Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-05-13
RICHMOND. MAY ~ hos
r. FOR THE ENQuiKER.
THE PRESIDENCY


e FOX THE ENQUiKER.
THE PRR.SID E.VCY
Nifen the people Of this Union were called
upon to choose achief magistrate under whom
the new constitution was to GO into operation,
all eyes were instinctively turned to the man
" iirst IN war, first in peace and first in the
hearts of his cOuntrymen." At the end Of the
second constitutional term, WASHINGTON the
great, voluntarily withdrew from power
crowned with the blessings of America, and
the admiration af the world.
lie was succeeded by Mr.. ADAn*. This
conscript }aiher had, in his youth, drunk deeply
al the crystal fountains Of Greece and Rome
and iamlliarized his mind To the best models
at antiquity. He had been the first, or among
the very first, To sound the tocsin against Bril-
t'sh wrong and oppression, and directly con-
tributed by his counsels and his pen to the
disruption of the colonies from the paramount
country. His elevation, therefore, to the ex-
ecuive chair, seemed but Just reward for
the high talents and services he had given to
the infant Republic. But before the end of
O0e constitutional term evil cUunsels were
found to prevail i'm the cabinet under the add.
mlnistratlon of the man tn whom we had been
5" greatly indebted for political independence
we were well nigh losing our civil liberties for
ever.
change of administration was now loudly
helm amidstthc heightened plaudits of a nation
of republicans
The mind of this great man was very early
!mbued with The spirit Of he oge-which. il
ms turn, he has enlightened and advanced
Al thirty four he gave us the immortal Decla-
ration OF independence and his intermediate
services alone, at home and abroad. would
have been sufficient to point him out to the
gratitude OF a virtuous and intelligent people.
L" MN, therefore, it pre-emnently belonged
10 neal the wounds our free institutions had
sustained, and to re-assure the suffering ma
IONS of the world Of the great political truth
first demonstrated in America-that THE pEo
PIE are capable Of eLfgoue.nment-At the
enu OF MS second term, he too, like the father
81 ms country, gladly withdrew TO the bosom
of philosophical retirement.
| MR.. MADISON followed. This accom-
Pushed statesman had also long rendered him
sell signal beprfactor of the country that
| rewarded INN with the highest distinction
known among men-the chief magistracy of
'iee people. Our present happy form of
hands. 1t was he who nicely adjusted the
parts, and first demonstrated the problem.
mat the sovereignty Ofindividual states could
pe maintained under an efficient general or
Jede'W goVernmeDt-havng tine mower of
peace ana war, and only terrible against in
ternal or external aggression. Again when
IN the crisis OF $3.50, the light of the revolu.
non seemed almost extinct with our rulers
was ne who aroused the people by the
,u:as.ry report on the violations of the con-
s''nu"n. and thus powerfully aided i'm bring
ing hack the government tn first PRINCIPLES i'm
1901. Finally, like Mr. Jefferson Iwhcn in
the same drpartn""t Of statc) ne had often
occasion II" indicate our country's rights
against foreign insult and violepce.nn oil;ce
ltNdf I,., n
win spirit and an eloqueuce equally felt in
Europe and America. These splendid diplo-
matic papers (Which. under similar circ,,m-
stances, nave received n worthy addition from
me pen oil our present chief magistrate) con-
STUFFED, OF themselves strong claiins To IN.
gratitude of a Republic ever mindful of her
interests and proud in the distinction of her
sons.
MR. MoNRoE derives his first claim to a
hai'o'fs iofe from that great source ofall the
nShl'c v'rfres-the war Of the revolution HE
devotion To country and freedom was. in the
mighty struggle, sealed with his blood and
we hnd ms name IN our subsequent history
hnnonraby connected with all the great
measures which have consolidated our liner
ties and prosperity. But this last oCLhe rem
Mtondyy school, is yet in the high trust to
winch he has been called by unanimity al
most peculiar to himself. I shall therefore.
leave thr more particular enumeration of his
probationary services tn the period, when
= descent from power, like death, shall have
canonzed his virtues"
From this rapid sketch it will be clearly per-
celved, that each of our presidents has been
selected by the people, much from the
recollection of past services, as with view
TO NE capacity of future use itlless and thus
mas The gratitude fthe nation been rendered
admirably harmonious with its own essential
glory and interests.
But the cycle fixed by enlightened prece-
urnt more powerful than laws written on
tabies) has again brought round TO us. the
questoD-Who shall next succeed in that
line OF illustrious worthless I'VE are not
perhaps, fortunately for the countrv-with-
out concOurse Of candidates. Yet il voud
seem that all the nctire influence of virginia
apparently, without much enquiry or reAec-
lion, has been engaged in the cause of Will
liam H. Crawford. Differing materially with
that portion of my fellow citizens, / shall ex-
anime with freedom, but without personal
hostility, his pretensions to the high honour
that is sought for him.
After the most diIigent enuuirv into Mr.
CrawIord's public history, the conviction has
been forced upon me- that his acts have been
either negative, doubtful or cens,trnbLe. IF this
conclusion be deemed harsh, and there is no
doubt u Will he SO considered by his partsans,
beg that some one of them will take the
trouble to show by facts where Elm have erred
and to bring out the evidence of his positive
merits Both Mr.. e. and the public NAV be
benefited by the discussion for | am far
from believing that am, at present, in mi.
norlty Oh this subject.
The earliest record ye have ofMr g. ro-
presents him as Offering homage to Mr.. Adj
I ans IN professions Of he most unlimited conf.
dence IN bis measlIres-ai the vcrv nnnnsnt