Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-11-25
Fairfax county, Nov. s, 1925.
FOR THE ENC UIRER.
To tbe pcOnle OF VirgiuiQ.


during the last three or tour weeks, rendered an
caller notice of the remarks OF 60 Wing and
PDilo- Demos imp acticdbe. must, therefore,
take the liberty of making my respects to them
now; and rendering my most grateful thanks Tor
their very courteous and ctpH reception oil my
former communication, and their so moderate ana
decorous replies Ii should be a matter OF hearty
congratula,ion to every Virginian to see with what
calm moderation they have been able TO manage
this subject, whose very name has proved hre-
brand to enkindle all the factious elements OF the
State into the most lamentable blaze OF discord.-
They certainly must have been much upon their
guard thus well to have governed their tenpers;
and thus cody and dspasslonaely to have discussed
the question in controversy. Indeed, must con-
TESS that if all the convention-men are as Tree from
the high toned anti-republican, despotic and dia-
bolical sentiments" which had heretofore thought
attendant upon this 90 monstrous.!!' doctrine oil
innovation, as these two peaceable knights 81
1ercer's Crusade prove themselves TO be, there
is not so much danger in calling convention as l
had imagined Two or three such decorous and
mild arguments from the gentlemen, doubtless
wonld have happy tendency in convincing the
people, that all the angry passions and feelings oil
the human soul, have been supplanted by the chari-
table sentiments of mutual compromise and brother
Fly love; that the most hypucritical cant OF fac
-zion and civil commotion, unparalleled impudence
and gross, revolving and contemplate absurdlties
have been exchanged for frank and manly argument,
becoming modesly and reasonable views; In word,
that no hazard attends the experiment proposed.
To A Wing" who "begs leave to decline
,the honour of entering into any discussion"
must be permitted to say two words at part
ing His criticisms upon the few remarks, which
Submitted 20 your consideration some few weeks
ago, were, no doubt, prompted by the most friendly
motives. | am, therefore, extremely sorry not 10
be able 10 profit by them. His own writings are
in such perfect violation of the rules oil good
J;,,at hat | IL
/ 2 in the use OF my plain style; TO attempting
the ormation of better, according 10 his notions
But that ! may not leave him without making
3 me compensation for his very able and beautiful
review, will make free 10 recommend TO his no
lice one establishment OF composition which he so
much affects despise, and which, as yet be has so
pertinaciousy excluded from his use-I mean the
introduction of ideas nio his essays; sometimes,
at least, if he thinks it superhuoas 10 be always
playing them of. And l can assure him, that his
opinion to the contrary Notwithstanding, there are
many, very many, who admire one solid argument
more Than thousand OF those brilliant meteors OF
the fancy, which Please and dazzle Tor moment
with their bright corruscations, aud then disal
leaving the path of enquiry dark and benish'cd.
And now to my most worthy namesake, must
ask leave to speak lie seems all at once to be
seized with violent qualms of blowing hot and
cold with the same BREATH nd much alarmed
with the ghosts of his departed political consislen-
assumed a signature which he Z" had formerly adj
dressed you in several numbers under" Into
what dreadful dilemma have precipitaed my
self 4" The well-known courtesy OF essay sts'
violated! " A most indelicate encrolchment and
breach ofdecorum'' towards quondam W. liter for
the Enquirer commit ed--a wre who proves to
be well versed in the bitteres dialect of 'vugyr
eloguence, and complete master OF the boltesI
idloms Of dogmatical augmentation; who has every
formidable engine OF scuniliiy at his command;
and who, at single voley of his small arms, has
forever defeated " Mason of 10" and with few
scattering shot desoated, with unparalleled rava-
ges, " Chesterfield, Goochand, Charles City
and reaching even Brunswick Good Heavens!!,
let examine if there is virtue in the facts of
the case, to exercise these trightul bugbears'
which - Philo- Demos" the master of ne,cSpa-
per ceremonies, has conjmed up in his wrath. -
When l wrote my number, winch appeared above
the contested signature, entirely unacquant-
ed with the fact, that any previous numbers had been
published above such sgnature--nor can now,
afer hayieg been informed of the existence of such
numbers, by the very polite and intelligent COM
rnunication of the author, find them in any of the
papers on my file; although they have at some
time no doubt appeared There is one other cir
snmstance which shields me from the accusation
OF having violated any rule of decoum, well as
g PhilO-Demos'' OF renowned memory" from any
charge OF " Regeneration" IL is the peaceful
silence in which his numbers had for months been
rerosng-a silence which the al hallowed intrusion
Of the iaintest recollection would never again have
disturbed but for the chivaTous interference Of the
author himself; whose resuscitating notice TO the
world Of their existence, apprises il OF this great
fhnd OF political treasure; its possession OF which
would otherwise never have been known Let
rne request him, therefore, not to be uneasy, lest
the charge of " blowing hot and cold with the
sane breath" should be made against him. Merited
forgetfulness OF bis numbers and their sentiments
guards him at every point against such charge
There is one charge, however, that may justly be
made; IL is, that eUen Philo-D Demos" should have
the vanity to hink his ephemeral productions would
oul-liYe the memory Of few months.
His general views have long since been answer
ed in the able refutation of Freeman Of 1885,
One very striking particular is, the resemblance be-
tween his essay * an anecdote related by Kncker-
booker upon one Of the Dutch settlers OF New York
The Dutchman laid wager that he could Jump
ever a certain fence. When about to make the
trial instead Of jumping Immediately over he went
back mile or two from the fence in order to take
running start expecting with bis increased impetus
easily to vault over. But when be had run nearly
20 the fence over which he was to jump, he found
himself tired and unable to win his wager, and
he cit down to rest without attempting it. So with
" Philo-Demos' Of Richmond lie makes a
mighty parade; goes some distance back from " the
wshed-for point OF attack in order 10 acquire adj
ditional force. But after putting and Efftfze,
through his Introductory remarks upot i, i, s.
eii1 'eue, and ably discussing titiesl,e ,t;sf 1s
nfmes he At length comes to the sud 2 -. -