Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-10-19


fririicge Of coff,,e' .E,,.o Pyes,denio nj he q.
"'ted states I" tic approaching Eieciioa.
(Coahnued.)
PRUDENTIAL ELECTION.
To The Editors of'thc .lmeyic0a
GENTLEMEN Your recent determination to
open your columns to the discussion of the i'm
portant question, ''who shall be our next Pre-
sldcnc" seems to have given very general sat
isfaction TO those who know the value of your
paper, and to none more than 10 the humble in
dividnal who now addresses you. The qncs,ion
now certainly possesses in incomparably grca-
ter interest than has ever been attached 10 it,
at any former Presidential Election. This is
the natural result of time and circumstances
Heretofore, the people have been guided. i'm
their selection of President, by their cstima-
ton of his services in the field or cabinet. du-
ring the great struggle for independence So
long as they could recur TO the little band of
worthless, who had borne a part in the rcvoll-
ton, IT was an easy task successfully, TO single
out the most conspicuous object of the nations
gratitude and admiration. No intrigue, no ca
bal, no discussion, was necessary to point the
nation To the individual, upon whom, with one
accord, il had already fixed IFS view Our Pre-
sidcnts, indeed, hitherto, have been ,cooea, ra-
thcr than the rrooers of the people they have
been the general ralivng points Of grateful
patriotism, or of some equally noble feeling,
which raised them, without solicitation far a
bove all competitors, whose claims were of
younger date than the era of'76.
But generation has now passed away. Our
| race of revolutionary heroes and statesmen is
| nearly extinct: or it a few still lingcr on the
stage of life, we can no longer hope TO find a
| inong them, that unwastcd rigour of constitu-
| ton and intellect, which the arcuous and i'm
portant duties of Chief Magistrate demand
Fathers have now yielded their places TO sons;
the circle from which to select has become great
ly enlarged; and merit must be tried bv other
tests, than those established by the revolution.
We arc now To look ut future promise, rather
than at past performance; ut the capacity and
the will to do, rather than AT what has bcct tionc
Under such considerations, it becomes the
duty of every man, who has at heart the contin-
ued prosperity of his country, to engage in the
enquiry. The question TO be determined, is ono
of momcntuous concern; the office TO be bes-
| towed is the highest and most honourable in the
gift of an enlightened and free people; and the
permanence and welfare. or the decline and
! ruin, of the nobcst fabric of government which
the wisdom of man has ever reared, may dcpcnI
| upon the issue.
The CandidffeS. who have been induced, by
vanity, ambition, the solicitation of partial
friends, or other motives, to aspire TO this cxal-
| ted station, arc as numerous though the prize
were at the disposal Of cltunce, rather than in
the hands of discerning people. Each has
| own friends, and his impacablc enemies and
! a species of Unlfctrc has been carried on among
them, which certainly has bore no resemblance
| to that digniiicd emulation, which alone should
actlIatc honorable rivals for the peoples IA
YOUR Your own character, srs, and the high
and well merted reputation of your paper, are
| sufficient pledges 10 the public, that the cham
pions who enter the which you have
opened to them, though they may sometimes
4 q al, 4
towards each other the courtesies and right of
l>nghthood. In the very nature of The question
to be discussed, indeed, it must become occa-
sonally necessary to speak of the opposing pre-
tensions OF the several candidates. In doing
this, comparisons will be unavoidable; for
| though it should be shown, posiiiUciy or simply,
that any one of them is qualified for the Pscsi-
dency, yet il would be necessary further TO show
not only that he is better qualified than another,
but that he is the best qualified of all. The
only fear of unpleasant collision between YOUR
correspondents, will lie in the manner, in which
they may put their respective iavouritcs through,
these de%1ees of comparison. For myself,
MesSrs. Editors, 90 | am one of those gentle
ones that would use the Devil himself with cam
| iesy;" and provided Won will permit me to APP
pear rljoie and entire, and without the ccrc-
mony Of cutting and dociting, promise neither
| to ask for an unreasonable space iii your paper,
nor TO say word that shall offend tie strictest
laws Of dccorous discussion.
Having promised thus much, I shall now,
f, with vonr leave, gentlemen, enter without fur
! Their ceremony upon the question.
| have already stated, what will not be de-
MED, that the unanmity of the people, hitherto,
IN their choice Of President, has been chiefly
| produced by feeling of patriotic gratitude, as
well OF admiration, for the successful cxcr-
ton Of talents during cur struggle TO be free.
! The same vcncration for the principIeS of the
revolution, will. it is To- be hoped, continue TO
! influence their decision and since they can no
longer hope TO find among the few survivors
of that memorable period, that physical and
mental energy, without whichvirtuc itsclfwould
lose IFS claim to distinction, they have only to
| seek among the candidates, for him who has
prolItcd most by tho opportunities afforded him,
of forming bis character after the model of our
revolutionary fathers. ] have no disposition,
! Mcssrs. IIdtors, TO waste either your time or
my own, with affected circumlocution on this
! subject and shall therefore ut once state the
| proposition, 10 the demonstration of which all
| my arguments will be directed. JOHN
| QUINCY ADAMS, IN cucyy essential af'i-
6ufc 9f his ctarucfcy, GpprOGchcS nearest 10 H0t
continuation of erccUeace 7Chich has hitherto
b"cn lie ground of OUr preference, and isHere~
! FIRE me jost Wrtifcd Ia bc our merit President.
| II is not my purpose TO write a biogyuphy of
! EIr. adams; but as shall be compelled occa-
sionally TO refer 10 the chronological events of
his life, must entreat the readers patience, if
matters are again brought before him, with
! which hc Is alreody familiar ~ hon tLe 0lori