Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-02-21
REMARKS ON LATE pAMpHLEr.
lfRoM THE WASHINGTON GAzErrE.1
III tli. nrndiIctinns ..f ......--. -

tne productions of the press are to be
considered as afording signs of the times, we
nave pOrtentouS omen lin the illusions of AN
author who has assumed the unprctendiny
appcllation of Zone OF the People" The
spirit and temper of his essays however com
pei us reluctantly to acknowledge that his
STOCK OF humility was exhausted in The selec-
tion oil so humble Il signature. In the pro-
gress OF the work we are led 10 the conclusion
that ON this, as on most other occasions.
"lowllness is young ambitions ladder" We
perceive that the writer is no private man
aud when in his unguardcd zeal, the mask
which conceals his visage is drawn away. we
think we descry the features of some public
parsonage who continues to wear his old and
humble garb IN the vain attempt to hide his
Interested views and party purposes. In short
1t he Is g One of the People" he il probabIv
8 One of the Rulers" also. His opinions are,
promulgated with the confidence OF a poji,ical
veteran who had witnessed the birth of our
constitutions and had guarded il in its cradle.
lie .pronounces er cathedra on the important
topics which have long employed the medi-
tations OF our wisest statesmen rejects with
unhesitating confidence the received doctrines
OF the republican party and but for the mma-
turi'y OF his opinions and the youthful charac-
Ter OF ms style, we nigh, have supposed ne.
titled him To utter his dogmas,
as who should say, am Sir Oracle
% ANA when ope my mouth, let 10 dog bark"
lis pity he had not the benefit of the sage
ADVICE which has been SD kindly aud gratui-
tously offered 10 the veteran members of the
House of Representatives, in the maiden speech
at gentleman from the state to which he
msefbelongs "To look into the constitu-
tloh more and talk about it less" He might
thus perhaps have found occasion 10 doubt
about some OF the conclusions To which his
unasslsted reason has led him and had h,.
perliSed the debates of the convention or the
proIound commentaries of " the Federalist''
which he has recommended tn others, he
might have acquired the means OF enlightenine
oilr ignorance, instead of pretending TO INSTRUCT
others before he himself was wise. He would
nave found the circumstances of the state
soVereiSn'Ies which he denounces, not a novel
~ 10 he Feprobaied, hui confesscdIy one of the
most valuable among the checks and balances
otour complicated system. He would have
found the right sustained not by g ambitious
men, of inferior talents" hut by those who
have been distinguished by the highest honors
which the nation can bestnw
Though the style of these ESSAYS is spirited
and imposing yet the productions of such a
pen Wosid excite no animativersion but for the
OCCASION and manner of them publication
They are ushered into the world with AN ex-
tra'agance of enr0mium, resembling rather
| the glare of u Flemish painting than the true
c"lorlnS ola master hand. They are offered
as AN exposition of the constitution on a IeyeI
with the essays OF the Federalst, and are
4" preserved from the fugitive columns of a
newsr per- as containing an argument g as
niSh ana impressive as can come home TO the
breast of an American | cannot saw how
this lao
meridian, but trust it will perish as ;,n exotic
IN this reviled commonwealth. The cause
from which it had its rise cannot hallow il
mere. set uuentangled in the web which i:
| already spreading for the presidency, we are
not so ardent IN the support of any one man
( as calmly To see our liberties trodden under
foot, in the attempt to pull down another:-
| and whether the author of IA political pamphlet
seeks TO thwart the views of the supporters
of MIR. Crawford from enmity to him, or from
partlality toanother, we would equally impl0r,
| him to spare the constitutions. We would
beseech HIM not TO SOW the seeds of desifuc-
| ton at moment when they are in danger
OF being nourished by the bad passions thai
grow out OF contest for power and though
| ne should dcspise our mite, we should hone
| he would not ALLEVIATE the little we have from
| the man of his own choice, by the promulga-
! ton of obnoxious opinions which cannot FIJI
TO attach TO the cause in tOhich they are adUan.
| ced.
| Appearing under such circumstances, this
pamphlet calls for some notice ; and though
| 1t would be improbable to pursue its sophisms
| throughout, yet II is proper to repel the I'LL
| bera attack which has been made on Vir.
gina to exonerate her people from the
| charge of lactiousnrss so uniustly brought for.
ward, and to maintain the right of the state
sovereISutIes to question the consttulonality
| at the measures of the federal government
we cannot calmly hear the exercise of this
hitherto unquestoncd right branded with the
name oi usurpation." We are not less a.
EARNED for the independence of tie state gov.
erDments whenwe perceive the contempttious
manner IN which they are Knocked with the
aPpellation of High Mighlinesses" by a
| pamphlcteer-the pretended oracle of the
| opinions of the people
III" One of the People" means TO assert
that this commonwealth has been always fore
most 10 maintain the rights of the states, and
distinguished FOR her jealousy of encroach.
| nents upon their sovereignty we are proud
To acknowledge it. We have watched as
zeaIously as the "wardcr upon the lonely
tower" and when it is imputed to- us as !,
crime, we may be permitted To- boast of il as
virtue Among the most strenuous in de
manding amendments TO the constitution
which might fortify our liberties, we were
ready and vigilant in observing tic practical
! operation of the scheme Of Things We were
lcalousiy alive to every manifestation Of thai
fatal spirit of aristOcracy and consolidation
winch, II we were not grossly deceived, had
animated some members Of the federal con.
venilon. No sooner had The federal govern
nent gone into operation than the iudiciar,
commenced its encroachmenls, congress be
gan to make inroads upon the constitution
ana the senate Of the u. S.--that body in,