Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-10-14
ADAMS MEETING IN WESTMORELAND
ADDRESS
To the Fr.ei,Oideys If Virciuia.


Tothe FreeiOiders If Virsinia.
FELLow Crrizgss,
AS The IMPRESSION which you generally an,er-
tanned of the effects of \ caucus nomination Of Pc
siden, the choice of The nation, ia now ascerrsin
ed 20 have been incorrect, VIC conceive no ether
apology necessary for respectfully inviting you IN
uuiie with Us 10 The only decision think c,lcu,n-
ted 10 restore harmony TO he public ..:;d Il is per
hsps, equally The misfortune Of communities and nj
individuals, 10 he dzzled by uninterrupted eni,x
tnent OF prosperity, and forget in the ex ,I,a,in
triumph thuse sober maxims Of Ieprocal Justice by
which they never could he o,iscd. How Ear the han
~ lead which Virginia has hitherto taken in the az
fairs Of our republics may have hurried us into san
gaIne anucipatons of the influence Of her cxampIe
or 10 a X cf orr couurymen 10 concede us too mucb
al the approaching election Of president is question
which merits our serious consideration. IL 10 The
Sharac,er we conceive, Of the people OF Virginia IN
be finn, bot mol obs;inaieio he ardent in their mar
taii,ies, but MOI Ia suffer their preference Of psIli
cu'ar man TO overcome their attachment TO prirci-
pie, or TO destroy their respect for th. opnons or
their political, friends 10 the other States They AR.
aware that the great blessings Of human life arc sen.
rally The result OF cnnpron.e, and that il is In.
dniy OF those who love their .puniry not 10 ovrss
'i,a, which is most pleasing III the visions of fancy
bnt that which is best IN the particular con;unc,ion
OF circumstances ~ which nniion il pjtced IL !.
under deep conviction Of The importance Of this
reflection i0 tue Future welfare Of our Country, that
solicit your attention observations nm his
choice Of president. We cons der il in Won,
power 1T Ibis time 10 decide his question, for we
presume there be no doubt, ihni the vote Of V,r.
ginis would secure the election Of either Mr. Adams
Gen. Jackson and that 10 all probability, this is
The option which will ultimately be prcseDltJ TO us
From he present msucsiaons Of public ou:nipn
throughout the Uniop, it 10 eyidenf that f Virginio
persevere 10 her resolution 10 support Mr. Crawford
she viii not only carry The election 10 The House oil
Representative, but lose that influence, which a
prompt decision between his two great rivals would
give her Nor we believe when we re cole CT ihe
long devotion Of our state TO Constitutional princi.
pies, aud her uniform preference of cv.I above mill
tary worth, that she will hesitate in her election on
this OCCASION. In order to eyutgIu the NJ
COR own preference, and our opinion Of The cirrac-
ter OF the present administration Of the general 30
ver0meni, we would ask your attention 10 a few 10
marks on The origin of The two parties which have
heretofore divided our country, and OF the two which
are now forming TO divide IL IN future.
Previous TO our political experiment, there bad moi
been 10 the annals of mankind an, insauce OF "a re-
publican constitution OF government which had bee,
able 10 maintain itself va is original purity vi or its
extension over large territory. The force ofex,m.
pie s necessarily strong ~ the maJs Of experienced
and reAec'ing men and houce ,le abes, pol,,ic,l
speculators OF The last century magised tI,s re-
publican government could not long prevail over a
populnus or extensive country. The fate Of the Ro-
mAu Common ~esIIb, in particular, had creased =
belief, hat whenever such government exiended it,
sell be- ond The limits ola suis sstc, natural, VIA,
yitaied 10 afs'ocrary aud 10 monarchy. When, there
fOsc iorefahnrs hid successfully irrina ted the
waT Of ndepe ndeBcc, tte wrecks OF the republican
experiments Of former ages, became bencous Of Ilarn
10 iheH, and AZ excessne jealousy Of state rights i'm
medaiey characterized the most frrteni id.urers vi
fee gogernmenf. very loose and diejointed con-
ferJcrFion, IN which The small STATES voted enuaiy
with The large, a. confederation totally Incompetent
20 The cnds Of sef-wesefynton and self.imrfoye.
meni) was consequently the fOrm VI government un
der which we lived, uuiI lis many mpcrfecfions led
To the adIp0n Of our present Federal Coisii utioo
Great were ihe apprehensions, which mary Of the
more ardent Grends Of liberty enterfnined, that u.
new COnsiitUion would lead 10 a consolidated eo-
sernmsn, and il then said Of il, that" il ,yored
strongly Of arigocracy, and had an awful squintiog
Of monarchy" Accordingly when il went into opera.
tons these politicians exered all heir ability TO check
aud limit lis powers, according to the letter of the
instrument, and hence arose the icpubIicaa patty
hnrher 81 W politicians, who unprecedented more
d ger OF the dissolution, than OF tive cous Oxidation
81 tsc Unon, and who had exered themselves IN the
Conventions 10 'arfease The grants Of power TO The
general government, were in fayopr Of q more liberal
consirnc sou Of The new Constitution, and hegre ORR
g'nasJ 10. fsderal pa,iy These parties siust 10 the
nature OF things have divided the American unIdic
Tor soole years, if no adventurous cfcus,,ian.
ces had Incurred 10 keen thsm alive. But the IN.
paTaeled revolution France soon served 10 cresie
new causes Of discord, and TO divide the parties in
thsT opl0inns Of the external policy az we'll ~ utter
nal administration Of our government. The Republi-
osns concerning justly, Ibai there was IN invncible
boSy beiween The principles Of government and
lhOse oi the old absolute uonarchies Of Europe
Thought Osr dOiy to side with the new governments
i"pieierence TO the old. The Fsderalisis, on the