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


engaged, wise, but that he is the least
full man, who labors most diligently to carry them
into the completest effects To be sure, Mason
says, Mr.. MERGERS efforts are directed to unat-
foinable perfection. But if plan be rational and
praise-worthy, in itself, who say, what degree
of perfection in its practical operations, is unat-
| tainable? If it be allowed, as Mason does, that
the plan is beneficial; who can apply to it, the alb
stract proposition, that Perfection in it's operation
is unattanabe until the utmost diligence, study and
effort at perfection" have been exerted? When
the mighty plan OF the New York Canal was devils
ed, who could have said, with truth, tina; periec-
ton in its practical operations was impossible 10 be
attained The effects nop realized, might have
been declared by such political philosopher, as
Mason, to be unattanable, and he would have de-
cried the continual efforts of DE Witt Clinton,
and have pointed to them, to shew that not &c
little was to be abated from Mr.. Clin'ons practica!
| utility According, therefore to Mason's philo-
sophy, heis the least practically useful man, who
labors most diligently carry into the complelest
effect, the good and beneficial plan
! Surely, Mason is not the writer, who can, with
any shew OF propriety, rebuke Mr.. Mercer, had the
latter been justly liable the reproach for gather
ing and dispensing Ga benefit suppose) flowers OF
rhetoric offensive to public decency. Let any man
read the essays of the writer, who "is as well
known, as il he had put his name to them," and
that essay he attributes by to Mr.. Mercer,
and Mason stands convicted of the disingenuous
attempt to save himself from public rebuke, by
unJustly endeavouring to bring that gentleman into
| condemnation, deservedly and so generally
pronounced upon himself
But 1t seems, Mason seeks to absolve himself
from the charge of attacking a gentleman by
name, while his own was concealed, by saying he
Is :" as well known as if he had put his to his
pieces" But this knowledge could not have been
possessed even by the citizens Of Richmond, when
| the attack was first made, and could be acquired
| only by subsequent contingencies, either from the
open acknowledgement of The real writer, or from
the intrinsic merit of his performances. Doubtless
the certain kn0,ciedge 0fthe real wri, er has be-
come SO general, from the latter source of moral
evidence; and the real writer will have as much TO
do, to save himself from being &c damned'' TO fame,
as he so philanthropicaly pledges himself to do TO
save Mr. Mercer from similar fate. The brilliant
comet, which passed The horizon of British
politics could be obscured''stat noninis t,aJra''
But the bright meteor, which has srisen in our
Southern sky, and which some feared "might
scorch us In its MERIDIAN has passed beautiful
ly along and has scintillated so iJli0centiu in its
decline, as TO leave hemisphere in blaze with
its glory, and 10 enable our political astronomers
safely and certainly to ascertain its name and its
course, and even 10 calculate the commencement
OF the period OF its perpetual occultation. Great
ability, like intrinsic radiance, cannot move; hut it
Is remarked, even i'll the broad sunshine and like
the slowworm exhibits its 50 pale, innoxious light
| in the dark-Such is,
| The painful prominence, oneself to view
! Above ihe's duness aud privilege too"
| In vain hath Mason sought to wrap himself up
in the solitude. of his own awful orgnality;'' he
stands 90 coness'd,"
=" Forever blessing and forever bles,d."
| He is equally above the reach of such missiles
| (then 1t was ungenerous in him to have thrown
them) "as the reproaches, contumelies and sour
riliies OF his adversares.'' Yet he has evidently
written In the unbecoming language, as well in
/ the unmanly temper OF Sir Fretfui Plagiary, and
therefore, he SO APPLY hit upon the chaste and beau
tiiul quotation from Sir Fretful, "'Iis damn'd
| atr0nting, &C." The taste which selected this
moroccan poeiquc is TO be deserted in that habit
which we hope (and hope the people in Rich
Hond generality have consented to leave TO the
original use OF the " Sons of Neptune,'' and the
boats on the Mississippi
! But Mr.. Mercer, it seems, cannot act in 'trou-
bled times" nor stand the &c contact OF bold and
reckless energy"--When the clouds of war hung
darkiy over our whole horizon; when the Vandals
and Nloores were on our shores, and threatening
our territories with waste and desoiation; when
danger and alarm were abroad III our borders; then
Jar pugfnia entrusted the sword OF her defence,
to the bold and gallant hand of Mercer though others
tooo'd the confidence of the maid, but could not
tcin ii, even ''by contrivance.''
How vain, how presumpIuous is this Mason!
Mason, in propria persona, used the epthet
| '' alarmIsts,' III reference 10 some who endesvor
| to alarm the good people of the Common ealih, by
suggestions of possible catastrophy Mason, like
old Dennis, sees himselfin this phrase and loudly
claims and courts the " thunder" and avers " they
meant even me i'll particular Assuming as true
| the identity, which his own imaginary greatness
has made evident, he justiGes his breach of de-
corum towards Mr.. Mercer, by the following
striking interrogatories-" Did they (the Loudoun
Committee) strike, and did they not expect the
blow TO be returned! Did they strike first, and do
they now complain Of hard blotrs? My good Sir,
=" injudicous admiration mistakes the ue,iom of the
shaft for the pig0W Of the bow
| Having done with the personalities of Mason,
would say word to my friend Mr.. Mercer. My
advice to him shall be taken from high source
would say to him. Burke once said to his friend,
when he - traduced and abused for his suppos-
| ed motives;' Let him remember, that it was not
only the Roman customs but it is the nature and
constitution of things, that calumny and abuse are
essential parts Of triumph These thoughts will
support mind, which only exists for honour under
the burden OF temporary reproach--Let him use his
tme-Let him give the whole length of the reins.
to bis efforts for the good of his countrymen. On
Mr.. Mercer l will say / care not WAC sneers) if
the language Of the same great Orator, 90 He may
have faults, but they faults, which do not tar
nish the lusre, impede the march of his great
abilities, extinguish the fire of great virtues In
those faults there is mixture of pride, ferocity
and complexional despotsm, or want of feeling for
| the distresses humankind"
| / will presently turn to Mason's consideration
" of all the apologies" (none have been made) for
the Staunton Meeting, without despairing of sue
cess, in showing it " perfectly futile"
| a CONFEDERATE.
Georgia and the Creeks-We lay before the
reader the correspondence between Gov Troup