Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-08-19


acted differently: That nntwilh Standing W.
will not put such principle inip the consiiu
iinu, vet officers shall b. hound to conform,
10 il upon their peril. 1t shall he one of thas,
hidden requirements, not "Dr;by la hs ingrait
I'd upon the written and open rule of Our
conduc', but which, si,.rping upon the capri
cious tyranny of public opinion, shall rise
when awakened bv intrigue, IL devour who
ever shall dare tU diSrtS gard lt.-As well might
wealth, talents, numerous connections, pupu
arity or any other circumstance indicating iu-
euence, Ice objected In me in AN appointment
made 10y secretary, as the one ist mention
cd, it being equally, by Law, no disqualification.
Such Inconsistency il is most de,ouuy 10 be
hoped will not characterize rejecting and
sUber-minded people. But the worthy and
pous actors of tins detestable maneavrnS,
not contented with the defeat their shameless
purpose had experienced, but doubtless inham-
ed by the resentment, and stung by the mort
ication which corrupt and unsuccessful All
ventures never fail to inspire, and still anxious
10 serve parsonage, whose cause. by their
conduct, they plainly evinced could not be
supported by honorable and open argument,
once more Yielded TO the suggestion of crmi-
nal artiice aud ventured upon plot, the most
malignant that perlidy could conceive, and the
most feeble aud Inefficient that cunning could
devise. How il has been traced, exposed and
fuiled, is too well known 10 need explanation
IL is not much my business To describe the
cabdl as 10 shew the connection OF It's motives
with the ruin of Mr.. Crawford.
This attack upon him was the more cruel
because il was an attempt Ia make the very
misiurlunes of the people, whom these men
represented, and which had been relieved by
tie hene, client policy of the secretary, sub
serve the hagitious purpose ofhs destruction.
Ii - hat
of the whole western country was in the most
ruinous condition, and in consequences oft,
the hopes and prospects of that industrious
and generous people were unspeakably Gala
mItous, and that in many instances their pecu-
mary suTcriugs had reached their last degree
"fendurauce. II is also another well known
fact that very large portion OF the public re-
venue, from the sale of western lands, was Ia
bc collected and drawn from tins ruined cur
rency and suffering people. Now let any can
did mind enquire, how the secretary was 10
act IN this melancholy and appalling state uf
things. Ills duty and official character on the
one hand, and On the other, the distresses of a
people possessing every claim TO respect,
which the love and service of country aud an
exalted sense of honor could confer. Ought
he, like Shylock, to have eXacted the pound
UI flesh? Should he have said 10 the public
collectors, receive nothing but gold aud silver,
and deposit your money no where but in the
branches OF the United States Bank My
God such course of conduct would have
been barbaruus aud savage in the extreme,
and il lac had found it dictated by rigid and
Imperious necessity, he should have resigned
MS Office bei"re resOrilnS 10 such a dreadful
alternative. He however al the risk of his re-
pmtaIi0n and political fortunes pursued diff
lerent course, and il is not IN the mind ufman
a. n "a, nNt fhat it.,if
hazard ard difficulty which he has had Ia
encounter, in order 10 secure the revenue and
save the people. And now let us ask what has
been lost : This is tile test of faithful conduct.
Who could, ask, and ASK il triu,nphantly,
have better managed this profound, intricate
and interesting subject Look over the " hole
ground, examine to TIE very bottom, all the
details of this widely ramiied business, and
there will he found united TO the most mimi
table skill and integrity, the most jusifable
Official berality.
Now it was anxousy hoped that, some
where in The devious course which his gene
rous plan had TO pursue, and among the rnuI
ep!ied agents necessarily employed TO give
Success To MS execution, deficiency would be
found, and as the head suffers for lis members
all the delinquency and IT'S disgrace would be
reflected upon the unfortunate secretary -
What a hustle ensured; what agitation what
enquiry Banks, documents, public aud pri-I
waite printing Offices were ransacked, and this
secret rummagng was continued from week
In week and from session To session of con-
gress; the midnight lamp was not spared 20
assist In The deep research. And behold how
has II terminated Even with the aid of for-
gerB'a wretched abortion has been the result.
and the secre tary's conduct has been pro-
nounced 10y the competent tribunal, To be en-.
tlrCiy free from the slightest rrprUach hipblV
honorable TO himself, and greatly profitable ia
his government SO that his hitherto unsullird
character, cuntrastcd with the hdlrfu cloud
which has been made 10 pass over it, breaks
from under IL with renewed aud additional
splendor.
have now gone through the. first head OF
This enquiry, and perhaps unnecessarily en-
larged upon tie subject, for might have con
tented any hOnrsi and every reasonable man,
with production, as lawyer would term u,
of the record of Mr.. Craw lord's signal yindi.
! cation and acquitial. Upon this, every princ
| pie OF justice entities him Ia Insist. The
question has been before the representatives
al the whole nation, where pro sceutors OF the
most III urlDg acStity were not wanting, in
reach of every possible means of Information,
where the cause has been heard and re-hcard
| argued and re argued by COUNSEL not without
the usual induceneDl for zeal, under crcum
stances OF most sober and patient inve stigatiou.
Surely with such verdict a conscientious
people will be satisfied.
Eriract Of q letter from " Cgrolina.
" Oar political atms phcre appears to he thickeninp
and ! ieaI will soOn be much agiiatcJ Tie clouds
winch oyerhaugus, proceed from different causes and
eiIheT Of ihem sufficient to produce considerable eX
ci'cnieni bat IL they should he unired in Nuveni-
her ntXt IN Metropolis, may Drotuce very INFER