Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-09-30
HENRY
FOR THE ENouIRRE

FOR THE ENQUIRER.
have long witnessed with increasing inter ST. the
increasing warmth and Of the contest among
the various friends and of the different
candidates for the presidency of these United States
have long seen with and regret tlia, many
narIow-minded and infatuated pariisans, blinded to
the broad, general and complicated interests of an
extensive community, and regardful only OF the adj
vancement OF sordId and individual purposes, shou i'd
so long have torn and misguided the sentiments of
credulons and vrluous people. In what labyrinth
OF nonsense does man involve himself, who abours
TO maintain falsehood by argument p! The nonsense
and iasehood OF many of This mean aud conien pbe
brood oil underling politicians have been happily de-
tected aud successfully exposed As cannon assume
the dictatoriai tone OF newspaper editor the
stretch OF my ambition shall not transcend the iowiy
and inferior limits Of the unenviable and Improbable
province oil comment and examination. Ii is
however from the characters have just described
That the greatest danger OF imposition AN enIg heu-
ed community is TO be unprecedented /; for the hreug
aud frivolous panegyrist, even the most ubpracsed
IN the willy ways ofpocs may easily detect but il
is from the mistaken predictions Of intelligent men
who may be purely honest and patriotic, that fear
Virginia will be led to give her support him. who
is not perhaps The mos, deserving Of her confidence
! shall begin this irksome undertaking by entering
upon an examination OF some OF the arguments con-
tanned III the last vi " four letters addressed TO the
people Of the United States by fellow ciIizsn" |
admit without any sort of hesitation hat the author of
these elaborate productions, has manifested a jealous
and becoming eagerness for the establishment OF his
propositions but at the same time am we'll aware
that success IN work Of invention is not always
pToportiouaie 10 labour" And really think the
subject which he has undertaken, is one which re-
quires an inventive and creative talent ; and altho'
lie seems 10 have possessed respectable portion and
10 have exercised most ardently and perseverngy,
sill am humbly of opinion that he has failed in the
accomplishment OF his object In his commencement
be declares his conviction of the peculiar decacy
OF his subject-there give him my aud
completes concurrence. But The characters OF can
didaies soliciting the sufages of the people pub
lie properly All have right to knowledge of ihem
AL have a right 10 canvass and scrutinLe the
ouy means OF acquiring IL. Aud when anonymous
publication appears 10 u newspaper advancing argu-
meuis aud facts, the very medium through which, il
comes is direct challenge 10 the world for refua-
ton Such then is the only apology shall offer for
| the following observations.
The second paragraph OF this letter commences
thus " IL is far from my intention 10 become the
set eulogist of Mr.. Crawford" Whether this writer
has deceived himself or not, his words will bur
determine That surely test TO which he will
object. In speaking of Mr.. Crawford he uses tile
following expressons flushed classical aud sci
enifc scholar-a mind OF the most masculine yigor,
and profound penelration-such was the strength OF
his memory aud the force Of his genius, he acquired
more learning IN two years, than the usual hard
requirement Of four-aI the head Of his profession
(the law )-hs talents Notwithstanding a public
aud private reputation seldom equaed and
excelled ~ this or any other country."-If candoHr
and lmparaliiy do not pronounce this 10 be euLogy,
confess have but indistinct conception of the
meaning of the term. To be 90 finished classical
and scientific scholar" aud " almost sef-iauEht"-
self educated under the pressure of poverty aud all
| its anxieties"-s indeed more than had supposed
man with human faculties merely capable oil becow-
ing man with abilities rather more brilliant than
the generality OF mankind possess, by under going
long, tedious aud luxurious course of industrious APP
pcltlou, may pei haps acquire smatleriBg OF gener-
al literature but TO become 4" finished classical aud
scientific scholar i'm the present age Of literary inn
provement, when learning is so extremely mVtfarI-
Gus aud abstruse, is perhaps more than the human
faculties entirely upguided and unasssied can
plish. Having thus bestowed upon Mr.. Crawfords
| mental qualifications, almost every epi,het Of
distinction and pre-eminence which the Language
would afford, he proceeds vefy eanddly and
! ing niously and says This then is the cha
ractei, whose capaciiy-we are about TO con-
| slider" Here then commences the argument
| 10 prove that Mr. Crawford ~ in reality what his
friend has Represented him 10 be and The whole Of
IL is contained 10 this single interrogafOry abiding TO
/ his exalted standing" 10 the coUatry-" can any
one believe that This moral phenomenon has resulted
from any thing short OF talents, aud those too OF the
most recondite description i'WOuld an affirmative
reply 10 this leading question: he the result OF era
oual inference ?" T. il admissible according the
rules OF ordinary nationality, to conclude f. ON the
single circumstance Of mans occupying an exsll-
ed standing" unsupported by additional and concur
rent proof thai he is possessed Of talents Of the
| most" reconcile description - Have we not seen
~ least one lamentabe instance the contrary ~ the
short career which have already run aud that
IT time when there hundreds Of individuals 10
the country having equal claims upon public graft
iude--equay merliOrious and distinguished upon the
score Of public services II is not the office that
/ fleets distinction and honour upon the man, but the
man apon the Office. Unless Mr. Crawford ha,
evnced in the discharge Of his official duties suci
abilities as would become a secretary OF the treasury
The office has dsgraced him. Therefore u Is no
logical 10 Mr. Crawford is secretary OF The treasury
Whoever is secretary ofthe treasury profess tai
gDis Of ihe most +" reconcile description" Conse
quenty Mr.. Crawford possesses talents nf the mos
q recondie description The non seqtdiw is mani
fest 80 soon as the argument y shro~n INTO The 70