Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-06-13

me OocIrine. lie may want consistency ~
his political opinions, independence, or even
political h"nesiy-but he does not want SENSE
enough To dcspis. the absurdiiies which he
has condescended Ia utter at second hasd.-
HIS tone on tins subject, in fol nier Report
was 81 moderate, as to call down Mathew Ca
rey's Indignation on his head he has taken
care since L" keep fair with the manufacturers
aud the foregoing extracts can leave no room
| 10 douht OF his devotion to that policy which
all Virginia, aud you, particularly Messrs
Editors, have 81 strongly opposed. These
passages could only have been inserted :. to
curry ltvOr with the manufacturers" aud vet
by merely intcrlardng them with IA few loose
and unmeanlng expressions about - the in
crease of resenue," he has gained support
from the first republican newspaper in the
| United States, AS an enemy To the bounty sys-
tenn. say AN enemy, became in the contest
between the rights of the people, & the ndi-
rect boun,ies To manufactures, (which can nv
yer end until one or the other is completely
OverthrOwn,) no statesman can he neutral
whoever is not entirely opposed to the boun-
" system, considered rs a means of enrching
"A nation, must be- in favor of il and he who
rretends TO advocate "A middle course, innu-
enced equally by both opinions, shrws either
| a want of sense, Or a want of political honesty.
| Ii is the fashion of the day to accuse every
writer IN newspaper, who opposes one of the
candidates for the Presidency, of being a parti-
zan of one of the others; and it seems To he
relied on as good ground of defence for Craw-
ford, TO shew that those who prove him Ia be
unworthy of support, are in favor of either
Calhoun, Adams or Clay. lf we, the people,
can learn TO estimate properly the pretensions
oi all the candidates, II matters not To whom
we are indebted for information, or what mo-
i've prompted It's communication. But my
objections 10 Mr. Ora Uford do not arise from
such source I; and should be as hostile TO
either of the Others. Adams is noioriously
an apostate federaliSt, who deserted his par
y AT precisely the most convenient time, for
his own private interest-who has kept in place
under every administration, and whose princi-
pies, we havea right to suppose, could he ac
communicated To any change, or any admins
tration. jackson has no prospect of success--
and III IT were otherwise, we should well de-
serve that the days which elevated 10 the
presidency one who had so openly tramped
ON the constitution, should be the last of Anne
rIcan liberty. Calhoun and Clay, like Craw-
ford, have 50 far lost sight oflhe constitutions
and of republican principles, As To support the
protecting duty policy, and the U. 5. Bank {;
and IN addition, are the strongest advocates
for the right of the federal government To
make internal improvements, and for the ex-
power shall have been usurped, the strength
of The federal government will be Increased
tentold 1t now has only the power ofbribing
lndividuals-it will then be able, by roads and
canals, 10 bible whole STATES and clusters OF
states.
Notwithstanding the warmth with which
you have espuused Mr.. Crawford's cause,
you cannot be accused of holding him up as
taultless, or even al all worthy Ofthe digniiied
station To which he aspires and the rule
which you have stated as governing your
choice, IS IN the main, certainly corrrct-that
is, to choose the candidate who is most capa-
bile, most honest, and most faithful To- The con
stiutIon." But among such group of politi-
cal sinners, who eau select the least guilty p
To whom among them can Republican Vir-
glnIan feel disposed to lend his hearty sup
port, even against his fellows? For one,
freely declare thatl would prefer that the vote
| OF Virginia sseud be given to John Marshall,
who throughout his long public life, has most
ably, honestly, and consistently, advocated
principles which abhor, rather than To any
man who has come over tn them, and still
claims The name of Republican. Even
Dewitt Clinton, who is deservedly suspected
by all parties, and therefore would be watched
oy an, would he preferable 10 any one who
would obtain the public confidence, without
| would prefer that the vote of Virginia,
though II stood alone, should be thrown away
upon any man really deser,i ing the. highest
honor which the people can confer Nor
would such vote he entirely Mro,Un Glpau :
Though 1t might fail To elect the citizen voted
Tor, land even that is not absolutely certain. !
yet it would add greatly tn the honors which
our state has already acquired by numerous
examples OF Observation-Disclosures and patriotism :;
and the single vote of Virginia, or any other
state pursuing this digniied course, would
confer more honor on The man thus selected
Tor his honesty and fidelity, than the MAORI.
~ OF votes will ON Adams or Crawford Is
" of no use To prove that some part of the
United States Still values truth and honesty in
public men, and considers those qualities as
Indispensable IN a President ? Yet if all the
electoral votes are divided among men, not
one oil whom Is fully coniided in by any intel
hgent republican, we will thereby declare
aloud that public virtue so far from present
ing some claim to the highest Office, is not even
looked for, or valued by any portion of The
peopIe-fhat 1t is an obstacle 10 ambitious
V'ews-that, In rise To the chief magislracy
II is NOT necessary to be- The most honest, most
capable or most faithful 10 the constitution"
and that the aspirant may with safety trnckle
l"any superior, or apOstatize from the pOliti-
cal principles which are dearest to his coun-
trymeD.
The people of Virginia cannot more elTectn
any shew INTERPRETATION Of political honesty
and tdeiity TO The constitution, than bv giving
Their votes AT the Presidential ELECTION to
NATHANIEL MACON. In those two or
your three requisites, Messrs. Editors, he stands
lar above your lavorte candidate. and below M
man whatever-and political wisdom, al least
equal, can scarcely be denied by any republi-