Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-21
RECMMoMD, JUNE 2l. 49,


under the signature OF II Freem0n of 1925 and
not little angry commentary from Others An
answer was, indeed, expected from Mr. Mercer.
but not such an answer this, conceived IN n
transport OF rage, and uttered in shreks of AGONY
that distress the public sympathy only intanlel
to dlsappoint his schemes, if l could by exnos;,-
the true principles and obvious tendency of ,ho,n
and, In regard TO him personally l said NO ,,or,
than thought barely enough TO make him feel
that such enterprises are MOTTO be prosecuted with
out some sacrifice OF his own tranquility. 7 hove
him no i'll will had no design to inaict n liz;
or degree OF pain, which seems have i,f3ic,ed.
and md IN II no cause for triumph II i no, I
that have put him on the Rack: That busy rns,-
less spirit OF his own, that impels him to court the
blaze OF public attention, which often scorcbcs
and sometimes consumes, is forever forging more
exquisite torments for itself, than the mos, orraI
tyrant ver invented.
shall not affect to hide the consciousness foo,
that those personal illusions, with which This en
uemans publication abounds, are aimed at tho ,eoJ
author OF these pieces. | am as well know, =. Is
n"a signed my own name TO them. To him am
not concealed author. Let him and his friends
improve as they may every advantage OF recrinli-
nation, which the unatoned and unreIente5 Gins If
my political life, and every word have ever ,,or
tor the public, can afford them. Yet shall s,iu 90
tlnue 10 write under the signature of Mason of76.
that name FOR which Mr.. Mercer processes s,,cI 49,
found generation, at the same time that he rep,o-
bates the chief, il not the only remaining ,nonu-
ment of his wisdom
Whatever may he thought by Mr. Marrow L.;
self or by his coadlutor, whom l take TO he The
fT,stogitOn of the Constitutional Yhg. or nv ,b,t
FRIEND OF Equal Rights, who is illurinino, tbe
alley with Ire blaze OF his ZEAL or by the innar-
tial public, Of the Severity Of my remarks ON M
Mercer's conduct; defy any man 10 find in them
a single word OF that coarse vulgar abuse which.
1t II sometimes soil the object at which il il eos,
never falls to befoul the hand that casts 1t. dd
not and never will stoop to gather and dispense
any oil those flowers Of rhetoric so offensive 10 the
public sense of decency, which Mr. Mercer la,,isb.
es on me so literally, and which he has certainly
learned The use Of since in habits of familiar
intercourse with him. He insinuates tha, I'm,
disgrace to the profession of the laws and describe.
me, In plain terms, a fatless depostary offbi
confidence; treacherous and cunning seducer: an
lncehdiary nltschiecous demagogue Gin opposi-
uon, suppose, to an innocent ore like himselfA
an aspirant io.the Office of Grand k,guisitor. or
to the place OF Familiar of the Inuuisitiop or
to " the more profitable task of the physician, hir-
ed to study the pulse, in order 10 aegravate and
prorac the torture of its subiecs'-that Is 10 saw
AS understand it) to report the exact moment Of
Jamfing. lie talks of my extraordinary virulence
emoittered by wounded pride; my aleetation of
patriotism ard beneyoience malignant charges
ana insinlalcus; srossest ignorance or fegned aud
-eee 2l!oas -ea9s oy 90 &c laughed at or maliceto
"iioEdilCe, l..4ssftG V4nItr. lgCk-learn-
ing and mock-nalesty. And then lie sraveIy ron
cludes, that 60 OF me- nay merits or deraeri il as
not ms design TO have spoken tius much!'' To all
which shall answer In the words land he will
doubtless think with all the sincerity of Sir Fret
NJ ftesl4ry-'' Let me tell you, MIR. DaneIe.
aImn sfrontlng In you to suppose am hurt
y such stuff as this
Whoever goes into the newspapers TO discuse
any topic of real interest in regard to which mem,
opinions are at variance and their feelings excited.
must either invoke the goddess of Dullness for his
muse, OF must make up his mind beforehand to hear
all the reproaches and contumelies and scrriIites
winch the rage or the impotency of his adversares
can heap upon bin. l should lose all self-respect,
Ut found myself angered or disturbed by them in
the least Whether it will be regarded as anofber
proof of my inflated vanity, | neither know nor
care-but feel, that am above the reach of these
MISSILES with whatever slight they may be
thrown.
The Friend Of Equal Rights has not hesitated
TO place me among those renal tcriters whom the
BRUSH Government IS said occasionally TO employ,
to defend aniiquated abuses against the benign spi
rit OF Reform. And, at first, / was not quite sure.
mat Mr.. Mercer, when he speaks of hireiiag 7Uri-
teTs % tlco-Penny pamphlets, did not, in the
blindness OF his passion, mean some sheer at me.
Ihe FIRST, perhaps, did weigh the import of his
words; or, perhaps, he intended me a compliment
latter his manner) since he classes me with Ed
N"N @'NANS' AS W tne Ollef, even now, alter all
That has past cannot find it in my heart TO sus-
pect him OF intending 10 insnuate a cauInny so
silly and so vile
Why Mr.. Mercer should complain, that I am a
faithless depositary of his confidence am yvbollv
at loss to imagine. He knows perfectly well that
am not to be provoked by any insolence, TO be-
uay any confidence he ever reposed in me, whether
OF political or of a private nature; and that I
have not, in fact, made the least ausfon 10 apy of
ms actions or sufferings, opinions or professional
winch 90 not strictly pertain 10 his political charac.
ter and which not notorious TO the whole
world. His former opinions in favor of the free
mold qualification of suffrage, were repeatedly
ayowed on the floor Of the House of Delegates
Every BODY knows, just as well as he OF l. that his
discomfort with the General assembly of Virginia.
originated in its refusal to legitimate that spurious
litter OF unchartered banks which he adopted
with such immoderate affection and that il
mas been since exasperated by his disappoint-
ment OF certain military honor, which he
'hougnt no more than his just due j. indeed thought
70 too; and II he does not know or believe, that,
upon every occasion could find / endeavourej.
1eaously and to the utmost Of my ability, TO i'm
press the same sentiment upon Others, and to soft
EN- and to exinguish the hostility which had arisen
against him, shall be at no pains now to convince
him OF 1t. He has disappointed the estimate had
formed ofhim. Yet by no means think him weak
'r wicked, but only unsteady and unsafe The zeal
d ms friends, conspring with that of his enemies
has Ilearn) ascribed to me an aspertv of meaning,
which never entered into my heart or head. am
not responsible for their rnisapprehensions. As to
any private causes Of unhappness under which he
nay be suffering, / said not one word that can be
tortured into an allusion 10 them; and, in truth,
had no thought concerning them, till he suspected
ne OF the ndecency ofhnting at them. If he be
eally suffering under any private Hls, which hope
IS not the case-why should say, as with perfect
sincerity might, that am sorry for them? Mr.