Phenix Gazette

From the Ohio State Journal.

THE OPPOSITION.

The honest, liberal, and high minded views of the opposition will appear fully developed by an extract from the National Intelligencer in this week's paper. The people of the United States will learn with surprise and indignation, that Messrs. McDuffie, Saunders, Van Buren, and others, who compose the head of the opposition, expect to make a tool of the citizens of these United States, to put down the administration, "though" (we quote their impious language) "it were as pure as the Angels which stand at the right hand of God!" This declaration of their object fully accounts for all the vituperation and abuse, which they have on the floor of Congress. condescended to heap upon Mr. Adams and Mr. Clay. It accounts for the paltry and illiberal means to which the opposition to injure the private and public character of the administration in the estimation of the people. The members of the opposition in Congress have not only contended against the adoption of the measures which the administration and its friends avow and support, but it would seem have also been pursuing without any public motives, the dictates of their personal animosity against the individuals composing the heads of the government. Do the people ask of their Representatives thus to indulge on the floor of Congress, their personal pique and private feelings; thus to oppose every measure of the administration whether right or wrong

The opposition have avowed what no party ever avowed before—that they as public men, are determined to put down the officers of the government, solely from dislike towards them as individuals. Lost, however, as the members of the opposition seem to be, to a proper sense of the dignity of their stations, of that magnanimity which descends not to degrading weapons of attack against public men; yet we are far from believing that all their ardent animosity has arisen from the vehemence of personal hatred and disappointed ambition. On the contrary, it is evident from the opposition of Virginia and other states to the administration, who were, before the election of Mr. Adams, friendly to him, and would next to Mr. Crawford, rather than Gen. Jackson, elevated him to the Presidency—that great, prominent, and important political principles are involved, and that the ascendency of those who manifest so much personal hostility to the President and Secretary of State, over those who are friendly to the leading measures of the Executive would be fraught with consequences fatal to the best interests of the Northern States, and more particularly to the dearest interests of Ohio. It is well known that Virginia and other slave states in the opposition, have declared themselves opposed, and wrathfully exclaim against the encouragement of Domestic Manufactures and the promotion of Internal Improvements. The leading measures which the President has recommended and of which Mr. Clay has so long been the champion, are upon these subjects; and to the furtherance of these by the general government, the people of Ohio look for much of their future prosperity and greatness. And who first opposed and have continued to oppose every proposition upon these subjects? The leading members of the opposition. It is not with the people of Ohio at least, a question about men, but of measures—although the opposition, for the purpose of making the enthusiastic gratitude of the people towards Gen. Jackson, an instrument in their hand to hurl the President from his seat and open a way for the gratification of their own ambition and the exercise of the principles which they have avowed, are willing to make it ostensibly a question about men. It is evident that the moment they attained the ascendency, that moment every measure for the extension of Internal Improvement and the promotion of Domestic Manufactures would be stayed. Should the people of Ohio follow the slaveholding states in their opposition to Mr. Adams and Mr. Clay, because forsooth the slaveholding states cannot become a manufacturing people and cannot be materially benefited by Internal Improvements. Shall we follow in the wake of this opposition, and strengthen them by our power to put down the administration, whether its measures be wrong, when the interests of the opposition and their principles are directly opposed to ours? Or shall we on the other hand forego all our personal feelings towards public men, and yield them our countenance and support so long as they pursue measures in accordance with the general welfare of the Nation. Is it for the people of Ohio to be led astray from the path which leads them to prosperity and greatness? Is it for them to assist those to power who will exercise that power to the injury of Ohio, on account of grateful sentiments towards the hero of a glorious battle. If Gen. Jackson had not received from the American people the laurel due to the brave—if his services had not been requited in a manner the dearest and most pleasing to the heart of a general, by cherished recollections of his services and ardent feelings of gratitude for the glory which he shed upon the nation—then indeed, notwithstanding the powers of his mind may have been devoted to the army and field of battle, instead of the cabinet and our relations with Europe, yet our own interest in the measures to which the opposition are hostile might well be sacrificed by elevating him to the Presidency. But General Jackson has long seen the eyes of Americans beam forth his glory; and whenever a leader shall be required, his name would be the rallying word of the nation. If then his services have been duly appreciated, it is conceived that Ohio ought not to sacrifice her own interests to one to whom the sacrifice can yield no higher renown than what he now possesses. Above all, for this state to be the tool and pander of such men as McDuffie, Saunders &c. would be a degradation to which we conceive she will never subject herself.