the merits of the General, did not more important considerations demand it. The age of miracles is past, though happily for charlatans, medical, moral and political, the era of credulity has no limit. No man, now, becomes learned and wise save through instruction and experience. But it is possible, otherwise, to obtain literary honours, for the Muses are sometimes capricious, or mercenary, and to possess a reputation for wisdom, which neither study nor practice has matured. Such has been the fortune of General Jackson, and that, it is the work of fortune becomes apparent from a review of his life.

103. Andrew Jackson was born of Irish parents, who, a short time before his birth, had emigrated to a sparsely peopled district of South Carolina; where, had they possessed the pecuniary means to purchase scholastic instruction for their children, there were no competent teachers. Some inconsiderable efforts, we are told, were made to qualify Andrew for the Church, which were terminated by the war, in 1777, when he had attained the age of ten years. The succeeding eight years, the most valuable for preparation for latter life, were probably spent in idleness. In 1781, having joined, for a few days, a small party of militia, he was captured by the enemy, and having refused to perform some menial service exacted by an officer, was, as it is said, severely beaten and wounded. This has proved a most fortunate event, yielding a large portion of that glory which constitutes him the hero of two wars. With no other preparation, he commenced the study of the law in 1784; and slight knowledge being requisite in Courts whose judges did not boast deep learning, he was admitted to practice within two years, thereafter.

104. In 1789, he tried his fortune in Nashville, a new settlement of Tennessee, where an extraordinary circumstance brought him into immediate notice. As is commonly the case in new countries, society was loosely formed, and the ordinary obligations of justice were tardily enforced. The planters, adventurers from various sections, were indebted to the merchants, and having secured the services of the only attorney of the place, mocked all efforts to compel payment. The arrival of Jackson, therefore, was gratifying to the creditors; and we are told that he issued seventy writs on the following day. Whilst thus introduced into a profitable county prac

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