Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-07-19
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
To .U1soU of ,76

SIR: That you very clever fellow there is
little doubt, and that you think yourself So there
is still less. AS gentleman of refined education.
respect you: your intellectual attainments are ex
'ensiVe and elegant, and honor them; they are Il e
result oi industry, founded on ordinary natural
powers--a temple of Minerva on mother Garth
what have been your expectations in political life
know not, but the tone of your productions
evinces something OF disappointment, and that SEN
sitive, petulant mode and boast of independence
when speaking of yourself, seems TO contain dis
gust mixed with contempt, as though your merits
could not but be perceived, and not sufficient
ly respected and noticed by your coun,rymen.-
The truth is, strongly suspect, that you have an
uncommon portion OF ambition; and your political
publications, if they are those which have been
pointed out To me as omanating from your pen all
demonstrate that yoi, nave been aiming at political
distinctions and have been aspiring 10 the first Off
ces, moving with an g. eye that never winks, and
g wing that never tires Are You not The wri-
ter OF a piece signed Algernon Sidney, in which
you thought an attack on The Hero of New Orleans
was no abasement, whether il was Just or not !;
How many philippines did you write against John
O. Adams! Are you not the author of that most
unhappy and premature elflsion which appeared a
shor; time ago In the Enquirer, against Commodore
Porter! Take these publications in connection with
your warm, energetic and eloquent Efforts against
the Convention, aud do they denote an irritable
uneasy temperament, unbehiting a Statesman Are
you not ruled by that headlong ambition that made
angels rebel, and makes - fools rush where appels
dare not tread?" Do not these things indicate a
disposition to move in troubled waters? To be in
business, merchants say, even at a loss. rather
than be idle? in fine, Sir, to kick before Won are
spurred! may be mistaken, Sir, but in support
OF this deduction, voucli the rapidiiy and intern
perance ofyour several attacks before enumerated
In all OF which you have been put down by public
opinion, and ] trust that your hasty combustible
and unjust differences against The acts and motives
oil the friends of reform, will meet with The same
defeat.
The intention of the writer Of the present adj
dress, is 10 meet and overthrow the objections
which you raise against the Stanton Convention
as means Of attaining the final improvement oil
our Constitution: nor is il necessary for him 10
shew, that this is The only or most proper course
that can be devised 10 obtain that end. If / sub
stantlslly understand and substantially answer the
Objection TO the principle, my own conscience as
supporter oil that convention will be satisfied: The
expediency is another affair. The principle as OBJ
Jected by you is this, that such convention NAV
probably attempt or propose 10 attempt, the re-
formation OF the constitution in some other mode
than through the interference medium or aid of the
House OF Delegates, and that this would be re-
oOlufioH, or, in other words, reasonable. More
than twelve months ago, SiI, you unluckily Stun
bled on this idea, at the meeting OF the friends OF re-
form in the City Of Richmond: and in your Substi-
tute and subsequent essays, you have never been
able TO control The inlauation that first announced
this opinion, though, think, that your high tone
has become fallen, and that you speak in rather
hatfer key; and hope the time will come when
you will better understand the nature and structure
OF government generally, and particularly the first
principles Of your own Stale Government.
You seem to be unpardonaby ignorant on this
subject since you express in your last essay WA
terloo to imperial Napoleon) much surprise at the
construction given TO the Bill OF Rights by the
friends OF reform; aud you wonder that a clause in
that instrument, which declares that s'yhen any
government shall be found inadequate or contrary
to the purposes OF its institution, TO wit: com
" mon benefit, protection aud security &c ma
" Jority OF the community hath an indubitable, I'M
aienabe and indeeasible right to reform, alter or
" abolish it, sc. should be construed by your op-
ponen's to authorize them to meet at Stanton in
small or in large numbers, in CAUCUS or otherwise
to consider whether the present government is, in
IFS practical operation, such the Bill OF Rights
calls Tor, and declares it to be the duty Of freemen