Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-10-14
RICHMOND. OCTOBER "a, iag4.
FOX THE ENQUIKER.

run lhE ENROiKEk.
Iothe Citizens Of the United States.
| In my three former addresses l ATTEMPTED
to establish TO your satisfaction, the import
ance Of your being united upon me approaching
Presidential Election. In my first address
unioided to you some Of the qualifications of
William II. Crawford and some Of his pre-.
tensions To the Presidency which thong Int
ought TO ent't'e him to your confidence and
support. tn my last address endeavored, TO
inc best ot my information. TO expose to you
the character of John Quincy Adams, and to
dispute ms qualifications for the highest office
within your gift; and hope was NOT unsuc-
cessini IN persnading at least all Republicans of
the"o school," that he has not,and ought not
10 nave any claims Whatever To their conf
dence. IL is my object in the present address
!" attempt To discuss the qualifications OF Gen
esa' Andrew Jackson-t0 expose to your
view hts character and conduct, and dn hope
to satisfy yu,lr minds that he is totally disaua-
i'lied to he elevated to the Chief NIagistracy
0t this country. will set ont by informing
you that am not AN enemy of general jack
son. In common with most of the citizens Of
The United States, feel grateful to him for his
splendid m,titary services during our late war
with u. Britain, and especially for his noble and
gallant defence of New Orleans. am per-
iectiy willing that all the military honors Of
which our country can boast, shall be heap
ed upon: him. AS a military genius, he stands
second to no man living.-For promptuess
of decision, and frmness in executing his
plans, he will safely bear comparison with
the most renowued Generals of the world
But IN selecting man, to whom we are about
10 confide the happiness and safety of our
country-in elevating character to the high
and responsible Office of President of these U
h..I,. h<a
dazzled with the splendor Of victory, and the
pomp Of triumph. 1t is forcbIy aud emphs-
tical!y remarked by modern author, that
among the celebrated names of antiquity
those OF the great conqnerors and generals at
tract our admiration always the most, and i'm
print notion of magnanimity and power, and
capacity for dominion superior to that of other
mnrtais. We look upon such as destined by
heaven for empire, and horn tO trample on
their fellow creatures without rcfecting on
the numerous evils, which are necessary To the
acquisition Of glory, which IS built upon the
subyersiou of nations, and the destruction Of
the human species yet these are the only
persons who are thought to shine in history,
and To merit the attention Of the reader
DazZled with the splend0r of their victories,
and the ppmp of their triumpbs, we consider
them as the pride and ornaments of the human
race whist the pacific and civil character,
though of all others the most beneficial to
mankind, whose sole ambition it is TO support
the laws, the rights. and the liberty of his cti-
zPns, Is looked upon as humble and contempt
Ible on the comparison"
Although entertain the hope, that the ci.
tiZens of this county will not be led away
like the Romans and Greeks in ancient, and
by the French in modern times, by the SPLEEN
dor of military achievements; yet from the
disposition already manifested by the support
ers and friends of General Jackson, think il
necessary that they should be frequently eau
toned against it for have already heard il
declared by some OF his supporters, " that
splendid military achievement has more
charms for them, tban all the able state papers
in the wOrid.D
Fellow CitiZrns, let me remind you, that the
Office of President Of the United States is mol
a Slll,ary Office but to fulfil its duties, re-
quires, cool, rejecting, wise, and judicious
statesman. lf the friends of General Jack
son can give to him these attributes, / will al
once yield to him the palm, for with these
qualifications, added to the great and import
ant military services which he has rendered.
no man in our country could, or ought to stand
In competition with him. But have, with
great degree of diligence and attention, traced
The history of his life, and have been unable to
l.
,ie him to the character and appeation OF
statesman. In the course Of his life, he mas
had confided to him many civil appointments.
from discharging The duties of which, The peo-
pie Of this country might have been enabled
to form correct estimate of his talents as :,
civilian. and statesman. How has he acauit-
ted himself IN those appointments Some Of
them he declined To accept, and others he re-
signed after accepting, for the plain and sim
pie reason, that he thought himself not quail
fed, to discharge the duties incumbent upon
them. ls those civil appointments, which he
accepted, and in which he has served. he has
given us no evidence of his genius and capa-
city as statesman. He was. during the las,
session of Congress, a member of the Senate
of the United States. Some Of the most i'm
poriant questions were sgitated before that bo-
dy during that session, which have been dis
cussed IN our country for length of time
Where ask, Is the display Of his talents and of
ms el"qnence upon any one of those great sub
Jecis. He sat almost silent spectator and
listener, to that display of eloauence and
sfaesmaD-lIke ability from others, which he
could not initiate. Did Thomas Jefferson g.
yer do so? Did James Madison (? Did James
Monroe? Did William II. Crawford ever re-
-ma'n silent and mute, when important copsii-
lu,iooai Questions were agitated before them 2
No: their voices were raised, and their elo-
quence always exerted, whenever aoy impor-
Iant question was discussed N their presence.
Tel me not then, that General jackson s a
statesman. He deserves credit, however. for
his prudence and judgment, in remaining 81
'ent' Aisny aman passes through this world.
as man Of talents, by being grave and silent.
General .. by attempting to argue an i,ppor
lant constitutional question with such men as
john Taylor OF Caroline, Hsyne, Of s. G. Van
Buren,, OF N. Y. and Dickerson, ofN. J. would