The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-09-17

10; eign courts, as well as his own, that
he possesses a mind of uncommon
strength, which, combined with an Gle.
CANT and nervous style Of writing, gives a
weight TO his character rarely ex.
celled-while he sustained the principles
OF his country, he equally supported her
literary reputation.
l am well aware, that the opinions
avowed by Mr.. Adams in his structures
on Paine's ''Rights Of Man." have been
objected to. I am also sensible of the
bitter prejudices some have against him
for being the "son Of his father" and that
his Grafton on the 4th Of July, 1899,
offended some few fastidious scholars !;
and, above all, know the greatest count
in the indictment is, his having quit one
party and joined another. Let us, for a
lew moments, look a, these thiGgs; and,
we will FIRST remark, that men and things
often look suspicious at first view, but on
nearer inspection brighten in our eyes.
The substance Of the series Of ESSAYS,
under the signature of "Publicola,"
originally published in the Boston Cent?
mel, relate to The British constitution, and
by argument and inquiry, MIR. Adams
attempts to controvert some of Mr..
Paine's principles, who, however great
his services to our country, and wonder
full his genius as an author, was not very
modest in making assertions, or sparing
in abuse Of other governments.
If The enemies of Mr.. Adams will at
teDtively peruse the able structures OF
"Publicola," entire, and not rely upon
detached paragraphs or numbers, they
will find how unjusily he has been &C.
cused of anti-republican sentiments, and
love for aristocracy. He was then, and
is now, perhaps, great admirer OF the
English constitution, Of which Paine
denied the very existence. He thought
it stupendous monument of human
genius, and as such, honestly spoke of its
merits. And who is there that will
say, that such an ancient and venerable
system oflaws is not worthy of euloeium?
They have been the rich fountain whence
we have drawn the most of our maxims
and rules, and he would be but a savage
republican, to denounce a man traitor
because he admires Europe an improve
ments. Mr.. Adams never attempted,
by examining the British constitution and
praising its structure as adapted for that
nation, to degrade our own; on the con-
traTy, his writings evidently display him
as more the friend OF the American con-
stitution, by exposing the sophistry and
false reasoning of those, who were the
enemies of every constitution not strictly
jacobinicaI. These essays of"Publicola,"
are elegantly written-are clearly argu-
mentative, and fair-and, no doubt, had
they been published at any other period,
than that in which they were, we should
not have heard so much about the authors
attachment to the English people, their
manners and laws. They are within the
reach of almost every man, and the can
did reader is invited to peruse them.
As to Mr.. Adams's parentage-this
shocking crime is rendered ridiculous
when we consider its worth and force. If
the fathers political sins are to be visited
on his innocent offspring, where will it
end Such doctrines will answer well
enough for those who deal in original
sin or predestinated curses as it affords
speculative and distracted subject of
discussion. But in politics, in govern.
ment, it never would answer. Common
honesty and good faith, and all induce
meDts for men to be upright and fair
in party dealings would at once be
swept away, and course Of hypocritical
shutting, double dealing, and intrigue
substituted-eDoUgh praclised bow in all
conscience. shall pass over the Fourth
Of July Grafton, without stopping either
In cnnsider lie nnerifr r.r tha ,,ri,,st .rJ