The New Hampshire Gazette

PORTSMOUTH
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1833.

"For I have sworn upon the Altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." JEFFERSON.

ASSAULT ON THE PRESIDENT.

With all their inveteracy to Andrew Jackson, it is but here and there a stray editor, and those the most reckless in their hatred and void of principle, who can have a face to palliate, much less to defend, the gross insult inflicted on the nation in the person of their much revered chief Magistrate. Still there seems to be an organized party disposed to apologise for the disgraceful act, and to shield the perpetrator, under a pretence, that he had been hardly dealt by, in being dismissed from the Navy, as they assert, without good cause. This is but an indication of what they would do, if they had but the courage to face the torrent of public opinion.

Duff Green has attempted to get up an excitement in favor of Randolph, by intimating that on the announcement of his dismission at Fredericksburg, Va. a proposition was seriously agitated to recall the invitation of the President to attend the laying of the corner-stone of the monument to Mrs. Washington, and to invite Randolph. From this statement however, he has been obliged to recant, though he has done it in such a manner as to evince his determined inveteracy against the President.

But of all the articles in palliation of this outrage, we have seen none so reckless and abandoned as that of the present editor of the New-England Galaxy. It is a source of deep mortification to us, that an editor could be found in the United States, much less in the puritan North, that could so far assume the character of the bully and gladiator, as to take up and defend the cause of a scoundrel, deemed by most men of responsibility and character, to have disgraced his country, and unworthy to be associated with the high-minded and gentlemanly class which adorn our Navy.

We marvel too, that an editor whose feelings were professedly so harrowed up on viewing a cock-fight at Craigie's bridge, could have expressed a wish to have "been by when the scuffle took place,"—and a sorrow "that the assault was not more effectual,"—that"no blow that did not miss its mark could have been aimed amiss." This is the master spirit that has undertaken a reform of all disorderly conduct in the good city of Boston! And this too, is a boasted partisan of that party, who claim"all the talent," "respectability," and "decency." We regret that there are such men,—such political fanatics, who will let their hatred to Andrew Jackson disgrace the country. To disgrace themselves, is hardly within the bounds of possibility.

Notwithstanding this regret, we are constrained to publish the following extract from this editor's remarks, merely to place it on record, however shocking may be the sentiments to every American. Here it is.

"We grieve that the people of the United States have been insulted in the person of their chief magistrate. It is deplorable that they have a chief magistrate who cannot command respect, and who so little deserves it. As for the man himself, we love not a bone in his skin, and we care not who knows it. We are sorry, since the assault has been made, that it was not more effectual. No blow that did not miss its mark could have been aimed amiss. Twenty fisticuffs would not have insulted the people more than one.

Would we had been by when the scuffle took place! We would fain have registered the hail shower of oaths, curses, execrations and blasphemies that, doubtless, were bestowed on Randolph's head by the old thunderer. We would fain have heard the creaking of his dry joints.

Never was a more forcible illustration of the ruling passion strong in death. The old hero, it is averred, instantly seized his cane, and scratched and struggled to get at his adversary. The stimulus of a brawl was as cantharides to his old age, and did him much good. It would certainly be for the benefit of his health, and increase the number of his days, to be knocked down every day.

As he is not at present very well qualified for such exercises, he ought to take lessons in the fistic art. Therefore, when he comes hither, let him place himself under the tuition of John Hudson: or perhaps one of the masters of the May-hew school would do better. They can teach him how to spell Congress, too.

We have not the least doubt that he likes Randolph all the better for this proof of sympathy of taste, and we look with certainty to see the latter re-instated before the month is out."