Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-05-19
RICHMOND, MAYls.
FOR THE ENC UIR Err.
THE NEXT PRESIDENT

Public sentiment seems 10 have distinctly pro-
| nounced, that the great mass Of the 3epublicans
lmou?h he United States, have no confidence in
| Mr. j. q. Adams. He has given to the publir
an expose of his principles, and chart of the
course he means to pursue as to the first, they
are principles, which go bow shot nav a cannon
shot, beyond those avowcd by our rulers even in
Inc days OF Alien and Sediiion Law memory His
political creed, as declared in an evil Tor rather
Tor The sake OF the public, in Il happy hour,) is
new edition OF that OF the elder Adams consdera-
Oy enlarged with notes and references TO po,vets
and professions. which the latter never dared 10
promuIgaie 10 the American People. What course
then, should be pursued by those who wish 10
preservethe genuine principles of the Constitution
| oniutstionabiy, TO endeavor, in constitutional
manner, 10 prevent the reelection of a man holding
such principles and opinions as Mr. Adams. Rn,
we are toid we ought TO wait Tor overt acts. The
answer TO this is two-fold. First, we have oyer,
acts. His recommendation to Congress. His an
ponimen, of Rufus King. cum multis ali: Bu,
II overt acts IN the technical sense, were wan,in.
IL Is not true that 1t would be proper TO wait, When
te incumbent arrosates 10 the government, powers
which do not belong to it, when lie tells YOU his
course VIII be to administer H. as to destroy il:
are we TO wait till the chains are rivetted. before
we resist! Suppose in private life, a man had an
overseer, who during the year told his en,pIoyer
that he had right to sell the crops and the
cattle, and indeed, TO ALLEVIATE part of the land
ana appropriate the proceeds TO his own use
would such employer no, look for a successor
because the overseer had not actually during the
year carried his threats into execution. Would
lie trust him on the estate second vear3 We
have been told that the true maxim is, &" princi
pies not men, and now, we are told in relation
TO MIR. Adams that we should support President
Without, or with bad political principles But il
Is said, the opposition composed of men. who
90 not agree as to who should be Mr.. Adams's
successor Some persons seem to suppose that the
whole politics OF the country resolve themselves
into VINO Is TO be President. The patronage and
power OF that ofce, in their estimation absorb every
thing. Now, for one, do not think it so dif-
'icult matter TO select fit person; if the powers
which are really conferred by the Constitution. and
no others are faithfully executed If no visionary.
and wild schemes are INDUCED in if the simplicity
oil our institutions are preserved and no attempts
10 ape the splendor, and frivolities Of European
governments, and we contine ourselves 10 TAKING
care OF our own interests, without embroiling our
selves In foreign disputes, there are hundreds nav
thousands oil men In the United States capabls OF
administering the government. We do not want
men who 60 Tor display; want not rhetoricians
VI projectors; we want man of practical good
sense VINO knows mankind, and above all, we
want man who Is faithful to the Constitution,
and who understands and expounds it according IN
the sense OF It's creators, the fathers of the church
and not according to the refinemens and the CLOSES
OF modern commentators; men who deem IL an
evidence OF profound intellect, and surprising pa
'rlotism to find out construction that DO BODY
ever dreamt Of But 1t is premature to decide now
who Is to be President. We must proceed stem bv
step Every friend 10 the Constitution, ought BIZ
this time 10 have made up his mind, who ought
not to be President: AT the least that the present
incumbent ought not Wehavc nearly three wears
10 decide who ought. Let not the friends of free
government be paralized by attempts to sow di
Visions amongst them. Divide Sc impera, hasbeen
he plan by which the enemies of the free insIitu
lions have endeavored, and too often succeeded in
ses'roying the prospects of the friends of free
dom. But forewarned, let US not fall into the
snare. Mr.. Adams, and his principles, are now
on trial before the great inquest of the nation; lei
that inques, keep their eyes steadily or the matter
IN issue, and not be diverted from rendering their
yerdic by the abuse of others 1t is stale device
10y which The public justice has been too often
eiudec The question is, whether the government
can be safely entrusted to the administration of Mr.
Adams, whether his principles do not lead ineyita-
bly, 10 its subversion, and not whether there are
other men in the United States who would be
equally dangerous. CURTIUS