The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-07-01

yer pretended to qucsi.uu lhe boosted fUal
piety Of Mr.. J. q. Adams and do mosi
willingly conc.de that nothing WAS nofe
entirely natural, than that tie should have
entertained such resentmenis: aud nothing
niore entirely probable than thal they have
sunk deep into his heart. Without al
tempting TO Justify ar extenaaie every
species of vulgar prejudice, do affirm, thai
popular pteIadiees, commonly 80 called,
are generally pretty we'll founded ~ reason
aud nature And las WAS sirewdiy Obsefs :
I'd b, distinguished writer that II IS not
III much the part of Wise man TO de-
nounee them IN the lump, as to endeayor
tn detect aud briug 10 light the latent, lly-
iDg principle ofrationaliiy which generally
abOunds ~ their composition; aud which
81 es them the power OF laying hold on the
human heart, and Incorporating tilehI-
selves, rs IT nere with its innermost fhres.
" The people ARE seldom wrong IN their
opinions ~ their sentiments they are
never Mistaken lnncs does himself but
little credit IN opposing the general sense
Of his country. But although | freely
acknpw ledge, that the circumstances OF
Mr.. Adams birth, education, early attach
meuts, &c. are. by no means absolutely
conclusive with respect 10 lis real political
character, yet do maintain, that, IN the
absence Of better proofs, they are entitled
10 great weight ~ forming our estimate OF
his republican pretcnslons ! do Affirm
that They present species OF strong " prl
ma fhclc' evidence, which, until 1t IS tho
roughly disproyed by decisive facts, must
not, cannot, be disregarded. Why's II that
alien friends, after their regular naturaliza-
lion, aud though they may have performed
many signal acts Of devotion TO the Interest
Of lhrir adopted country, are, under some
governments, excluded from all places OF
profit aud trust whatever. and, under all
ineligible TO the first office. The reason
Is oinlous. That rational aistrust which
dictates their seemingly hard exclusion
proceeds from a knowledge, founded OF
universal experience, OF the force OF early
ASSOCIATIONS, and the lasting authority
which first impressions exercise over MS.
But why pursue this topic farther? Why
multiply words, ia relation To point, a
bout which " luncsn aud Henry" are, al
bottom, pretty much of the same opin
ION For IN the middle of his most Ella
boIate panegyric on Mr.. A., lines, with an
ingenuity worthy of better cause, direct
y declares, that " his preference for Mr.
Adams IS rather relative than absolute :
and IS derived more from his greater dis
trust IN others, than any posaiue cotfdeacc
an han - Fie Iie lines. You ought tc
have silently and reluctantly acqucsced II
the necessity which dictated your relative
preference for man in whom you had
" no positive confidence !" and should moi
have recommended him, in stratus of The
loiuest panegyric, To Ia" choice of youI
country, for the most exalted and respon-
sIble Office in her siit You should has,
put some individual, in nomination helor,
The nation in whom you reposcd posi-
tive confidence, (for such, presume, may
be found or have been silent; ~, ut leas
have given less license 10 your imagination
But, stopping here, and wishing lime
il speedy dcllverauee from his political er
rcre, bld Inn a respectable adleu.
HENRY.