Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-06-13
Let all thy ends thou ain,'.t al be Thy country
--then II thou fallst,


-then II thou fall't,
Thou faipst blessed martyr"
The gentleman from Massachusetts, has been
pleased 10 make some allusion to a mosaic oppcSi-
iion, and TO ask if IS union of counses'' be not
as jus'hable for the purpose OF sustaining as for
that of opposing administration? There is some
thing ingenious and plausible, but only ingenious
and plausible this mode OF presenting tie subject
1t must occur to every gentleman, upon mo-
ment 5 reflection, that may very cordially agree
in disappearing and detecting the means by which
an administration ascend to power, who DO not
agree in any thing else. The same rule, therefore,
does not apply TO the opposition that is applicable
TO the ADMINISTRATION. The mosaic character, SO far
from being a rerroach opposition only prov s
that men, differing in principle on N'hAr points,
may have The sans reason, and a, Use agreeing in
principle may have very different reasons for be-
eving administration to be unworthy of conf
dence. There are, tor example, gentlemen on this
floor, who differ with me, toto colo, TO the con-
stitutional powers OF this government on the sub
ect of Internal improvement question, by the
BY on which | in accord with the adniinistra.
ton and set those gentlemen, believing with Ine,
that present rulers came into power 10y a moral
usurpation, are deeply Impressed as | am, with
the importance Of wIping from the pages OF our
history, the pernicous example OF successful usuT-
patton effected by such means.
1t must frequently happen, in the progress of
public affairs, that men who have stood opposed TO
each other some questions, mag be brought, and
honestly brought, 10 cooperate upon other ques-
tions. But this sort OF union between public men.
without any stipulation arrangement, j. very
different, essentially different from such a coalition
as l could imagine. | will take leave 10 present
TO the gentleman from Massachusetts, a hypotheti-
cal case OF coalition between two politicians a
case, however, for which am more indebted TO
history than to my own Imagination. and TO ask
him whether that is one OF the political combina-
tons, that lie would regard patriotic union oil
counsels!''
will suppose the election of the President to
have dey OILS ed upon this House, and tha the voice
of the nation had given one of he candidates a
decided prominence, and thrown another OF them
- member of this House -out Of the Compel
ton. will suppose of the three persons from
whom the President is TO be chosen, neither the
highest nor the lowest on the list TO be cold cal
culang politician, shaping his political course, as
stunning his political principles, and forming and
breaking of his political Connexions, with an ex-
elusive view to his own personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT;
will suppose him, by pursuing this arful and cal
culaling course, TO have obtained successfully,
the confidence OF all parties, and deserved the con-
fidence of none: l will suppose, that in all The
yicissitudes which marx his political regeneration
he steadily continued to approach his object, never
failing by each successive change, 10 gam in power
what he lost in principle: and finally, will sup
| pose that according to the code of his political
morality, the government, and combination amongst
| leading politicians, the whole essence of political
| honesty consisting in a faithful performance o.
| contracts l will suppose that the individuals
have described should offer the lraternsl embrac,
/ 20 a member Of this House, no had been for eigh
years his personal and political enemy, denouncins
him without either deiicacy or dignity in the HALL
Of Legislation, the courts OF Justice, and even tho
/ public journals and declaring on former occasion
\ that he would not even serve with him in tn,
same cabinet, because he was an dpostdf,
! BederGHst:' ! will suppose the member in cues
ton be a man notorious for the looseness of hi
morality, and the versatility Of his political princi
pies; always disposed TO accommodate his doc
triues to the temper Of the times, YET bold and dsr
ing, and reckless in the o eeuton Of his scheme
of ambitions; in a word, Sir, will suppose him &,
be political gambler, regarding politics as game
and power as prize 70 be won by mere iuggln,
and dexteity, yet skilled beyond al other men q,
disguise his ambdexterous tricks, by a conhdcn
and imposing manner, and toe assume a virtu,
when he has il not" will suppose, Sir, that At
ter the meeting Of the Congress by which the Pre-.
sdent was 10 be elected, this member, gliding th
highest station in the House, and notoriously pos
sessing a great and decisive influence in the cleo
ton, should for FIVE or six successive weeks main
tain profound and mysterious reserve on the sub
sect act surely so7 ihs purpose Of making " b;