Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 1

[106] and Florida, his brutal murder of Indian prisoners in the latter Territory, his warlike tastes, his duelling propensities, and especially his sinfulness as a slaveholder and slave-trader, were all dwelt upon, and the demoralization sure to follow upon his accession to the Presidency and his introduction of the spoils system in our politics was predicted. Warning was also given of his certain hostility to any plan for the prohibition of slavery in the District of Columbia, rendering unavailing for four or eight years any efforts in that direction, and his defeat was urged, if only for that consideration. Mr. Adams's reelection was always assumed and predicted, and his able and successful administration warmly eulogized; but that the result was, after all, deemed doubtful, is evident from a brief editorial paragraph, entitled ‘Some Cause for Thankfulness,’ which appeared a few days before the election:

‘Whatever may be the result of the present tremendous¹ conflict, we shall thank God on our bended knees that we have been permitted to denounce, as unworthy of the suffrages of a moral and religious people, a man whose hands are crimsoned with innocent blood, whose lips are full of profanity, who looks on “blood and carnage with philosophic composure” —a slaveholder, and, what is more iniquitous, a buyer and seller of human flesh—a military despot, who has broken the laws of his country—and one whose only recommendations are that he has fought many duels—filled many offices, and failed in all—achieved the battle of New Orleans, at the expense of constitutional rights—and that he possesses the fighting propensities and courage of a tiger. We care not how numerous may be his supporters: to be in the minority against him would be better than to receive the commendations of a large and deluded majority.’

After the election returns had indicated the overwhelming success of the Democrats and the election of Jackson, Mr. Garrison reviewed the result and its probable consequences, in three dignified articles, under the title of ‘The Politician’; the key to his treatment of the² matter being given in the extract from Junius prefixed