Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-21

the true interest OF the country, and to pursue il
steadily under every difficulty, / resolved from
the hrst, should be my constan; guide in my pas
sage through public life. had not been long in
the councils OF the nation, before the frmness of
my resolution was put to severe test You all
remember the condition of our country in 1871 ana
ioiz' during what is called the war session. A
war t'hat time apparently interminable was yyaeed
oet"eeh 'ne TWO great powers of Europe England
ana france, IN the progress of which long serie.,
OF injuries had been inflicted on our neutral riebts
These at length became insuiferabe. Ever a.
temp was made, by measures short of war IN "a
dress our wrongs. They all failed So far from
arresting the course of beligerent aggression. ,,r
neutral rights continued to be steadily encro,cbe8
on In spite OF embargoes and the whole system of
restrictive measures. We were at LENGTH lat the
period TO which reler) reduced to the cond;,;o,
OF humoly submitting, of making an open and
ooid appeal to arms There were not wanting in
congress many tand some ef them distinguished
by high reputation for talents) who preferred sub
mission with all ofts humiliation Those rnen,ba,s
oehieo not our country's wrongs. They were i.
iact Dut too manifest; but they doubted ,vbetber
me people would bear the burdens and priyations
OF war. They readily conceded that the peonle
wouio sustain their government in peace, when bat
niue enorts were necessary sustain it. but would
oy no means concede TO them that elevated ntelli-
gence and patriotism which were requisite to bear
1t through all of the dangers of war I neither 60
oeieved nor acted. was not ignorant of the
danger and privstions which must ever attend .
war with England, particularly uDprepared az tho
country then was. clearly saw our difficulties
put my faith IN your virtue and intelligence was
never for an instant shaken. I asked myself aim
plV' what do the lasting interest and the honor Of
the country require, and not doubling but that ho
would be sacrificed without resistance. I nnbe.,-
tatinsly gave my voice for that war. which bas
emphaucaily and justly been called the second OF
independence Nor was mistaken in nv estimate
OF the character OF the people. Sustained by their
enlightened patriotism, the government was borne
In safety through the stormy current of events
An honorable peace followed, and with it the inn,
portanl question occurred, on what footinp shouId
our peace establishments be placed. Agsin Co..
gress was divided. There were many on whom
the experience OF the war appeared to be lost
hA'her not discerning "hat your interest required
Or what Is more probable, not confding in YOUR
disposition to make he sacrifices, which the me,-
sures necessary for the security of the country re-
CURED, they were found in opposition to almost ev-
cry measure proposed for that purpose Not doub,
ing the necessity OF an enlightened system ofmea-
sures for the security of The country and The al
vancement oil its true interest," nor your disposition
10 make the necessary sacrifices to sustain it
gavemy Jealous efforts IN favor Of all such mes
sures; the gradual Increase of the Navy moderate
military establishment properly organized and in
stTucted, system OF fortifcation for the defence
OF the coast, the restoration of specie currency
a due protection OF those manufactures ofthe conn
try which had taken root during the period of war
and restrictions; and finally, system of connectjn
the various portions of the country by iudicious
system OF Internal improvement Nor again was 7
mistaken in your character. You molly sustajne8
all OF these measures. Soon after the adoption bv
Congress OF this system of measures, which prer,
out OF the experience of the tate war was tPanss
ierred n da tba
the appointment of our late virtuous and excellent
Chief Magistrate In this new position. nv prjn.
clPies OF action remained unchanged Continuins-
still with my faith increased instead of being sbal-oo
IN your virtue and intelligence, sought no other
path to your favor but fearless discharge of the
duties OF my Office. Placed on so firm foundation
no dilhculty nor opposition could intimidate me :
IL became my duty, as a member of the adrninis,ra
ton, to aid in sustaining, against the boIdest as
saults, these very measures, which, as member or
Congress, | had contributed in part to establish.
ana again had the satisfaction to find that q rel
ance on your virtue and intelligence was not in
YAM Your voice was so audibly pronounced on
the sde OF the administration, that now instead oF
opposition, the struggle appears 10 lie who shall
eymce the greatest zeal in favor offs measures
but IT is NOT simply In questions of national poIiev
that this deep conviction of the virtue and inteli;
gence of the American people has guided me in nv
public course. 1t has also been my constant ,noni
Tor IN relation to the principles of the government
and its operation IN reference TO them Relievine
that firm reliance on your virtue and jnteljoencS
was the only safe foundation FOR enlightened poll
cy, 1t naturally followed, that | should take such
a view OF the principles of the government ana
give 1t, as lar as in my power, such direction IN
ats operation, as would be the best calculated TO err
large and confirm The powers Of the people. That
have ever so acted, I confidently appeal to nv
whole political course, as well while a member OF
the government OF the state as that Of the nation
And IN so acting. conceive that I have but
acted IN The spirit of the Constitution. ACCORDING
TO our American conception ofliberiy, it can only
exist where those who make and execute the Ia,,
are controlled by the people on whom the I,,ya
operate, through frequent elections fairly coodc,s
ed' 10 enlarge and strengthen this control y,berS
ever 1t IS susceptible OF it, and 10 preseryejt in
Vigor IN the actual operation Of the systsp, bsv-
ever conceived to be the first duty of An Ar,erics
citizen; Tor II must be manifest that in the sarDe.
proportion, that The people may lose this control
Jast IN Inc same degree he responsibility Of Public
Agents TO them must be lost, and that in the .,r,.
degree, the government must lose is der,oor,,icat
Character. Nor have these been mere tLeoretirsI
opinions. Throughout the whsla Of tie late elce-
uon, which has terminated in placing me in nv
present situation, | never for motient Toe, 80,
OF hem. knew, that it may appear indeljcstef To-
me 10 allude 70 these recent occurrences but beIsv
ing hat nothing that concerns the American peo-
PIE ought TO be so considered [ without hesitation
refer to the part which acted during Tie late Pre-
sidsnuai canvass. Ersm first 10 last, one leading
principle governed me, that he voice Of The peopI,
should prevail. cared much less, who should bs
elected, than how he should be; nor did / confns
this principle TO others, without extending j, 10
myself. held myself strictly subordinate Il, ,lc
public voice, Of which, trust, furnished no f,o-
BE proof, when one Of the leading states of the
Union, which, though at first aupareotl, f..aS.t1.