The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-10-10

b6"so onu SONDuCTCC Vi Ills otdNC Tie
had eloquence, if he had chosen to ap.
ply il sufficient to have explained the
principles, which ought to have Induced
him 10 ask the exposition of a measure
SO pcrnicious In its effects. With the
same eloquence which he has SO bouD,i.
tifuliy lavished in the vindication of his
own conduct, he might at least have IL
Illustrated this important theory oflegisla.
ton. If he could not arrest the thunder
bolt, the energy which he is capable Of
displaying ought to have been exerted,
in endeavouring to afford his influence,
however weak, in the defence of his con.
stituents. So far from showing any dis
position of that sort, openly, and withou,
the least disguise, he acknowledged the
responsibility Of the executive a, a suf
ficient guarantee for his vote. He con-
sidered it unnecessary to deliberate, but
felt himself bound to act. Read his own
language. 'I a1onid nor consider, I
| Suould nor deliberate. 7 7vould Get the
! president has recommended the measure
on his high responsibility"
He accordingly dissented from his
colleague and sanctioned the adoption of
the embargo. In this instance he evidently
showed an utter contem p, for the interests
of the state which he was representing,
and the most unqualified submission to
| executive recommendation. From this
| unexpected and astonishing change o.
| principles, there arose controversy
between him and MIR Pickering Although
the subject was viewed in different aspects
by those gentlemen, vet more than
argument, on the part of Mr.. Adams.
| was deemed necessary to convince every
candid mind, that he had acted from
| pure motives. Mr.. Pickering believed
that neither the circumstances of the
| country, or the documents which were
| presented to the senate, could Justify a
measure revolutioniziDg the commercial
system of the nation. With due regard
to the acknowledgement of general
Smythe, that MIR. Adams Frustrated his
adversary in this dispute, the general has
been unable to explain the detection oil
his own formidable opponent. He has
not penetrated into the arcana of the
human bosom, and discovered those
sources oil interest which warp the
| Judgment, or lead the lmjp6rtP Gin he
Iunlolded to the searcher of hearts. and :,
is ieft to us to suspect, till suspicion be
removed by the clesrest evidence. Since
the overthrow OF the federal party Mr.
ADAMS had not been regarded by lhei,
successors with the ieast degree Of
confidence or respect. They thouob,
that lis political tenets were so STRONGLY
thctured with aristocratical features as 70
exclude him from any participation in
the honors OF republican administration.
Ills whole life had manifested the u;nos,
aversion TO the party then in power
Their creed in his mind was heterodox
and any proof were wanting of difference
OF political opinion, it is TO be found in all
his writings previous to his disaaectiop.
Since bis accession to the republican
standard,he has been abundanlly re warded
Tor The splendid labors which he has
afforded TO the government Offices
have been crowded upon him, until h.
has reached the ladder, mounting 10 the
highest seat in the temple Of freedom.
The people have the prerogative off
deciding, whether he shall arrive at tina,
transcendant dignity or whether il shall |
be bestowed on consistent republican, |
Or on one, who, by an act, if spriDgiDp !
from an impure source, has furnished |
the lusire of a reputation however dazzling
in bri!liaDcy, or by what means il NAV
have been acquired. II seems to me
that the purity Of our republican
iosli'utio3s is to be preserved only by the
exercise of long and undertaking course
of virtue and patriotism. The distinction