Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-24
w OCT. "a.

IN - w l.. 1T
"on The eon,i"sn, Of Europe, the pres, either peak, in ,imid
under-tone', o. echoes back the prescribed formulsries OF
government. The moment publicity is given 10 affairs of State,
they excite every where an irresistible interest. II discussion
Be permitted, il 'Da3 soon De necessary to enlist talents to de-
IJend, IS tcsU as talents to devise measurts.n- Jude Story,s
eloquent Discourse before the Phi Beta Kappa Society. L,
the remark confined TO Europe oniys
TO THE EDITORS OF THE N. INT-ELLIGENcER.
Condemnation style of composition does
not disgrace the school in which YOU have been
educated You have resided a long time at the
seat OF the National Government. You have
associated much with politicians and d~iplomatis,s
OF our own and of other countries. From the
commencement OF your editorial career, you have
been the unfaltering supporters, of 90 he powers
that e"-the 6 Vicar of Bray mouth niece of
the existing administration. If surrounded by these
advantages for such a number of years, you had not
acquired a diplomatic style OF writing, it would
have afforded some matter of surprise. But the
proficiency you have acquired, in either evadins
the strong points OF an argument, or in sustaining
the principles or measures of the administration, ex-
empts you from the slightest suspicion of dullness,
and proves you to be amply qualified TO become
the co-adjutors of the sc National Journal, Dc not
misunderstood us, g%entlemen; we would not yet de-
grade you, by a comparison with the conductors OF
that PRINT. You know that in some respects,
you once occupied the political stua ion
which it now fills, so much to the satisfaction OF
its employers.-in your paper of the 10th, after
NchC iS AHaN gu n vi IOllllCal association
with the Cabinet, 10 subject you to the charge of
" drawing your political opinions from them, or of
representing THEN sentiments you say I" There
" tDdS a time tchen that might haze been said
" OF as tcith TRUTH. Young in the school of no.
" liticks, we once looked up with implicit conf
" dence to those whom the people, for their SUI
I" perior wisdom and integrity, had placad at the
60 helm of State. We bowed with reverence to
" their opinions. In time, we learned to think
' Tor ourselves, and to speak what we thought
We have had other controversies with YOU, in
which we have found the same diplomatic adroit-
ness, the same %sophistry and evasion, for which
you are now so pre-eminently distinguished
Whilst we admire the skill with which a dispu-
tant extricates himself from one difficulty, whether
it be by false logic, or by decoying his adversary
into entirely a new discussion, we cannot appre-
ciate the motive which you have for casting a
shade over so large a portion of your editorial
lives as must have elapsed, before you ceased to
draw your political opinions from the Cabinet
At what period of time you had the happiness
ITO learn to think Tor yourselves you have not
thought proper 10 tell us. Under whose admins
tration it was that the spirit of Independence
descended uCon you, we have not been fortunate
enough to discover. If you have learned to think
for yourselves, it must have been at a very mo-
dern date. II you have dropt your esding-strings
you still totter in your walk. Yet we are anxi-
Gus to know, when it was that you have dared TO
1890 -" 1ON'SCtCcoB uN u oUCuh UHUL UON
thought! Take the single proposition, which has
been before us; the construction of the Constitu,
ton. fou-allege that your opinions on this sub
Ject have been uniform and consistent. If SO, why
did you not enter your decisive protest against
MIR. Monroe's first Message TO Congress, in which
ne disclaIned the power over internal improve
ment! But perhaps you had not then set up for
yourselves in the way of thinking and writing
Why did you not object to the grounds on which
he subsequently rested this power, in his elaborate
memoir! You dare not say that you approve of
these grounds, although you are now disingenuous
enough to rest upon MIR. Munroe as one of the
very authorities Tor maintaining your own opinions
1t II was then, under The administration of Mr..
Adams, that this newborn light descended upon
you, we should wish 10 know WHY Won permitted
MS december Message 10 pass over you without
Inc slightest protest against the ultra propositions
which it maintained? Where is that characteris-
tick independence for which you have been ceIe-
orated, from the time when you 'learned TO think
tor yourselves? We look in vain for its penerous
indications. We have not seen a single structure
against the acts OF the present administration. The
Panama Mission, to which you had been openly
opposed, you have openly justified, since the Ca
oInet adopted IL. You have seen Mir. Adams
boldly assert the right of originating o reign
Missions without the sanction OF the Senate. Not
a whisper Is brea'hed against it! You have seen
MIN assert The powers of the General Government
- G'1J 'AAph FhiNh Ho LIctltCerSOTS nave
designated. Yet, not a word is uttered against III
On the contrary, you have disingenuousiy come
forward to screen him under the acts of his Prede-
cessoTs. You are willing to strip Jefferson and
Madison OF their principles, for The purpose of
bringing them to the level OF Mr.. Adams. If Won
have, indeed, acquired the noble art, of thinking and
speaking for yourselves, il must have been exercised
In the circle OF your friends, not in the columns Of
your paper. Here we perceive the same sub,er-
Yiency TO the constituted authorities; the same de.
sire 10 play the part of the Genius of the Lamp.
which we have always Regretted as well for
your own sakes, as for the sake of the Liberty OF
the Press.
Your Essay, of Thursday last, furnishes add
tIonai proofs OF your diplomatic skill and of your
talent OF thinking for yourselves.
hou insist upon 1t, that the General Govern
ment mas power over internal improvement and
education; that its exercise has been recommended
by Jefferson, by Madison and Monroe and that
such has been The constant practice of all the re-
publican. administrations You ATTEMPT to claim
Tor the present administration the benefit of these
precedents' 1t has been in vain, that we have
pointed out the great length which Mr.. Adams
mas gone IN MS message, beyond what was ever
limited at by any of his predecessors. In vain have
we shown that Mr.. Jefferson, in his r-ecommenda-
ton, ESQ often referred TOY expressly affirms. that
me states should be asked to confer the po,gey:
mat ne signed The Cumberland Road bill not nm
uer me idea that the general power existed. BIZ,
~ lhe execution OF n compact with the State of
ONO; 1t being stipulated that the road was IN no
palc Tor out OF the money Of that State: anil
mat as 1t was to pass through three states. the in
s'rumentality of the federal government, in Or
'ainIng the consent Of those states, was deemed
necessary we have heard Mr.. Jefferson give tbis
very explanation; declaring at The same time he,
IL The RruaFul pauurr .rIl q.