Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-08-09

70 THE EDITORS oy,rHE rNeu,nrn.

Ihe following reply to the piece OF Mason OF
PIG, which he designed as the redemption of the
pledge in his card Of the 18th ult. has been delayed
Iby pressing business. hope, you will give this
reply an early insertion. The reply to the argu-
ment of Mason will soon reach you.
TO THE EDITORS OF THE ENQUIRER
The writer under the signature of Mason of '76,
whose essays, have already remarked, had at
tracted as much attention alj they deserved, has
made two labored attempts t0hredeem the pledge,
which he made, 10 the public in his Card of the
4th ut.
The first OF his subsequent essays is devoted to the
" Commentaries" Che so terms the replies Of the
writers in opposition to him) on his tcorks; and
he, whose essays are so pregnant, either with
error or TRUTH with argument or defamation, with
arrogance or modes,y, as to require " all the three
writer's to answer and evade, denounce and praise
fearessly behold, the number of his assailans and
continues TO defy public decorum in his wanton at
lacks OH Mr. Mercer, in exact proportion as he
disappoin,s expectation, when he So cody and dis
passionately" considers the arguments of that gem
tleinan and his contedera.es." - say, the argu-
ments OF that gentleman, for this concealed writer
does not again hesitate TO introduce him, by name,
!,nd shamelessly TO avow, that the design of this
outrage was 10 make him feel, that he had i,c,U-
red a " sacrifice of his personal tranquifkfy,"
In this design, however bumanely he may disclaim
''any cause Of triumph he has no triumph TO de-
cline. Mr.. Mercer must be cursed with a much
greater degree OF morbid sensibiIty TO public cen
and g individual unkindness," than tits wri-
ter supPoses him to possess, if his tranquility has
ye, been disturbed. He has met with no public
censure, Notwithstanding the naughty, heightened
efforts of this writer TO excite it against him; and
al he has felt one pang, it was, when he may have
sighed at the instance afforded by this writer, of
melancholy confirmation of the truth of the poets
<ies lin Wtat l,,,
name"' Nothing but vanity could have imagin-
ed, nothing but disngenuousness so strongly cha
racteri5ing The illusions of this writer, could have
represented that these illusions had excited a
" transport OF rage" In ANY one, or ''extorted
" shIieks of agony" Il Is certainly not meant,
that this writer states this rage and these shrieks
had been really exhibited by Mr.. NJ. or heard by
himself {; but how little is the art, how common
the trick OF Rhe:orcians Il pay Mason compli-
rne;.i, OF the BUSINESS OF which, some might doubt
by which, they endeavor 10 enhance the force or
merit ofther wit, or their argument, by attribu,ng
to their efforts, effects, which one but them
selves can perceive, they have produced. If the
=" blaze oil public attention." has " scorched,'' or
- consumed any one, or reared " a rack for his
torment" he, from whose remaining sense of what
~ due TO violated decorum, forced into exercise by
universal denunciation, has been reduced 10 the
Just necessity Of confession of " shame'' has
Oeeh nearest the - consuming DIaze anu the " tor
turing rack" Not Mr.. Mercer's
But has those groans-r
These sighs that i,ue, and these tears that fow."
Ihave charged Mason, Sc. with violation Of
public decorum, and am bound 20 make good the
charge. The public inter sted in this, as il has
an interest in the preservation of propriey in the
discussions of political and moral questions, as well
in the conduct of those whose talents or conf
dence enable them to take part in them.
What then has been the conduct of this writer,
IN the discussion OF questions, he admits to be i'm
portant, and to require 'coo and dispassionate in
vestisston." Under a feigned name, before it
'soas, or could be as well kaown, as il he had put
his name" to his pieces, who their author was In
The discussion of apolitical question, attacks by
name, In the newspapers, not the political opin-
ions OF public man, bat the character and feel
ntss OF an individual, a private individual, too,
so tar as the personalities of Mason are considered.
1t he have jus,iEabe cause, (snd it is difficult
10 conceive one,) for this, he has aggravated his
crime, by the gratuitois declaration, that he tcas
has friend; and deepens the maignity of the deed,
by proclaning his knowledge of the sensbilites of
his friend and then wounding HIM, through their
tenderness! If, say. he has no justification for
this conduct, SO destructive, do not say, to the
charities, but the decencies OF life he may well say
=" am even now, late as itis) ashamed of il I!
How Is It! MIR. Mercer, In common with many
other men, discussed publicly the propriety of cali
ing Convention, for the purpose of altering the
Constitution Of Virginia, and together with others
signed (wroe, if Mason will have it SOY an address
to their fellow citizens, who agreed in this opinion
An individual, under a feigned name emphati-
caHy, ga concealed writer" when he made the
first assault, attacks Mr.. Mercer by NAME and a.
vows his design in doing so, thus Offering an able
man and distinguished politician, personal af-
front-telis him, few, who know him, think well
oil him" that Z" he is vain and ambitious" that he
cannot be a" LEADER" that the bare suggestion Of
this, had excited great indignation in many per-
sons; - that his irritable spirits could not stand
the contact OF bold and reckless energy" that he
was intended by nature for such and such things
II gentleman take part in the public discussion
oil question, is any one who differs with him, at
liberty TO call him out from the crowd, land upbraid
him, by name, with supposed faults of character,
which have nothing TO do with the exercise of a
eoininon right and foreign to the question at issue?
Ihe sc nsoleDce" OF such conduct would find few
sfierants; particularly if these upbraidngs were as
false IN their nature, they affronting in the
manner, in which they were offered; for unques--
tionably unfounded is the assertion Of this ad1ra-
Die friend, this friend "without reproach" As he
lay well he " without fear - that few who know
MIR. M. ''tbnx well of him." 1t is true, there are
some Z" friends well as foes, who are as inca
pable OF approaching his Abilities as they are in
capable OF estimating his virtues emulating his
talents, think i'll of him. Surely one who has been
so long in the world, (the political world, part-
cularly) as MIR. nj has been, cannot be either dis
appointed or grieved at this. His sensbilites
must have long been too indurated TO have shreked
at the pointless raillery of Mason.
Having just quoted soae of the opinions of Ma
son, respecting Mr.. MERGERS personal qualities,
which he had no decent right to express, and ofhi
political qualifications, which he may have right
to hold and Proclaim cannot forbear here noticing
the following sentiment of Mason, of which /
know not, whether most TO admire the philosophy
or wisdom for practical purposes. ellis powers
(says Mason, speaking of Mr.. Mercer) are suited
q the nolftca heIo,c, ~, a.tatI..L.