Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-09-02
zen image of the Enquirer's creation lit
may be well enough to indulge gentlemen, and
give reason for the faith"

" give reason for the faith"
I" bad not thought to have unlocked my lips,
q H. this unhaiowrd mir, but that this juggler,
Would think to charm my judgment, mine eyes
Z" Omruding false ruies, prank'i IN reasons garb"
The Editors Of the Enquirer may do as they
list their course il their own. 1t may he
arrogant, and supsrciIious. They may remain
close from policy as the Virgnan exultngly
suggests Perhaps sorey stricken by the
brilliant eloqurnce and " rrefutable logic" of
these "pyin,itire conSiifutondiisfs" they kiss
the dust IN silent humility However this
may be-
" IN talka worl, with this same learned Ths5ar."
Let us coatrast Mr.. Crawford, and Mr..
Adams. Let us dismiss all tumid epithets
aud lay them fairly side by side. Let us
speak of them as they are both quilted to he
| spoken of, with the respect due To distinguish
ed men--to able and long tried sci wants
| Federalism is Imputed to Mr.. Crawford.
Federalism is sounded through every note in
| the scale. The charge is repeated again--;,nd
| again. This crambe rrpetta, this hashtd
cold cabbage, is dish on every table from the
Mississippi tn ST Mary's; from st. NIary's
to Penohscot. What is the proof? Who is
the witness where is the accuser You
have seen him, republicans of the Union,
| fighting by your side with unwayerng courage
aud resolution. Not pass was gained not
a field %as won, but Crawford was there, with
|
ranks, at the onset of the struggle, WHEN
power, and wealth, and office, and patronage
were with your adversaries. You have Seem
him rise from those ranks aided only by the
| resources pf his mind and character. from the
halberd TO the baton from private to a
cheftan
These are facts ESTABLISHED by the uniform
tenor of his life. They do not depend on the
idle ipse dixit Of the press. They are inter
/ woven with the history of our country.
And yet you are called upon with those
facts staring in your faces, to believe the re-
verse; TO consider yourself the unaccountable
| dupes oil your own senses (; and to pronounce
as true, sentence which you hnosg TO be une-
quivocally false.
Aye; but the Augusta address o. He
,oas chairman Of HE committee. Be il So
Does If follow by irrefutable logic"--that the
sentiments of that address were his Is that
conclusion irresistible ? What is committee,
and what relation does chairman bear to il ?
| The committee express the will of majority
ofthcir members, which is reported by their
chairman. The chairman is the organ mere
iy of their mil, and il is perfectly absurd and
| prepostcrous tO impute a coincidence of Opt
Mon between the chairman and his report,
| from the mere fact of his signing the report as
| chairman.
II is idle tn labor this point. There is moi n
session of Congress of our Legislature OF
any parliamentary body, that does not furnish
| repeated instances of a difference of opinion
between the chairman and ma Ority Of his
committee.
! Until the fact he established then, that Mr..
| Crawford concurred in the report, not an inch,
not an ina is gained in the proof. The utmost
point Ia which the Jaws of creduliiy, can he
stretched, rs that the circumstance affords a
presumption against him-light prescriptions
weigh nothing, and conceding for a moment
| thar this WAS strong and violent one, il is adj
mitted on all hands that prescriptions may he
repealed by prescriptions and that they are
hut shadows III the balance weighed against
| proof. What presumption rcprls the inference
| of federalism WHY Ossa to a Wharf.-The
volume of his life will I've searched in vain for
IA c0rroborating circunstance-whlro opposing
evidence is found in every page, ranging" Alp
piled on Alp" Is this all Proofs furnished
Ia the contrary. The testimony of men of all
parties, every surviving eye and ear witness
linen who were upon the spot and engaged
in the transaction. If this be not sufficient
neither will We he persuaded though one
should arise from the dead
Thus it il that Error iprant and compen.
dions hops with airy and fastidous leyity over
proofs and argnrnents-and perches upon
assertion, which il calls conclusion." And i
is upon this assertion that the chimes are
pealed and changes rung.-it is upon this
conclusion thus obtained, and Il string of drduc
tons founded on the language of the address
| that the author of the Republican of '93" n
mean the author ofthe ST. v impcaches tn,
4 repnbiicanism of Mr. Crawford a writer
whose talents are justly admired, and who
could only fail to carry his readers with him
because the subject was too heavy to carry
him.
Could MIR. Crawford desire testimony {,
faultIrss and consistent coursr-he woulC
not wish prouder triumph. This Is all tina
the lynx eyed spirit Of party is enabled +,
ferret Out from the Wondering dust and rub
Dish of the past-and for this, resort is had t.
almost his very boyhood. And how has th
nasal note been twangng in our ears ?-Th,
solemn evening concerts, Of the amphibOu
gentry of our ponds and marshes, is not more
cultural, and monotonous, than this Curnle,
frtste of the Augusta address.
Look now to hr. Adams Let us test him
He was nnTiured in the admoniiion Of federal
ism. He was early innburd AT us fOmnt. II,
sprung from the loiuG fits author. It's father
was has father. He received il at the hand
OF that hcing whom on earth he was mos
hound tn honor and revere. II was his frs
love. Habit has force. Early and food rrcoI
IectIons twIne around or hearts with tena.
cIous fold. Political associations, and opin-
IONS cltave To- us invetcraIely as the tunic o
Hercules did To his skin. We may find sin
ccre repentance ~ rcligion--wh no ever believed
It IN politics. Ii is as rare as an unspUttet
leopard.
+ Mr.. Adams is a. Our ranks-rchem did h
join Us2 When orr swords were beat mi,
pruning hooks and ploughshares when tht
clouds had passed and all was smooth as tht
haze Of an auiumual SKY.
II Put ihIs QUESTION to votIr hearts Republican,