The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-08-22
TIE Enquirer mol iafalliJle !

The friends of Mr. Crawford claim for
him tile distinction of being the only lepi-
innate republican candidate, boldly main.
tanning that he is a republican Of the JEFF.
lerson school. After adsertng To his hos
tiity to some of the most important mea.
sures of Mr.. JelIerson's administration.
and other alterations from republican
principles recorded against him, Ito saw
nothing Of his approval Of the admnistra-
ton which got up the odious alien and Sc
ditious laws, in 49, it would be supernu
Gus 10 dispute the modesty and verify of
these pretensions. However, let his friends
make the most of them. The Richmond
Enquirer, with much frankness and sin.
cerlty, admits that Mr.. &. carries these
+" blots in his escutcheon," but claims to
support him, as the "ieast ofevils" Upon
this point, hewever, there seems 10 be an
honest difference of opinion" among the
members of the republican party, and we
believe in the end that majority will
adopt the adverse sentiment. Having as
sumcd this high ground for their candidate.
the friends of Mr.. Crawford have with
equal candor and ,erucity placed his prn-
cipal opponent on Another equally lavora-
BILE TO their views. They have dubbed
Mr.. Adams the federal candidate. We
wish TO know few things before we can
decide whether he merits this tite more
than Mr. Crawford. Did Mr. Adams ever
make Il formal declaration of his approval
of the high handed measures of President
Adaias's administration We wish to
know, too, whether voting Independently
upon every question, while a Senator OF
the United States, and often in dii ect OPP
position To the federal votes, can proper
IL ,c considered as evidence Of Mr.. A
dams adhesion to any party, bat more
particularly 10 the fedora. party? Is il a
proof Of his federalism that he should have
| resigned his seat in the Senate of the L.
States, for no Other reason than because
he could not coincide in opinion with the
federalists who composed the majority Of
his constituents Was not the very act
of his resignation under such Circumstdn-
| ccs, an evidence of republcanism which
some OF the most ausiere republicans have
failed To exhibit when brought to the test ?
We reco!cet about the period of his resig-
nation the Joy which was manifested by
the epubcans--not at the.acqusition Of
| an apOsiate from the federal ranks, but Of
a man OF splendid talents ana umdoubttd
| patriotism, tho had never owned allcgi-
ance to any political patty and who, al
tho representing federal state, had never
Ecnrolled himself among the enemies Of Mr..
JeueIson's administration, nor by any act
whatever eflnced Il subser,lencv to tie
Interests of the federal party. -Such was
the sentiment OF the republicans of that
day IN relation to John Quincy Adams,
as Tar az We were able To ascertain it;
what he has since done TO alter it We have
yet 10 learn. But, say his opponents, all
the iederallst. are on his side in the contest
Tor the Presidency, and this is the best
evidence IN the world of his being a fe-
dcrallst. We confess the evidence would
be very strong, u ii teaS true but we hap
pen to know that 1t is not As far as our
personal knowledge extends, we undertake
10 say, that the tederalists ure uncommon
y 'iukewmm On the occasion, aud care
very little whether Crawford or Adams is
the man but those who have any prcler-
ence are lwo to enc in favor of Mr. Craw-
ford. So we give that gentlcman's party
Warning TO be careful how they talk about
trdei allsm. They may give umbraae TO
their friends, and lose many votes.
t.hoJotk HcyGlG.