Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-13


GENTLEMEN: We are surprised to discove,
low many OF The points, which were in controversy
belYeen US, have been Starred orer in your paper
, oil tuesday last. Be it So But si.ce YOU hay q
brought forward new series OF statements. "a
cover your retreat, we under the necessity OF
throwing ourselves again upon the indulgence OF
oirfeaders 1t VIII be your own fault, if we shall
NC e"h compelled TO pay our respects TO you. If
IN dissectns your last article we should not prov
as . courteous" as might wish, it is because
In all cases we prefer substance TO form. We re
|Safo truth oil more consequence than etiquette An
Anatomist cannot effect his surgery with rose
waier.'
We could scarcely have anticipated that in one
snort week the propriety OF advice should ha
been approved by experience Your last article
partakes distinctly of the atmosphere which Won
breathe. MIR. Adams i obliged TO you You have
" taken up the gauntlet" for him. You have hunted
up the Messages of his predecessors to explain
and to justify his own memorable Message of
December last-with what success, we will pre d,
sently see.
The insinuation which you have thrown on,
neht with much more proprety be retnrted upon
yourselves. You say that 90 the strain of declama
uon which the Enquirer INDUCES in agains, Ma
uonai Universities" and 90 National Observable
es," and light houses in The Skies is cal ula-
ed to blind the people of Virginia. to excite the d.
10 hostility against the Genera G vernment, & par
Hcuiariy against those by whom the government is
now administered Say rather that YOUR own att
10 cover Mr. Adams under the -Egis of his pre-
decessors Is calculated TO 6 bnd'' the nation: 10
allay hostility against those by ,clom the
Government IS no,o administered" -InsteaC
OF " announcing his errors with the spirit which
becomes the editors Of free press il. free coun
NY" we really mortified TO discover how
ready you are TO fy the &C of his predeces-
soIs IN order TO Justify his own. You labour to
stretch them TO his Procrustes bed; and indeed.
you appear extremely willing to adjust your
own constitutional principles by the same standard
AS Tor our humble selves, we disclam all shostiltv
10 the General Government" We despise the
suhtiety which would confound the administrator
with the Government; it is the old exploded pol
icy OF ,9S and 80, when opposition 10 an Alien
aud Sedition act was denounced - an oonositioo
10 the General Government itself. Asto those ~,
wpom - the government is now administered ),
we are no otherwise opposed than we think the
interests OF the country imperiously require We
sincerely desired that Mr.. Adams shouldk with
IN the track OF the Constitution We were aware
ofihe ridcule which we should provoke by re.
questins him TO propose in his Message to Congress
70 settle these disputed questions about Roads and
canals by an appeal 10 the parties to the Contract
But when his Message went so MANY boy.sho
beyond those of his Predecessors, how couId are
lofoear the expression of our decided opposition to
me principles OF his Message? This is The hos
Aty which ue have waged aginst those who
now administer the government" These were
our motives, this our course
But how IS it with you, gentlemen? Are Won
perfectly satisfied with the quota ions which Won
pave maze! 10 you seriously believe that Mr.
Adams is able TO take refuge under the acts of his
predecessors? FIRST that the cases which Won b,,e
cited, go to strengthen the constitutlonaty of the
powers which you have specified: And seconJy,,
that MIR. Adams has claimed no more potDers than
ms Pieuecessors-or, as writer in your papeI.
from whom you have so freely borrowed your au
thorities, called them, ",he Virginia Presidents ;,
we VIII touch each of these propositions as
briefly as we can And lst to your cases: You
oextefousiy contrive 10 pass over the authority of
Mr.. Jefferson; " becauSe,'' you saw. g the +,
quirer refers, for his opinions, 10 privne conysr
salons, In discussing which there is deicacv due
TO the memory of the deceased, which we will NOT
run the hazard of violaling.' We beg YOU to be-
lleve, SIrs, that we would guard the memory OF
MT 'eueIson rom violation, as scrupulously as
you would nor do we violate ii in the present
case. We ascribe no sentiments to him which
ne would not have himself owed, from the house,
topsi and trust US, that you will be forced TO
sgree in this opinion, when his private Co,resnond
ence has been published You will then see how
" he pleads trumpet-sUngued'' against all the here
sizes which you have come forward to Justify.
but you are mistaken 1t is not to his nitrate
declarations alone, that we SO refer for his onin-
IONS. lie has left them as matters of record.
ne mas told MS countrymen, in his Inausural
Address OF March, 1905, that when the re-
demptIon OF the public debt has been effect
ed' " the revenue thereby liberated, NAV. by
Just reparton among the states, and corresDo1l-
e"tS d"'eldmeRf to the Constitution, be applied
IN time OF peace, TO rivers, canals, roads. arts
manufactures, education, and other great obiects
within each state" In his Message of Dec. 2.
4SO0, he remarks that Z" Their patriotism would
certainly prefer It's continuance, and application TO
tne great purposes of the public education roads
rivers, canals, and such other objects of public i'm
proyement, as 1t may be thought proper to add
10 the constitutional enumeration of federal
POUeTS " The subject is now proposed for the
consideration OF Congress, because if approved,
oy the time the Stale Legislatures shall have
deliberated on this extension of the federoI
trusts, and the laws shall be passed, and other ar
rangements made for their execution, the neces-
sary funds VIII be on hand, and without employ
ment' suppose an amendment TO the consfi-
tutio''' 6y consent Of the states, necessary; be-
cause the objects non recommended are not a.
nong those enumerated IN the constitution. and
20 1ohlch ~ permits the public DOneus to be an
P!ed' Such is the clear doctrine which the grea
" Father OF the Church, recommended. Such /.
the whole doctrine he maintained durino bis AL
n,inislratlon, with the exception ofihe Cumberland
Hoad which he supposed to be prescribed by the
compact with the state Of Ohio.
You cite from the Messages Of Mr.. Madison,
two passages which you deem appropriate to your
purpose and they were the oniy authorities you
could produce, although you say Immediately az
forwards that " these authorities" were taken
ny chsnce from do@ens that might be referred to -
ana what are these two auborities2 One is from the
aoc - I. IN
the " great importance OF establishing throughout
our country the roads and canals ,ohicb cyo hest