Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-03-19
RICHMOND. MARCH 10.

FOX TIL = ENQUIRER.
In a great political emergency The tale nts
OF every man belong to the state; and whatever
may be his private business he is bound at the
call OF his country, to abandon ii for a Will. ::
and contribute his mite. however small 10 the
public good for, II II should answer no other
goon end, Ill viii serve expression of
public opinion. which IN this country ought 10
be the seacOn TO guide the helmsman If state.
lie who sits with his arms folded, When he
sees the liberties of his country attacked be
comes participation inthe crime by his tacit
assent 10 tile outrage. have read with
surprise the STRUCTURES on Mr.. Lacock's Re
port on the Seminole war with more surprise
have seen that piece containing such a
malignant allusion as is contained ip the first
note 10 that piece, should have been admitted
into the columns of the National Intelligencer
and copied thence into the Enquirer than thai
man should ne found capable of writing snch
production. The press should everhe omen
TO structures on tie public conduct of the
agents OF the people; but should never be
stained by a libel on the private character of
distinguished citizen, accused of no other
crime iian boldly daring to defend the cOnst
tutiOn OF ms country against violation who
supported by tue conscious reetitude of his
intentions, and the firm conviction that he is
doing his duty, opposes himself to the fame of
tile most distinguished military officer in this
country. and to the Executive of the United
States. True. those Structures carry with them
their ownantidOte. The maIienity the paIna HE
deductions, apparent on the face Of them. viii
be tue best preventive 10 any evil effects TO
which they could give rise. Bad indeed must
thai cause be which forces its defenders to use
such weapons
The author Of those Strictures asserts that
be has had access 10 documents the perusaI of
which has convinced him that the Report of
the select committee OF the Senate is alike
utJuStnaDle ia temper, igument and state
ments. Why then does he not produce them
Shortsighted and infatuated as he is he cannot
aliHde To The documents annexed 10 his Strc
tuTes, every one OF which is direct confirma
uon OF the Facts stated by the committee, ex.
cePt the testimony of AdI't Butler, which
slaii houce hereaiter-aludinC however for
the present to some OF his preliminary remarks
lie Is astohished at the institution of such an
enquiry into the conduct of General Jack son -
rms Is mere candid confession than could
nave oeen expected fr0mfo warm pariizau,
goI whIch I'VE must be indebted TO his infatuaf.
ca determination to defend the conduct of
zen jackson IN every extremity. Has Gen
jackson already risen so high that his follow
srs are surprised that the Senate ofthe United
States Shonld have the temeritv 10 mamie In, n
and complain Of his cOnduct2 SbaII tl,st No,
ne considered as cause of comuIatnf .,,ainst
him, whIch13 years age was thourht a MI; cio - :
one against George the Third thar ' Le ba a
anecIed 10 render the military independent OF
ana superior to the civil power" How far
would this candid author have had hin, to bas,.
gone III h's career. trampliug with equal hmm.
nifty on The legislative power of Congress and
the rights of the individual states, before he
would have had thus enquiry 20 commence D.
Would he have waited till like Capsar be Lad
passed the RubicOn, and rendered his own or
ms cOuntry's destruction certain No-uo
nation ever began an enquiry into the conduct
OF iaVorite military officer too early All
experience has shown, that mankind are more
disposed 10 suffer, while the evils are snffera.
PIE, Than diminish the sum Of their own tame
by premature and too strict enquiry into the
conduct Of an officer whom they themselves
have appointed.
But Tie report OF the committee is also oh
Jectionable-I, because tits designed 10 ig,pute
the cause OF the war to our own officers and
executive, laying aside all provOcation aud
aggressI9n on The part Of the indians" This
~FHer Is as unfortunate ~ his statements OF
fact, as lie is 10 his expressions OF oninion
iie comnitPe, after giving plain statement
o. ihe tdcts that had caused considerable
addition TO the number OF the Seminoles, their