Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-11-10
RTCHMoND, NOV. 10.
TO THE EDITORS ofthe V4T. IyTELLIG ENcER

enough to wade through our last Letter. or courage
enough 10 screw yourselves up '' to the sticking
place. - You have happily relieved Us from the
apprehensions OF having excited the intolerab!e
contempt OF such grave dignliel Seienor-
disclaim all - personalities If we hare in anv
respect whatsoever departed from our usual styIe
oil composition, we confess il is unworthy OF the
columns OF the Enquirer. But we have spoken
ol ou, not IN your private Characters, nor Of your
judicial functions, but az the Editors of a public
paper The only difference between a, has been
that whilst you have dealt in irony we have in
duiged IN plain speaking tina, we have exchanged
truths Tor your sarcasms and open declarations
tor diplomat lie inuendoe,. We have spoken of
your qualifications and your career as the + tors
OF National Journal and if our language has
not always partaken of tie courtesy of compli-
nent the faul perhaps is so much in the paint
er, as in the original. We have thought for
ourselves" and have frankly expressed what we
have candidy thought. Such at least is one OF
the privileges which distinguish ireemen from
slaves.''
But we given 10 understand that j, is TO
pubic considerations" alone, that we are in
deb;ed for the honor OF your continued notice"
What these considerations may be, we should per-
haps be at some loss to conjecture Whether il
be to expose the heresies in which we have ipdulg
ed, 10 vindidate the ways OF a bold admnisira-
uon, or to assert your pre,ensions to indie
pendence OF sentiment, somewhat puzzled
to determine. But if you have succeeded no bet
ter in the former objecs than you have done in the
last, 1t were scarcely necessary have interrupted
your silence OF ten days.-It is painful for us to
touch over this part OF the subject; and we shall
dispatch it, as rapidly possible.
We are amused AT the infinite sell. complacen
cy win which you advert to your 81 rupture" with
MIR. Adams while he was in the lie of safe
pfeceden's' and to the consequent organization OF
the National Journal. We are no doubt to re-
celve TINS as a positive evidence, that you can
give your opinion, upOn occasion yvLan ,ba 80
called tor by circumstances" What were those
circumstances which prompted your appeal to the
people, 1t would not puzzle Mr.. Owen to expIain
For the hist time, you were threatened with tn.
loss OF the patronage OF the government and
"public considerations" inpelled you TO appeal 10
the people. For the first time the frown nj
greatness'-'' the burst OF Official dspIeasure
was an g OCCASION or Sc circumstance which
called upon you to choose between resistance and
annhiation. You did make the experiment of
resisting the - burst of official displeasure.',
and an obvious triumph attended even your
hesitating Efforts. But you almost started AT
the sounds which yourselves had made -
is impossible that you have forgotten with " lat
an III grace you offered up your literary laurcls ON
The shrine of pacifcation; or with what wither-
ing contempt the Offering rejected Really
we had too much respect Tor your judgment to i'm
agine, that yon would mphanlly refer to thes.
incidents IN your hs'ory.Your support of the able
and virtuous Crawford did unfortunately draw
down upon you the % frown of greatness and
the burst of official displeaslre,'' from the Heir
Apparent OF the Empire. You little supposed, that
Il ne doctrine OF safe precedents had become the
law of the land; and that the habit denominations
ny the Representatives OF the People was so soon
10 be discarded. Your selection however was no
doubt founded upon public considerarion:'' We,
= the race is not always to the SWIFT nor the
victory TO the best. We were oyertErown - horse
loot and dragons ;-and what Is the consequence
sir baan ,;l,;
against windmills; while yOb. gentlemen, have
oeen pursuing the more quiet and agreeable Office
Oh singing pGans " TO the powers that be'' la
other words, tCe have been offering such stric
lnres as the Ultra doctrines and measures of Mr.
Adams have seemed to demand from the conduc
tors of an independent press; while you have been
prompted by - public considerations TO redeem
he eros you had committed propiiate the
powers hich you had offended, and confne within
your own bosoms he objections you have conceived
10 the Presidents opinions. You yourselves confess
mat you" do not approve of all the opinions of the
PRESIDENT & you have the miserable consolation
OF pleading that you have g said any thing
mat could be so construed.' This polite silence
- Indeed 6 one OF the privileges which distinguish
ifeemen from slaves" But free press would be
OF very little account to free people, which
merely J0T6eGTS TO crticise the opinions of their
agents We know that opinions rapidly rp.n in
to acts; and therefore it is that obsta ,rinci.
pas becomes the duty of every freeman who
tHi7hs for himself and dares TO sneak 1nhat
ne thlH6S,- No situation can exuse the Editor
OF an independent paper from the exercise OF his
\ dl'y. What, though he be "placed at the focus
OF our Confederation, is he justified in conceaing
ms own opinions Is a man of talents TO dyyindle
INTO the mechanical herald of public acts'' 1t
surely not only his duty TO furnish 10 his rea-
uers all the information (of fdcts) within his
Isach; but TO offer his free and fearless
commentaries upon them. Yet you have re-
Hsined from all criticisms upon the Presidents
Vpihlons.-Eyen the exirayagant character of the
uoctines OF his last winters Message did not ex
'OIt single structure from your pen.
"A few words as to the specific cases, to which
you have alluded
Mr. HonrOe's Memoir. You confess that you
od not particularly protest against his Message
70 Congress although it was one of the most
memorable papers which was ever laid before
Congress on the subject Of Internal Improvement .
'ad advocated construction Of the Constitution
f. which you ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Yet scarce
~ mad Mr. Monroe retired 10 the shades Of private
ne when you were induced by public consid-
ueratlons" to protest against the doctrine We
"Iude to the brief, but pregnant article which you
published in the summer Of 1925
n Ihe Panama Mission = You say that YOU
never expressed any appreciation Of the Message
% the president TO the Senate, referred to by the
H enquirer, IN which he treats OF the Executive au
'norlty IN regard to foreign missions We con
eiueTed u as involving doubtful construction
ana we regretted the introduction Of 1t the more
because, though not necessary to the object OF the
message, u might lead, as it did, to the consump-
Ion OF time in debate. Whatever opniop the
PRESIDENT enterfaine ed of his ovvn ro,yers 10 ii;