Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-07-23

FOriu nateiy their number IL small, co.npa,;.
| lively with the great body of the people. II
is To the people we address oursei. est i.
the people we wish To make his frien,is--n
is their voice which is to decide the cuntes,
and we know nothing pleases the peopl, So
much, as the truth honestly aud fearlessly
spoken.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
1t has been triumphaniiy asserted oy the
enemies of free government, and, particularly,
In the old world, that our enviable institutions
could not, from the nature of things, b. of
long continuance. These bel!igerents agains.
the rights of man, argue that the great bad,
of the people are unacquainied with the op.-
rations aud necessary machinery of govern
ment, and ought not 10 be entrusted with the
power Of directing them-That a qu,escent
people, fond of peace and anxiously engaged
IN the various employments Of domestic life
will be apt 10 rep0se too nnuch confidence in
their public servants, 10 grow listess about
public affairs: and thus voluntarily 10 place
themselves in the hands of demsgogues and
Office hunters, who protesting the most ardent
patriotism, find it In be their interest TO deceive
| the people and to flatter their servants: That
under such circumstances altho' the p.uule
may possess the power and the constitutional
right to govern themselves, yet they will he. TO
all inients and purposes, under the govern
ment Of their own agents, the mere Creatures
of their own power and that instead Of The
voice of the nation speaking out truinr.t
tUpgued," giving direction and tone to ali nuh
lie measures, the matter will soon be reversed.
and The men in office will, by the means Of
their power and patronage, and through the
fundamentally OF their dependents and Gaifer.
ers, aided by servile and yenal press. usurp
Lar ahs In IN N nS nrsr
| The friends of arbitrary go, ernment contend
| that in this manner the freedom and account
ability of our institutions will be subverisd. and
our government, though retaining IN. far form
and features OF rspublicanism, will in reality
become as corrupt as the governments of Eu-
rope. The very love of power (they savl
will prompt its possesrors TO retain it and TO
enlarge il by means Of intrigue and corruo,ion
aud this will be effected too, 80 arifully and
so covertly, that confdng people, though
sensible Of the endurance of some evil viii not
know hum what quarter it springs-and #
| they do know it, would be more Disposed 10
endure" II, than to right themselves"
| On this side of the Atlantic we have answer.
ed these evil forebodings, by referring TO that
| love of liberty among our people, so auin,at-
| ing, and so creative of watcbfulorss and dis
trust; TO our own virtue and to tie virtue
Of our agents; tn the irresistible influence OF
public opinion, aud To the freedom of discus
sion and the freedom of the press.
But whether Or not the enemies of free go
vernmeDt have drawn their arguments from
correct knowledge OF human passions, il is
scarcely necessary Tor me at present to decide.
One cannot help entertaining aw fa fears, how
ever that their predictions " i'll be fulfilled, I'M
less the energies and watchfulness of the peo-
pie can be kept alive aud in active operation
SInce The achievement of our lndppendeuce,
| crisis like the present has never occurred
we nave never seen 50 many competitors for
'he highest Office IN the naliun-so violent a
Struggle Tor The object Of ambition. But even
.h's competition might be comparatively oi
Tess account, u II were not for the means which
seem adopted for It's attainment. When have
we ever before seen coalition formed among
the high officers Of the Presidents Cabinet TO
defeat the wishes Of the people and to do it
too by schemes so disgraceful to the managers
and so disreputabie TO the country /? The
press, as the most Efficient engine, has not been
overlooked. Mr.. Adams's attempts upon the
National lntelligencer, aud his doctrines Of
ser'Illiy-b's mlDgling in the controversy, un-
der the editorial head of Journal pat-onized
by him with the peoples money, aud devoted
10 tne con5umuaton. ef his ambitious designs
lie employment Of q Senator u assaiI one
VI 'he candidates in the dark-his subsequent
prom ION to an embsssy--sod his late assassin
attack, Tom beneath the robes Of his high
omce-bls utter disgrace, aod the attempt Of
messrs' j. O. Adams and others Of " affilia-
.eu feeling, 10 sustain him. All these things
cpnspTe to alarm us. is possible that at
,empts like these can be made SO early in ths
history of our republic Where, we ask, is
the bold spirit OF '76 ? Has il departed, with
the Godiike Heroes Of that suspicious era
Reader, have no interest in exciting your
tears. But pray You 10 look around you, aDd
contemplate with the spirit Of freeman what
~ passing before you. Is il for your benfit
or IS u tor The acquisition Of place, aod oil
potcer7 Ponder these things WELL and re-