Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-06
RICHMOND. DEcEuDrR 6.
THE MESSAGE.

No. \.
The Message OF the2 instant conlss
to Us without amy of The extraordinary
grac Of composition. II boasts nat
The dsniiied style of Washington, the
sparkhng elegance of Jefferson, or the
dense and logical precision OF Madison
II is the plain communications of plain
man: simple and unadorned in its man.
ner, occasionally rough, freQuen,lv cner-
gctir. As We proceed, we see no flowers
strewed along our path-no attempt 10
please the ear or charm the Imagination:
no false CLOSES TO pallate error or dis
gNise the trutli-bui plain unyarnish-
ed tale" of tho state of the nation, or a
iraiik exposition of the principles on
which The government means 10 proceed.
There is candour ui manner, a siinpllri-
IL of style, which no less than the weight
OF the subjects of which lie treats, win
our attention, and carry us with pleasure
10 the end of his message.
Such are the traits which distinguish
tbe paper before us-Sucb are those which
have marked almost every public com
position Of Mr.. Monroe. Peruse all his
pieces al home or abroad while Il mi
mister at foreign courts, Il Governor of
Virginia, or Secretary al state, and Nou see
the Same-no grace, no elocution, no
plain statement Of plain mana man,
who is sometimes Misled and sometimes
errs, but who always labours 10 lay his
ideas and principles fairly brlure you.
1t WAS this spirit which ran throughout
his Inaugural Speech on accepting the
first Office in this country, and perhaps
the first in the world-it was this spirit
which runs through the paper before us.
Some persons may be disappointed at
seeing IN this message no illusions TO the
tour of Mir. Monroe, during the last sum
mer-They will, perhaps, see no lights sled
by II on the state of the nation no infor-
nation given, which the President might
not as well have gathered from the stores
OF his own mind or from the bureaus of
Washingion.-But we are not disappoint-
ed at This result; we have never INDUCED
such sangaIue expectations from flat O.
vent as some have anticipated. We still
tlink that the President might safely
trus! 10 ihe eyes of others for any specific
information he might require as to the
best sites for Notifications, or the actual
situation of our forts, navy Yards and ar
mics that he would lave no time 10 give
them deliberate view; and that such
man, as a Bernard or McComb, sent ex-
pressly on tour of discovery, nor drawn
away by the ceremonies ola GROVE, would
have every opportunity of obtaining the
information which the Chief Magistrate
of the nation might wish 10 receive. The
manner otlls reception by the people was
certainly calculated 10 defeat The great
object he had in view. The ceremony
which was made to surround him; the
crowd that followed at his heels the
COMMITTEES, The constituted authorities,
the private persons, that pressed around
ha taL on mr. IL
dresses and preparing answers, engaged
ms attention, and did not permit him To
see with critical eye what he might have
wished 10 have seen.
In trutk, the tour Of The President seems
to have been of little assistance TO him in
preparing the message before us: nor was
IT necessary. He had subjects enough
before him 20 interest the nation. He has
given aview Of our foreign relations, which
was necessary 10 correct MANY erroneous
IDEAS that were afloat He has given us
700, picture Of our country, Of lis CON
dltIon, and IFS prospects, which is ola ma
lure 10 CHARM every, American that sees
1t, and almost 10 asIonish the natives of
other clmes. Familiar as we are with
these things, and proud OF the destiny
which distinguishes us, he has contriyed
TO bring ogethcr some new facts, and TO
TO give us more enchanting picture of
American aliairs.-lt is with this impress
sion we lay down The message. With this,
re shall commence the few hasty re.
marks which we mean 90 make upon it
We cast our eye over the whOlp--and we
shall group the pleasing traits which are
scattered through it,
The message opens with congratulate
ons on the prosperous and happy coa-
dItion of our country" What are It's
proofs lie tells ns " the abundant fruits
of the earth have filed it with plenty
An extensive and profitable commerce
has greatly augmented ourreyenue'-dnd
O1icomfoFts.
s The public credit has attainedan ex-
traordlnary elevation" public stocks
are eagerly sought for at home ana d
broad. After paving off all our expcn-
ces; after supporting Our civil govern
meut, our military and naval establish
meni#: after extending our range of for
fi6cations, erecting new arsenals, laying
in new stocks of large and small arms,
purchasing timber for ships of var, and
building new ones, thus adding TO tdat
natural arm of Ourdefen, q, and iliat proud
instrument of our glory after paying off
the interest ON the whole 1T our public
debt, we have Succeeded during the cur
rent year, in evlinguisIing mare haa
eighteen millions NJ the plpcjpdi.
We are told, that in two years from this
time the whole of lie Louisiana debt will
be discharged & iIins 4 territory viii be
paid for, whose acquisition she'd stream
of glory upon republican aimiGiSlyHi-
on, and whose ralne deilcs all arllbmetl-
cal calculation. When that claim is paid
of, we must then cause ~ tie redempii-
on Of the public debt--not from llie want