Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-12-09

| II
so much alive 10 those measures, who
J indulge Tears that they wonld prove fatal
10 commerce. agriculture anh revenue,
should have been 50 profoundly ignorant
OF their nature. Is. to HE comtnii,rr, mosi
| incoueeIvable. Respect for The petition
ers fo:bids The impuiaiion OF any other
motive.
II is 10 be expected iha, opinions will
| he various As 10 the operation OF impor-
tant measures friends may be too san
sninc rs 10 Their good, enc nnies too easily
alarmed about their bad cHecis there
Dust be freedom, in their discussion, both
~ to their tendency, the principles on
winch they are supported, as well as the
motives of their advocates. Those who
are interested have right TO speak, by
| petition or remonsirance 10 their repre-
senta'ives, in plain, strong and bold lan>
guase. This right ia, aud ought TO be,
sacred in Il republic, even without the
guaranty OF tie constitution. Oppose
ton, OF the most decided nature, must
not only be expected, h.t shoIid be
wished, by the friends OF such measures,
as the only mode by which their praprie-
/ " and experience could be in the first
Instance asceriained. aud by which roa-
| gress would avoid the adoption of crude
and ill-advised ones. A. 10 The policy
OF the bills referred to, The commi,ite Tor
bear as wei, The expression OF any opin-
ION, as an examination Ut the reasons
| urged against laeir Adoption. Should 1t
BE- deemed their duty 10 offer them, or
| auyni 'hrri, 10 the house, HE occasion
will be ia;rly presented 10 lest The SQUAD.
ness OF the objections. urged in the pc.
! tiiors with mu1h zeal ami no little feel.
ing.
But we cannot withhold the expression
OF our epin0n, that II dero.a,ps from
the respect daf 10 this house; that, b,
abusing, il may impair the sacred right
OF pesiiion and remonStranCe, tn either
ignorani!y or wi!tully misreprssent the
proceedings OF any branch of The gov.
eminent. II prevents the fair and legili-
mate action 81 public opinion, deceIves
and misieads The people, by directing
their attention from what Is really pro
posed 10 be adopted, TO phani0ais which
exist only In The fears and ignorance OF
those who raise th-ni. l. is not Tor the
committee ioIupule 1t as iutentioDai; but
when Misrepresentation EXISTS, d spreads.
ils source becomes imaa,eTiai IN It's e..
frc's, II equally tends 10 poison and in
lan- The MINDS or The people, eXci,es
causeless alarms, and creales an unfair.
ungenerous hostility, which would MT
exist, II The subject were candidly stated
aud fairly explained
Few cases ever occur which ceultl more
| llrarly show The bad consequences OF this
perversion ana mIssta,emTal Of The pro.
ccchlngs oi the national leg stature. The
| assertion by some, and The brlist by many
iha, II was part Of The system reco,n
menIed by The cnmmi;lre OF tranmiac.
lures al The last session, TO abolish the
right of drbenlure aud ihe Whole svs:er,
! al
great alarm Ia al The comm, :,al parts
OF the nation. If iue, ii wouli Justify
their most active ppo,i,iou tn: friends
OF commerce mign; fairly say, thai It's
destruction Was a lradlns II tot av0wed
| objtci The tcs!rNgs OF HE peoii would
b. justly reused, aud conveyed in The lie
gisIalure in the Sitong, If uot Indignant
voice of those WHO. feeling themselves
assailed III their most vital interest, would
al IN self defence IN r~pciling an injury.
TIE House can well Judge Of the burst Of
public Indignation winch wuuiJ have
been called forth, had those bills con
lained tn provisions attributed, nben
their existence only in the fancy aud
Sround!ess fears Of The petitioners have
Justified them, Ill their own minds, in
| their petitions addressed 10 Inns house,
| IN aSsallin2 The motives aud la,en,ious
Of one OF your committee.
Had the petitioners understood these
| bills, had they known that iIiey did not
abolish or restrict, but retained, extended.
aud offered new subjects TO the present
| system OF draw backs provided new
and more enlarged one, leaving il al The
option OF Tie merchant in avail himself of
either not prohibiting, bat encouraging,
the expectation OF foreign produce, ROT
by aiding new, but removing existing
III lft1.s fl...- f.,.
lug, aiding aud assisting this Important
branch OF a great nationai interest, lie
committee indulge, if moi tie belief, at
least TIL hope, that tone would have
been given 10 public feeling d fierrni froc4
| whai " expressed III lIie spirit OF these pc
tiiious.
When committee, OH their RESPONSE
billy 10 the House, recommends when
The House, on IFS responsibility 10 the
nation, adopts q system which is belipv
ed TO he called tor by The public cxigen
cies, il is hoped That il is uoi expeuiing
Too much from taGse who complain thai
tley will view them as the acts, mol of an
individual, but of public body of high
Irusi, whose motives ought not 10 be
questioned, al lea-i mol without even The
color OF truth; whose conduct, motives,
public and recorded acts, should moi be
misrepreseD!ed that ~ may be held res
ponsiblr for IFS ovn conduct only, no,
for what exists not but IN the minds OF
those who create, then so feelngly deprc
cafe, their imaginary grievances aud
that those who avail themselves of The
ighi of petition should use no language
which is not respectful, and make no i'm
puiaiions which are mol true.
II, with the means which this house has
adopted 10 diiiuse information on all in