The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

The Presidency. The New York American contains an able article, relative to the great political contest now going on, which, if we had room, we would copy entire. But, the following extracts accord so well with our own views of the subject, that we have selected them, as expressing those views so perfectly, as to obviate the necessity of giving them, ourselves, in any other words: —

We solemnly believe that it is important — vitally important to the issue of the great experiment now making in these United States of the capacity of man for self government, that we should prevail. Of General Jackson as an individual, we have no fears; but it is, of the principle, which, if at all, is to seat Gen. Jackson in the Presidential chair that we are deeply apprehensive. It is a principle which strikes at the root of our system. It is one of personal glorification for personal deeds in arms. It is the bowing down of millions, before the blood stained banner of one great Idol. It is the subjection of reason, of intellect, of the divine and immortal part, to the mere Moloch of war—to the fierce arbitrament of the sabre and the bayonet—to the rude violence of physical daring and brute force. Nor is this all—not only will the success of General Jackson be in itself of evil omen, as the triumph of military, over civil qualifications and services; but it is to be brought about—if (which Heaven avert) it be brought about at all—by a combination more wicked in its purpose, and unscrupulous in its means, than has ever before been organized in this country. Beginning with General Jackson himself, we see him united and most confidentially connected with the man, Thomas H. Benton, whom some years ago he attempted, in the open streets of a populous town, and in the face of day, to assassinate—and who, as lately as 1825, was still in deadly hostility to General Jackson, and spoke of him, in relation to his pretensions to the Presidency, as a man that could not write a sentence of good English. Then Mr. Vice President Calhoun and Mr. Martin Van Buren— men, who, as far as they have any principles, advised and acted upon principles at the commencement of, and previous to, the year 1825, as diametrically opposite as north and south, and who, though now acting together in one common bond of faith and hope, then despised and distrusted each other, as much as the impartial public now despise and distrust them both. And, not to particularize the minor and more insignificant personages, who have figured in this combination, we see, more recently in this state, the same Mr. Van Buren and his ancient opponent, Mr. Clinton, laying aside all their old grudges, and uniting in the one great object of turning out "tho' pure, as the angels at the right hand of God," the present administration. In this phrase, indeed, impious as it is—but most expressive. is to be found the whole secret of this combination, the sole principle of union and cohesion. Place and power, at any rate and at any cost, are to be aimed at; and in order that some dozen or twenty individuals may thus be gratified with place and power, the whole country is thrown into agitation, and the character of the nation in the eyes of the community of nations is jeoparded.

The people will judge how far they, who speaking in the mass, can receive no personal benefit from any change in their rulers, are willing to encounter the risk of removing those who have been tried and found capable and honest, in favour of untried, and we really believe, incapable competitors—competitors who having no positive merits of their own, put forward a name of renown—in the hope, the vain hope, as we confidently believe and trust— that the gratitude which rightly belongs and is awarded to distinguished military services, may in its excess and blindness, confer upon him who performed them, the reward, the high and enviable reward which alone belongs to civil talent and experience, and to high moral and intellectual character and endowments.

They will be disappointed.