American Watchman And Delaware Advertiser

FOR THE WATCHMAN.
To Samuel Harker, Esquire. Editor of the Delaware Gazette, Notary Public. &c. &c. Scribe and Herald of the Jackson Party in the State of Delaware. &c.
You will not take it amiss when I ask you a few questions, which, from your situation, you may be able to answer;--but if you do not see proper. you of course can do as you please. At the same time if you can feel at liberty to answer them, the public will be enlightened thereby.
Did you not say on the 1st. Nov. 1824, "that of all the gentlemen named (the then candidates for the Presidency.) Gen. Jackson appears to be the MOST OBJECTIONABLE. That he is a MAN of energy no one will doubt; but we think that in Chief Magistrate of the United States. that energy is extremely dangerous: and we have seen in the General such a disregard for the institutions of the country, such a disposition to place himself above its laws. and such an inclination to trample on the rights of others when they stood in competition with his own interests or feelings, as should render the citizens of the United States very cautious about placing him in the first office within their gift You will not deny, of course, as it is in your "Gazette." and as Jackson's actions before that time cannot be changed -what has changed your course in relation to his fitness for the Presidency? Did not L. M'Lane. in a communication in your paper signed " A Citizen of Delaware." express his decided opinion of the unfitness of Gen Jackson for the Presidency, giving, among other reasons. the General's opinion that he had a right to hang distinguished citizens of the United States under a military law, applicable only to foreigners, and stating that he (the General) had " actually shot six militia men without a trial"?
If Mr. M'Lane expressed the above unfavorable opinions of Gen. Jackson some time ago, can you tell what has changed his mind so suddenly ?
Does not L. M'Lane expect to be appointed one of Gen Jackson's Secretaries if the General is elected President, and is there not such an understanding between the leaders of the "Combination"?
Don't you know that Mr. M'Lane has pledged this State for Gen. Jackson. in consideration of his (M'Lane) being made Secretary. if Jackson is elected--thereby selling the "free and independent. Citizens" of the State as a Russian noble would his vassals:
Do you think the independent freemen of this State will submit to be sold-to have their rights and privileges bartered away by any individual. without their consent, however eminent that individual may be ;
Did not you feel some compunctions of conscience shame, when you wrote the article in your Gazette of the 18th inst., headed " Nobility," charging Judges, Clerks, Millers, and Manufacturers with aristocratic principles-talking about clean shirts, &c.?
Do you not know that the happy and peaceable farmers. (who want no offices) are generally in favor of J. Q. Adams ?
How much money has Louis M'Lane had from the public treasury?
How much has his worthy father had from the public Treasury : Has it amounted to 1, 2, or 3000 dollars ? "Has he not been in office longer than John Quincy Adams? Has he not been as well paid for his services as ever Adams was ? I do not make this inquiry out of disrespect to the old gentleman; because for aught I know, he has been a faithful servant, and there may have been no good cause for displacing him :-but those who fatten on the public should be. the last to complain of others :-ne Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones."
Which is most aristocratic-for a Judge to say people are decent and have clean shirts, or for a Jackson lawyer to say that any man who labors for his daily bread ought not to have a voice in a public meeting 2
Do you not believe the Administration Candidate Kensey Johns, Jr., will have a majority of 800 or 1000 throughout the State?
Is your new establishment in Wilmington " solid" or not ?
Is your paper independent, or is it governed by L. M'Lane and a few more Jackson leaders?
Do not your masters ride you too hard and turn you too short ?
Do you not feel some pricks of conscience when you fabricate falsehoods ?
How much money are you paid independent of your " subscription list," for supporting Jackson?
How can you assert deliberately that you believe Senator Johnson never said the Administration must be put down " though pure as the angels," when it has been proved to the satisfaction of all unprejudiced minds?
Can a farmer or blacksmith build as good a house as a carpenter or a mason ?
On the contrary, can a carpenter or a mason farm as well as a farmer, or make a chain as well as a blacksmith ? I say, can any man understand and transact business that he is not acquainted with ?
May not a fortunate General be a very ignorant statesman ?
Was not a very eminent statesman be a very ignorant General?
Have not all the Republics that have gone before us fell a sacrifice to military ambition and tyranny?
Are not people more likely to yoke themselves willingly to the car of a military despot than to a great statesman ?
If you make such much noise (as little men are apt to do. do you think there are silly people enough in the State of Delaware to make it pass for thunder ?
COMMON SENSE.