Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-07-30
RICHMOND. July SO, Iss4.
,, FOR THE ENQuiHER.
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIO.V

country have her citizens been more solemn
" appealed To, Than they are by the passing
events OF this our day, To rouse themselves To
q lraIous c'rcumsl's ciinn with respect 10 their
public agents. The existing crisis is frauyh,
WIN important ISSUES, and the rapid success
s'"" "i iacts which crowds upon the o,.srrva-
uon' s'driirs ny It's singnlariiy, and port.n,ls,
I" IS 'eareu' the most mlschievous effects. Let
my countrymen be ANA To this h,,sv sc.op.
Faction and falsel,ood, and corrunt,,n and
usnrpalion are abroad and their daring aim
which Is directed at the independence. the in
tegr'iy, the freedom, and consequently at the
happiness oi the people, the people alone can
Illustrate aud expose. Will they ior an instant
hesitate To expose aud punish the PR f,i.ate
designs of corrupt placement Will they for An
instant forget that this our beloved country,
Ia the only spot of the earth where the term
People conveys aught bu, feelings Of scorn and
defisi"n and amusement Whilst here on III.
contrary,d Implies the ennuhng considerations
Oh seii- government, problty, true dignity,
knowledge the surest pledges Of interim.
happiness and prosperity, and the inspiring an
uc'pa'in" oi 'mparting, by the silent bu, Ger
| tain Influence of example, liberty and bar,i-
| ness tn millions abroad Shall this great sum
Ut positive good, these bright and cheering
prospects Oi the fu,ere .snatched away nv
lmpndeni cabals for personal gsrand,s, men, {?
Forbid II Justice, forbid il philanthropy fur
bid II, the overwhelming Indignation of an in
jured people!
Ii ~ said by writer Of celebrity, tina, ,ir,u.
Is the sustaining principle of repnnIc. Whist
we admit TINS maxim, as regularly drducbl,
from institutions hose primitive elements are
the equal rights and common agency of ALL
we are led IN its application tn enlulre, what
are the hopes or apprchrnsons justified b,
~ f,f.s.rl "
and progress of our Own political institutions.
AID at the threshold of this Investigation.
whilst with homes, pride it is affirmed, that
my c"u"'rymen IN general exhibit au hunura.
bic exemption from moral or poli,ica! deprav-
ny, 1t may with equal propriery be asserted
mat there Is class amongst US, (SinteSmen
oy rude who III the race Uf selfishness, cn-
p'diiy, and mpuden; aspiring after powrr,ha,e
never been outstr'pped by the most daring ad-
ventures OF amy time or country Against
these men again repeat, and cannot repeat
Too frequently, these men who clam as their
Pcuttum the government of tns nation, lei
my counirymen be aroused Ia the most ,igi
liant jealousy. Try them by The standard OF
ancient heroes aud statesmen: contrast them
with tie exalted worthless by " hon The indie
prndence OF our country Was achieved
Where is the more than heroic forti,ud..
which inspired them in their triumph over
difficulties apparently beyond the rang.
Of human excrtiun? Where the iuGex,
BILE integrity, the devotion To country and to
liberty, the true dignity Of moderation, the dis
Inierestedness and seif-resI-cr, hich in them
commanded admiration and confidence. and
attracted the warm and generous affections of
v'rtuons and intelligent people? We seek
these qualifications in the men who demand TO
be our rulers, and too generally we fad the
freti'l lmpaIience of goadins ayarce, the pei
version of rules aud principles Obvious or well
denied, aud an open add cIamorous Drawing
IN the contest for power which raises the blush
and exciIes the Indignation of every irut pat
rot with these, our professional statesmen,
the scale OF p"lIi'caI ethics sitiius graduated.
Sey CONNEXIONS, PGifizdns, Tools and " hen
II may perchaDce accord with the profit and
The schemes of all these, The country and those
institutions which we're designed To be sacred,
and paramount To all thngs. Let not this de-
iineaiIOn of Tie motives aud proceedings of
those who off have governed, who do nov
govern, and who seek 10 rule the nation be
regarded as an unfaithfuI or exaggerated view
OF things. A slight retrospect oi the conduct
OF many ofihe agents employed in our nation
al government, do they are fond 10 term IL,
VIII establish the fidelity Of this picture. The
patrioIswho mplished the freedom of these
States, determined to secure thai freedom by
a combination of powers which should guard
them against assault from foreign enemies, or
encroachment from each Other-tlst fedora
ZION and The complete preservation Of the
states IN their full integrity was intended, is
OBVIOUS, from the facts that no Dadeunacy in
Inc state governments to all the objects pro-
posed IN their establishment was ever alledged
and because the trainers of the federal cunsi,lu.
non pretended not to new model The state
governments. These facts, f they stood
atone, ueIDonstrate satisfactorily that the pnr-
poses of the federal constitution were
general aid erernai-in other words. that
constitution and the government thereby
created, were secondary, were the crea-
lures Of The states, designed for Meir conye
nience only, and io secure the primarY object.
q perfect preservation Of The stale governments
But the farmers of the constitution have no,
ieit US 10 these obvious deductions from The
nature and necessity of our institutions thew
nave spokeh out HpOn these interesting topics
they nave said that their work was designed
10 " form more perfect Union, 10 esteblsb
justice and insure domestic TRANQUILITY IN
provide for the common defence."-I canno,
mere go inro' the details OF this instrument. hut
'ro'n 'ne reasons already assigned, and be-
cause every combination of the knowledge of
men separated from each other by several
.nouSanus OF miles, must be formed in great
'epo'aoce OF The local wants and habits and
prtJudices of the people spread over 40 wat
domain, it is obvious that those nroyisions
shou'u be limited 10 the general purposes
contemplated 10 their enactment, and 10 W hich
alone fhey can be applied with the prospect
even Oh real advantage, or without iosuriog
suoog discomfort, and producing very often
'pJusuee and oppression. Yet how have the
agents depufed. to preserve this federation, ~