Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-11-03
FOR THE E.NQ UIRER.
Hon. John Idiiaferro


TO you, which he then thought, and still believes.
worthy your notice and deserved reply, but
which you have thought proper not to vouchssfe
TO answer. Ii Is fair TO presume, you have not
thought 1t worth your while, by this date, (the
18th October to bes,ow upon them your a,ten-
ton, that you design to let them pass along sub 81
lentio.
Is il possible that with all the willy arts which
are ascribed to you-with the cousummate know
iedSe (Which all allow you TO possess) Of ascer-
tanning what is hes; calculated to quiet OF nfiame
the people, that you should not know that any
contempt OF the multitude, any member of il,
when engaged in making fair and lesitimat. ex.Ini-
nation, connected with its welfare and honorary
unjustifable assumption of power, in either the
Chief Magistrate OF these United States or in any
intermediate station, from him to the door keeper
ofyour Hall, seldom fails to prove fatal TO who
ever may attempt it. If, sir of this truth, found.
ed upon all experience, you should really be igno-
rant, suffer me TO warn you, above all things, not
10 get above your duty not to presume loo much
upon the favor which your employers have shown
you. Many an agent, as worthy as Yourself as
you well know, has lost employment for a similar
offence. There is, it is said moment at which
hattery and chicane can no longer deceive, and
simplicity itself can no longer be misled. An time
mas shown, whenever the peope have reason to
withdraw their confidence, they are as oporeesive
and violent, as they had been kind and intiulgent
Once let the mass take direction, and the noun
tain torrent is not more uncomfortable and desruc-
tive.
Recoect then, sir, you are nothing more nor
less than servant OF The public, and that that
public have right to your sentiments upon all
subjects involving their interest and hsppiness-It
IS immaterial whether you are addressed by the
whole community, or single indv idual whether
the address 10 anonymous or otherwise--the mere
knowledge that doubt exists, as regards you upon
any subject connected with the national prosperity,
chr l1alnn h.
Its removal, as well on your own account as from
duty you owe those you repr esent.
maintain, however in this country we NAV
De distinguished by rank or property, in the rights
OF freedom we are all equal; and whether ENQUIRIES
are made of you as representative agent, by
rich or poor man, by one or by a thousand by
an individual who gives his name, or one who
wthholds 1t, you are bound freely 70 answer
them.
Our republcanism would be a farce-our re-
preventative system mere bubble, and the people
sleeping sentinels, worse than suggards in their
political work, were they TO suffer REPRESENTATIVE
TO escape from this al-mportant duty under the
poor pretext OF his being called on by Individual
whose name is unknown to him, when, in that call
the doubt, at least OF large portion of the people.
was fully set forth.
Every one swell aware there are MANY reasons
which may operate upon an individual 10 induce,
not Ike Junius an eternal, but temporary conceal
uent OF his name-while, on the other hand, there
is argument that human ingenuity can devise In
support The absurdity, and truly phenomenon in
republican government. Of representative refus
ing to make an svowal of his opinions, especially
when invited TO do so by his constituents
at Crisis like the present, when, at least
large and respectable share of the people believe
that reschery, base Intrigue, and bubble are relied
upon as the most ready passports to Office should
think you would embrace with pleasure every on
portuny TO avert from yourself such charge
and moreover, SIR II you wish to see enioved all
the advantages OF undisguised represen,ation--if
you wish to perpetuate the holy attributes atten
dant upon the pIerogatiye ofireemen, YOU should
IN such spirit, come out, whether you entertain
opinions conscnant with the district or not and e,
them be known Then you will have done your
duty, and also have put in the power of the neo
pleto do theirs; and not things stand at present
10 be so incstinct-so locked up, as to be reduced
to the degraded condition of being differently un
derstood by as many different squads as NAV col
lect upon every court yard throughout the district
The designs, like the stations of public men
should be purely pull lic-They should be above the
filthy atmosphere of faction or nigLe--ihose who
have not holiness enough to proclaim their princi-
pies, even IRON the house-top, If not dlyeudy
can soon become wicked enough TO make pri-
vate market OF the public interest," and CONSEQUENT
ly are rendered unfit TO be either the maker or the
exposition of the laws intended TO govern free
man.
The people, beg you to be assured, Sir. are not
as inert and torpid as you may imagine, and no
doubt, most anxlously hope, upon the subjects
upon which your opinion has been asked and III
they are even so now, to an extent unbecomins
'heT interest, then are men to be found in the dis
trict, ready TO stimulate them to their duty. and
arouse them from their political lethargy- They
VIII be told, and in truth too that the same spirit
OF feeling that will refuse explanation when called
on by the whole, or any part of the constituent
body, would violate the freedom of the people.
trample upon their rights, generate arstocracy and
encourage all the evils that follow in its train
were 1t in the compass of its power
For my own part, consider the amenabiIitv OF
arepi esentaiive to his constituents the right Of the
people TO demand Of him his opinion upon subjects
involving the naticn's interest and good and his
DUTY to answer such questions, whenever submit
ted, as the fortress and ark of our safety.
II no covert design sinister disposition turks
unseen, to impose upon the people-if all is sound
If nothing is rotten in Denmark, in Gods name
where is the difficulty or objection in answering !
The questions / have pTopounded TO you Am to
believe 1t requires combination of o1aIities
which il is impossible 10 find united, in makiee an
exposition OF views upon subjects so strIpt of am
biguty, as the most dull of apprehension can a,
once comprehend the importance and see the drift
oH-if so, can but own, am too much of a
rustic republican, 10 learn the requsitions, and TO
practice the etiquette Of the present times.
BE the fashion though what il nav I am pleased
70 know the lesson which have learned in short
me, inculcstes the duty of filling all the Offices of
the country, $50 far as may have ~ bv
combining as much talent, energy, honesty and
Independence as possible, and to regard the two |
Ia.k