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

Dy ner own reveaied VIII, unOOscured by Charters.
privileges or monopoes of power. He had studs
ed the English Constitution, and accurately
| informed as TO its principles and origin. In its
| proportions he saw attempt TO unite the three
distinct forms OF Government. The Genius of
Demo cracy had in vain aboured in this unnatural
system her tolls which ages had witnessed were
AS the barren tree, and she had met an untoward
destiny, more Ieplee with disaster, from her silly
co-partnershp, than could have been expected
! from open hostility. His administration OF the
powers OF the Federal Government merits attention
at this time. Upon this subject to speak profia-
bly,, regard must be had to republican views. And
| 1t is believed that at time In the history of the
fGovernmeu', was there greater necessity for the
medication of sound doctrine. In the Office of
President OF the u. 5. MIR. Jefferson distns
his administration, as momentous and fortunate,
without recurrence to measures OF doubtful poll
! cy and OF contested constitutional power. He did
not set In array portion of the union against the
other, by attempting plans which fos,e ed the spirit
of disunion thro' the agency of political injustice
He sought no support by brbing the interests and
peculiar feelings OF one portion ol this happy con-
ieieracy, thro' measures directly appealing to their
interest although deemed UNCONSTITUTIONAL and that
too, by the party he avow ed hims elf as acting in
concert with He preserved the great land marks
political opnon he vas not concerned in the poli>
cy OF defacin them. Looking upon Liberty as mil
liant system he wisely knew that it would be folly in
the extreme for her votlries and friends to pretend
| to descry the near approach OF Millennium. Thus
| his administration proceeded upon great general
principles, which belonged TO the plans Of freedom,
as perfectly distinct from other systems, and which
spfung up with us earliest appearance, and c.uld
| not be separated from 1t without woundng vitality
The parent trunk His genius engaged In a vast aud
delicate system, did not deem, wise plan of civil
policy, Incompatible with strict anal ysis of prin-
ciples. He knew that the Federal Constitution
owed ITS origin 10 the power OF analysis operating
on the whole science OF government; and as the
offspring of argument and research, an accurate
Knowledge OF its principles necessarily Deepen.
dant upon discussion and enquiry; and discussion
and enquiry applied to the theory of the coasiitu-
ton. and translated 10 the practice under it, consti-
ted the whole scheureof Parties In this scheme
there could exist nothing pI ejndical the cause OF
tree Government. nor, indeed, any inherent force
which, transcendiDg the limits ed by reason and
patriotism, could throw the constitution from it's
axis and destroy its operations. His own eleva-
ton TO The Presidential Chair was The result of thi.
very system of Parties operating thro' discussion
enquiry, and IN this Instance proved the neces-
sary st2te OF things, in free country, and in no
wise unriendly 10 the purity OF its Government, or
terrifying to HE true patrons of Liberty. VIII any
man sit up 10 be master in the school of freedom,
and profess 10 leach principles different from Thu
great and pure statesman Republicans say that
no man better understood the Federal structure f
our Government, and none more highly estimated
the obligations OF his oath to support the C6nstu
uon Ihls compliment is well 'nered, and atho'
plain, Is worth more in the building of his fame
than all the Corinihian Capitals with which tie
| splendors OF oratory have adorned the edtice
Nothing can be more important TO f ee people than
the preservation o. the Constitution free from in
Vaslon Ihe rich returns OF golden fleece, should
| not exempt the navigator from iniamy and disgrace
who rashly, or contemporary, threw away his
compass and incurred the risque of losing his
sci by perilous voyage. Too much admiration
then, cannot be awarded this disins uished man.
for his honesty in adhering 10 the charter of his
powers lie admredthe plan of State Sovereignty
as unrlvalled In beauty OF design; and as a wise
| plan OF Government, the best in the whole region
OF civil polity for the preservation of the Liberties
oil his country, IL always received his yeneraiion
and when in union with these surprising features
OF excellence, we him regarding The purity of
his administration inseparabe from an entire
respect Tor the Constitution, looking his fame
as vTtuous Statesman, considering it embark ed
along with the hopes OF hi- country and all resting
upon the Constitution, indebted, untouched and
unbroken, we must truly admire, love, and vene-
rate his name, his fame, his memory and his prin-
cipes The Revolution had gone by; and it was
no longer the hopes Of colonies, nor, indeed, of
single Republic, but an upire OF laws, freedom
and justice, expanding until its territory touched
The confines OF colonial subjeclion where the rays
OF Its light were destined penetrate the gloom
OF slavery and prejudice, and animate millions YET
unborn: The progress of principles, which on the
day oil his proudesi distinctions when In the midst
OF revolutionary troubles his country received from
his mastery pen the manifesto OF her wrongs upon
which she founded her claims TO national indepen-
dence; those pr. ciples, which on that day were
| but the sPeculatiOns OF Philosophy, were in
| course OF adoption by other nations, and were
! proudly advancing with new era in human af-
| fairs, at the moment when MIR. Jefferson was ele-
waited to the first Office in the gift of his country
In proper point OF veSv, there is perhaps no sta
| lion, OF equal moral submy and political gran
deur, with that of President OF the United States:
but when the Office is adorned by the purest EN-
blems OF virtue when genius and philosophy asso-
ciaed, advance TO the fulflment of lis duties, the
highest dignity OF civil mag,lracy, clothed with
| the fasces OF power, boirows additional spiendor
from the nobler attributes of the intellectual and
moral systems. Upon this eminence, MIR. JEFF
ierson stands as yet unIivalled; he reached this
post OF high distinction with his temples already
wearing the verdlnt wreath of civil honor Ills
country was worthy III her acquired fame and future
destinies OF all his love and veneration The ge.
MUS OF man had achieved in her Institutions noble
and salutsry victory over the empire of prejudice
and error. In their organization and civil deyeope.
nient, the philosophy Of human society displayed
her mild scepire, and TeasUn elevated 10 her Jus,
authority, proclaimed the advent reign of Justice
when peace, commerce, and the arts and sciences
were adopted as the potent bonds by which nations
were 10 be united The important lessons afford
| ed by MIR. Jeiierson's administration, however
they may be condemned by ambition, will ever re-
main dear to the best constituted minds; and when
the recollection OF them is lost ii will he like the
death OF the last OF the Romans the extinction of
our country. No more then, shall country remain
to claim the noble sacrifices of patriotism: departed
/ al.