Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-09-19

he voted against biif for ti,e suppression Of
the slave trade, because he did not believe
that al hdt tame congress had the rghtiul au-
thorliy 10 enact The law heing, huve,er,
orerrui"d by majority the very next session
he si'siains the satne measure, Yields l,is for
mer fixed opinions upon no other ar better
ground, than that he WAS bound by the pre,i-
Gus decision made, and which, according to
ms own view, determined the legitimate pow
ers oi congress On the matter. This is indeed
making of the constitution I" a nose of wax" to
be moulded aud fashioned according to the
whim or caprice Of single congress- Mr.
Adams, by his own admissions, is placed in
The same dilemma in relation To the various
questions growing out of the acquisition of
Louisiana and The admission of the Lower
Louisiana INTO the union for upon the law
relating to the government of Florida, he has
surrendered his own opinions To shape them
according Ia the prrcedents set by his pred.
ccssors. To confidng and enlightened p,o-
pie there can be no class of politicians so OBJ
noXious, as those who on all occasions, are re-
sorting to previous determinations 10 maintain
Their s,anding or To justify their acts. Fer
without meeting in fair discussion the merits
ofany question, theirs is hut the constant cry :;
T." II was so decided by those who have gone
before us" thus substituting the judgment of
Others for their own, and avoiding that direct
responsibility imposed bv their station.
nave now, IN my own plain way, attempt
ed 10 answer the varlous objections urged by
Roanoke IN so imposing manner against Mr.
Crawford but before conclude beg leave
To solicit tic attention of the reader 10 some
circumstances which appear To he deserving
oi great consideration. IL is endeavorcd nj
the present day Ia impress on the public mind,
that Mr.. Crawford ought not To be considered
tIaa al.
supporters of Mr. JeGrrson's administration ::
& his votes on the embargo and bank bills nave
been mainly relied on for this ubjecf. Now il
is unequyocally asserted, that the state of
Georgia was throughout the whole term of
MI Jeierson's presidency, classrd and coms-
uered among the most decidedly democratic
states. hlr.Craw for.i was in Nov 1907 elected
To the senate from this democratic state he
voted against the embargo in the December
oi that year, and was known to be in favor % {
the renewal Of the charter of the Bank of the
U. s.; and sill in February 1871, the Journals
of the senate exhibit the fact of his recollection
for SIX years by the democratic legislature Ur
thls democratic state, as a member of the SEN
ale from the 4th of March 1915 and in the
spring of 1879 we find this gentleman elect d
ny the democratic senate of The United States
the president pro tcmpOre of that body. Can
any one believe, that when the whole course
ot MIR. Crawford was observed, well known
and fresh in the remembrance ofail, he would
have received these unequivocai evidences 0f
| the confidence of the democratic party, if he
had belonged 10 the opposition ? That the
republicans of the country would have assU-
| clated with linn as one of them, and la,ishrd
their faVors On him, had he been al the parti-
cular time referred io) even doubted or sus-
prcted! None but the most blind 10, or igno-
rant OF, the obvious motives by which The re-
publican party was actuntrd at that day, can
entertain such absurd opinions. The palriarchs
Ufihe party know The value aud place the true
estimate on the tried republican character of
William ii. Crawford T.; they had far brtirr
opportunities than Roanoke of observing his
conduct and of scanning his motives thea
did not view his acts through the uh.Cmring
mist OF prejudice, nor were their judgments
speiI-bound by that factions strife which in the
contest for power, seems in the present day tn
destroy the impartiality of the clearesi heads.
For one ! must eXclaim, Z" | like [nutl this
rocking of the hat,lemenis" ; il may suit the
gloomy purpose" of some, but | trembe lest
in their unhnly struggles to grasp at power,he
may break down the pillars of the coastitu-
ton, aud involve in anarchy and confusion our
doubly blessed couHtrv.
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