Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-09-12
FOR THE ENQ UIRER.
TO" A FREEHOLDER.'

reason to require IT OF me, when INFORM you that
am not one OF the prescribed los (who you
are pleased TO say, bound &c neck and heels)
ard that my only object is to +" iespond' TO your
4 Inquiries, in the " kindly feeling" that prompted
4 them.
| While admire the temper with which you
ss, out in your communication, must take the
liberty of telling you, that with regard to those
gentlemen who signed the memorial to Mr. Giles,
your remarks seem to claim but slight kindred
with that e kindly feeling;'' and the confidence
with which you impugn the motives of others,
is little in unison with that generous and charita
BILE Indulgence which should characterize the conduct
ola superi0r, when he condescends to give adj
vice. unsolicited, to those who are beneath him;
and such, suppose, from your observations, is
'She station you conceive we occupy. l will not
attempt to destroy the pleasure which this sweet
iancy may afford you, but proceed to answer
some of your enquiries.
The people OF this county have no personal
acquanance with Mr. Giles. Their knowledge
Of his public character and conduct, is drawn from
lie history of his country, and not nom the plau-
Its of his friends and 20 far his private depor
/ q emit and present state of health concerned,
they have been satisfied with the Information de
rived from those, whom they snoto, and who have
been in habits of intimacy with him oF many years;
aided indeed, by some slight cdlumnies OF his en-
emies, which they believe 10 be, If not the real
tests, at least the usual attendants OF virtue and
greatness Ii is said the Lion is rarely in
his native forests without that pert attendant the
intermeddng jackail. They, however, l doubt
not feel thankful for the advice and intelligence
you seem willing afford them, and they duly ap
preciate the devoted patriotism which mpels you
give it. They did not knoD until you told
them so, that Mr. Giles, was, in truth, physically
incapable of discharging the duties of a represen-
taiipe in Congress. They did not know until
you told them so that the acerbiiy of his temper,
contracted, from age disease, lawsuits, perplexed
affairs and you should have added, untirng per-
secutions'') which you pourtray in spirit so un
il.e that, which marked the conduct OF those who
followed Wolsey's misiortunes, Sc as if it fed
tbem,'' had really " rendered him little fit for the
discharge Gf any duties IA con- junction Dith 9th
ers.'' But unfortunately for US, well as your
self the time is past, in which such information
might have been OF some avail. Like the critic
who would discover that there beauty or
sublimty in Homer or Milton, you have come 100
late with your discoveries. The people OF this as
well of other counties in the District, have seen
and heard him, and cannot now be easily convinc-
ed that Mr.. Giles, can neither walk speak rea-
4 son. Many now bear testimony to the truth
! Of each, and some most feeiingLy-lt will not be
denied, however, that Mr. g. is old, and csnnot
vie with MIR. a. in strength of body; but it is
" most lame and impotent conclusion" that it
thence follows that he will be unable to discharge
The duties of representative. Were such one
TO be adopted and acted upon, we should do well
at once TO purge assemblies, of all who are
advanced in life, and surrender up all the advana-
yes resulting from the wisdom OF age and the les
sons of experience. We should take the supern-
tendance of his family, from the hands of the ia
ther and give it up to the Graded babe, yet sleep
: ing in his swadling clothes-Of such philosophy,
trust you will find but few disciples. Sir, there
are other requisites, than strength OF body, SO
dour'' and sc calmness," TO be sought for in the
character of Representatives A thorough know
ledge OF the history of other Governments, well
as his own, acquaintance with the theory and
spirit of the Constitution profound search in NUM-
cipa& international law long experience, obserya-
ton and skill in the knowledge OF human nature,
the character of the human heart and the philoso
ply OF its feelings; these, sir, the qualities that
constitute the statesman, that give weight to his
opinions, and success to his counses. These quail
ties, the people of this county believe distinguish
Mr.. q. more eminenily than any other Individual
now living in the District; believe, l might say
Ia the State. In this opinion, they may perhaps,
have fallen into error, but depend upon it, it
wall require something more than the gratuious
assert OF an anonymous writer, Interested or
disintei ,sted TO convince them Of it.
1t is, hope, hardly necessary to tell you that
the people of this county, not in search OF
a name" only, in their representative. II will
&c idle to answer such strained points. But, this
s object, (tho' do not say that they would have
remained contented with the present of things)
MIR. u. would not have been the person to whom
their memorial would have been presented. 1t
would have been of those whose names
nave, you think, " greater weight and per-
haps, sir, he who now '' stands the shadow Of
hame"-might have enjoyed that honour.
You ask the people of this county, whether they
have taken the trouble to enquire, in what estima-
ton Mr. A. is held in Congress? Sir, am unwil-
ing to indulge in any topic, that may wound the
feelings OF any man, and more especially those of
SiT. "A. Whatever may be the estimation in which
ne Is held there, the character which he deserves
and sustsins here speaks volumes to his credit -
tie is universally thought to be of sensibili-
", honor, patriotism, and learning; although
Jour question itself says not so much his praise,
or much more TO our discredit. Did he occupy
the high station to which you have assigned him,
mere would have been necessity of making the
enquiry. The fact would speak for itself. Such
things are not hid !" under bushe' Mr. A. will
not thank you for such exorbitant praise; and still
TESS Tor your summary of his virtues. Were IT
not treating the subject with too much levity,
would ask you did you ever read, and do you re-
collect Sc my Uncle Toby's' rash attempt 10 emu
merate the good qualities Of the widow Wsdman,
&c. how sadly he was puzzled to get beyond the
middle finger, beginning to count at the thumb
Your fate seems to have been somewhat similar,
when after much stTaning and jabour, you come out
with the lean aggregate, of ardor aud calmness"
But this, SIR is not the only instance in which your
zeal has outsripped YOU discretion. When you
remind US that our county has been but lately at
tsched to the district, and that therefore we can
not be presumed TO know much Of the merits or
demeriis of our representative, you either make a
very presmptious supposion or leave il to be infer