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

secuiion or in the achievement of this work of re-
form, in the method by which he proposes to ac-
complsh it. And he may be assured that l do
not and never did apprehend, that the friends of a
convention will take him for their leader; on The
contrary, am persuaded, that nothing have ever
said on this subject, since the first agitation of it,
has excited such lively indignation in the great body
OF them, as the suggestion l made (Which they es-
teen injurious taunt,) that they are capable OF
acting in subordination to him. He never will,
never can, lead them. There are men among them,
in contact with whose bold and reckless energy his
irritable spirits will shrink like the sensitive plant
His powers are suited to the calm politics, which,
belong TO established settled order of things 10
the more benehcient, * (in my poor opinion) more
praseworthy works OF regular legislation; though,
here, not little is TO be abated from his prac-
teal utility account of his continual efforts af-
Ter unattainable perfection in all his plans. He was
not formed by nature &c TO ride in the vhirlwind and
direct the Storm
The Friend of Equal Rights reminds us of
Mr.. MERGERS services, while he was member of
the House OF Delegates, to the great interests Of
education and internal improvement; and is as
sured, that 90 his memory will be cherished long
after some who affect friendly commiseration for
his weaknesses, shall have dritted down the stream
of oblivion" l well content. This writer
did not perceive, that, in his awkward mixture of
the sarcasm against me with the panegyric on Mr.
Mercer, he has assigned very short date to his
friends Immortality. | of tn. last men who
would deract from any real merit he possesses and
shall do my best to saw him from being damn d
10 fame Let him not avail himself Of the stock
of credit acquired by former meritorious services
10 dash into wild and boundess speculations which
can hardly prove profitable, if successful. and in
which he must hazard his all, and put in jeopardy
the interests of the whole community. 1t is
gaming adventure that he is so intent upon; and
success will be only temptation TO new enter
prjses of the same kind which can only eventuale
in ire rievable disorder and ruin. / beg he will
remember, if he will not take this warning
Both the Friend Of Equal Rights and 4risto-
giton are stung with the venom they suppose TO be
contained in the epthet of Decemriri which app
Piled TO the Loudoun Committee; an epithet sug-
gestod simply by the unlucky number, (which the
committee ut first appeared 10 consist These
writer's are so smitten with admiration of our pre-
vang in composition that they will not tole-
rate a classical ausion unless il be pushed to the
extremity OF its application: and dare saw
they fancy that intended to remind those of my
fellow-citizens, who have read Goldsmith's Ro-
man History, that when -appiuS Clalldi.is, the
chief OF the Decemvir, burning with lawless pas
sion for PHginid, had found the nilder method of
seduction vain, the contrivance he resorted to at
last TO obtain possession OF her, was TO haze her
free condition brought into question, and to adj
judge her SiaUe: but had his passions never been
would never have been doubted, and she would
have been spared the public shane of such trial
If the contumelious epithet OF GkdFn1iSts, and
the denunciation OF those diIrn.iStS as pre-
SltnptII0ES, contained in the address of the LOU
doun Committee, were not intended 10 be applied
20 all who hold the same opinions on this subject
that do, and even to me In particular; why does
Mr. Mercer speak of my 1U0unded pride? and
why does -dristogitoR descr be ga gentle
man who complains so bitterly ofthe compaTatipe-
3y mild designation OF aiarInist'l They are con-
scious oil their own meaning. They absolved me
from all the bonds OF private friendship, which had
bound Ne TO silence from the PRONUNCIATION OF the
LoIdoun resolutions till the publication OF the Adj
dress. / little expected, and had no wish,
to be so absolved. They coured this contest.
With what colour of reason, then, can they
complain, that was the aggressor? Did they
strike, and expect that The blow would not be re-
turned! Did they strike FIRST, and DO they now
complain OF hard blows! Do they really think thar
the offence of blow should be measured by the
pain, and not By the insult? / shall take no trou-
BILE to appease their resentment But | desire to
stand justified in the opinion OF generous public
shall be sorry, very sorry, TO learn, that any truly
impartial man has discovered in my former pieces,
any personal piq1e much more animosity, again st
Mr.. Mercer OF Any other person. Whatever of
satire may be found In them, was dictated solely
by an opinion founded on very careful observation
that n controversies OF this kind, whichever party
tamely submits to reproach contumey from its
adversary in effect surenders the contest Shall Mr.
Mercer, and his brothers OF the Loudoun Cominit-
tee, openly proclaim their contempt Tor their oppo-
nents by describing them as aEdrmists, and rouse
public indignation against them by denouncing them
as eSunptuous-and shall no man dare to doubt
the infallibility of their WISDOM or question The
political virtue of their schemes' Shall they slg-
gest and justify distrust of the Legislature OF their
country, - on of its present constitution"
and shall none presume to express diStrust of the
Stanton Convention, on account of its constitu-
ton? Shall they assume the tone of conquerors,
and are we TO deprecate or submit! They hold up
US and the institutions OF our foreiathers 10 public
scorn and destestation; but, to themselves and
and their plans, they claim exemption from all
discussion and examination--'' dugust their deed,
and sacred be their tame!" Then we NAV as well
surrender the commonwealth into their hands at
once, and trust to those promises of moderation
which Mr. Henderson makes, literally and con-
identy as if it were within his competency TO full
fill them.
do not doubt the sincerity of those promises.
But pray this gentleman TO read the Hampshire
resolutions; and to observe, that the friends of
convention in that county, vehemently disclam the
authority of the Legislature; that the delegates they
have appointed to meet him at Stanton, are in
structed 10 g take measures, to enable the peOple
g to choose the members Of, or to FORM a coauen-
&c ton to alter the constitution of Virginia. and
that " full power and authority" is given 70 any
one more" Of those delegates, ." to act in such
Z" manner may be deemed most advisable to
Z" effect that object, at the meeting tohich is to
g. take place at St0untOn, or at such other place.
&c may be selected by those tUhO are IN favor Of
" contention II this do not abate Mr.. Hem
derson's confdencein his own power to fulfill the
promise he has pledged to the public, for The mo-
Iteration of the proposed convention: IL il do not
open the eyes of all men to the true principle and