The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-05-30
To tae Editcrs Of Ae Tirgtnian.


TO te Editcrs Of he Tirgtnjan.
GenRemen--l was not little surprised
on reading the remarks with VIII Oh you ar
companied my essay on the subject Of the
presidential election, 10 discover that you
had totally miseonccivcd the nature OF my
first objection Ia Mr.. Adams, aud had en-.
tered Into a indication of or rather an
apology for his change of opInuns rs 10
some Of the constructive powers OF the
constitution, instead of defending HIM n
gainst the charge which was brought "A
gainst him. Had | intended 10 IN Ike a
change of opinion the ground of my oblec-
tion to Mr.. Adams, | uced only have all
verified Ia the fact Of his political aposlaey,
and might have saved myself the trouble
of examining hrs reply To Gen. Smyth -
My objection to Mr. Adams was not that
his opinion MS 10 the constructive pow
ers of the constitution had undergone n
change, bat it was simply this, that he ad-
mits legislative construction of the con
stitutiun to be Of such authority as com
pletely 10 settle the principle il decides
So far from charging Mr.. Adams with G
change 81 opinion, | contend, that if we
hIt ~ UtitNt HIS bhll WDlh9, Ilo private
opinions as 10 the powers granted by the
constitution IN congress, are the same now
as they were in 1908; for he says, We're
the question now new one, have no he
station IN saying that should retain the
same opinion, and give the same vote"
When then we hear Mr.. Adams decar.
ing that he does not nom deny the exn,-
tence of that authority in the constitution,
the assumption of which by congress he
formerly pronounced 10 Toe demonstrations
al, and an act of usurpcd authority, and at
the same lime expressly asserting, that
were the question new one, she would still
retsinthe same opinion, and give the same
vote !" when, moreover, we observe the
peculiar stress he lays upon the circum-
stance OF these questions having been
settled by large majorities of both houses
of congress" are we not irresisthly brought
TO the conclusion that he believes that n
congressional construction of the consttu-
zion forever settles every principle 10 which
that constitution applies.
Have Madison, Monroe, Crawford, Cal
houn, Clay, Cheves, or jackson, ever al
vanced such sentiment rs thisY Have
they, like MIR. Adams, sacrificed their deli
berate opinions to the omnipotent power
of parliament? If they have, 1 confess
that am entirely ignorant of the fact
That some OF these gentlemen have chan
ged their opinions upon great aud impor.
taut questions, wit not deny, and although
view that circumstance as detracting
much from their reputation rs Statesmen
yet do conceive there ie a material differ.
hal hap and NJ A
changed their opinions, believing them to
be erroneous, he, still unconvinced of hi.
errors, per,naciously con,ending for III,
correctness of his first impressions, sur.
renders the deliberate convictions of hi,
mind ia consequence of decision Of con
gress.
The defence Get up for Mr. Adams, is a.
unsonnd as it is untrue. "Hapless, an
deed, is that poor mans state,o whose cha
racter il te be bostered up by bringing til,
faults of others into view. Ii is the peor
est Of all poor excuses that can he Offered
in extenuation of our misconduct, TO say
that we are not more guilty than others
To ignorance, inbecility and timidity, sucl
plea may be permitted, but surely in tn,
enlightened and independent Adams, tn,
scholar and the statesman, in the man VIII,
not content to follow in the wake of othe
men, boldly olains to- take the lead ant
aspirns to the highest Office in the govern
nent, surely in this man we cannot ADM
the poor apology that he has been leo
astray by the influence of example, an{
the weight Of great names. Let not III,
friends Of MIR. Adams seek to cloak hi
sins under the faults Of others-Let then
either prove his innocence, or honestly ant
candidly acknowledge his guilt.
But my second objection is "illiberal
anti-patriotic, and dangerous" This is in
deed sweeping anathema, aud is we'll cal
culated TO place Mason in an odious point
Of view; bat trust THAI before he is con.
Aernned as the advocate ef anti patriotic
and dangerous opinions. mcthing more
will be required than the bare assertions
and violent denunciatiens of those who are
blinded by prejudice, and infatuated by
their par.iality to Mr. Adams. When we