Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-12-04
"a po1zr1uAn PROBLEM.

and submitted to all candid and compassionate,
men. By Christopher Quandary.
Friends and Fellow Citizens,
sm Virgnan boru and bred about half etu.
esled In my youth, to cay the most for myself s
ever since attained TO manhood, far from hayine
time or opportunity to cultivate nv mind the onl Is
serious business OF my life has been to earn liv.
ing ihlsi however, has not hindered me from
continually dabbling in politics; though no other
sources OF political information have ever been ac.
eessoie to me but the casual conversation OF other.
concerning public affairs, ard the newspapers TIC
| tall IN company with Member of Congress or a
Printer( the two classes Of men when venerats
aooveali others) good naiured enough to snsw err all
the questions, which my esgerness for KNOWLEDGE
never Tails on such occasions TO suggest has ALWAYS
afforded me such exquisite qualification, that daI
say, such gentlemen II they could have any idea of
il, would, out Of rure bsnevolence be less anxious
than they usually TO get rid Of me: but in pro-
portion IS am dspos dlo court their society," they
seem disposed to cut mine: so that 1 have ever
found my cheif delight 10 the study of the news
papers, which are The only thing in the word,
communicative and patient enough for me- And
my curiosity is unboundsd, so also is nv creda-
lily: am apt TO believe every thing hear and es
peclaliy every thing see IN print The conse-
quence is Jas will readily be imagineO that am
every moment changing my opinions; veerng, like
weattercock, not only with the gusts and squalls
that so often sgits'e our political atmosphere but
with the sentlssi brtezs that blows have often
entertained The most Opposite and conirsdictoYy
opinions, in The course OF the same hour vet can
most conscienliously aft M, that / have been al
ways most sincerely solictous asceltai the truth
and to uphold it II could ascertain IT. This re
cJilar umpe nt thine - inSatiahls curiosity nerlect
mpsrtiality and implicit faith mbined has Often
caused me much uHe ,sine,s and.has recently
thrown m into such state of perplexiiy thst /
am well nigh gone strarted; so that feel an ir-
resistihie rnpulfe to lay my unh pPy case before
my fellow citizens, from whom, if l may not
hope relief, may expect sympathy or al least
mercy
The presidential election is row the oaly politi.
cal interest that engages the public attention and
the only topic ofdiscusson Il seems TO b. agreed
on all hands that Mr.. Adams and General Jackson
viii be the only candidates before the people
would fain hear all that can be said on both sides
and hold fast to the BEST 6lt lDhich IS The bes.?
that is the questions; or rather, to me the p.zze.
II but moisty Of the pFsiSe, which the friend. of
these two gentlemen respectively lavish on their
foyourite, be allowed 10 have any Foundation in
truth, defy the wit of man 10 determine which is
the more worthy: if a iythe ofthe censure which
the friends bleach besiow upon the other, be lust
then he that can determine which of The two is the
most unfit for the high station TO which they are
both aspiring, must have far nj. faculty OF dis
cIimnatio' than has fallen TO my loI think he
people At large, am sure the people in my part OF
the couutTy, Tesa the in tina latter 10 int of
converse with, only tell me which they are going
TO vote against, not which they are going 10 vote
for. have rarely heard any man Dissenting On
the good qualities of ether: hear hund eds daily
inveighing agansi the faults of both. This may be
owing perhaps. to a trait in the human character
which has often been remarked that the salt, pep
per, vinegar add spice, with which satire is season
ed make il grateful to the palate Of be generality
al men whereas p0ntSyTic Is always insipid, and
(when living characters are the suhjecf) often in =
to.erably nauseous aud disgusting. Ii is my opin-
! ion, founded daily aud close observation that
| far the greater part Of those who have made up
their minds to vote against Mr.. Adams, only read
or only heed. the objections that are urged agans,
him with SO much force and Vebemence, by iLe on
position newspapers; and tina, mos, of those who
have re'olved 10 vote against Gen. Jackson al any
rate give their whole attention, or ct least lLeir
whole confidence, to The awful censu;es denounced
against his character and conduct by the ministerial
prints. But for NE, stud0us read and hear ali thai
l. sad on both s!es-inqnisitive, cred. ious mpar-
tial how am I 10 decide. which o vote against OF
which TO vote for?
In order to make the state of Distressing per
plexty in which find myself perfectly inteH
gibe to my countrymen permit me (if n be pos j.
b!e) to force the public attention (for it will n e.
yer be voluntarily giyen) TO The praises whicf
the panegyrlss OF the two competitors have heaped
and ere hourly accomplishing, each upon their fave.
re and then 10 Tecapitulate the pTi tcipal obi.c
b TesOuuJlug
through the land: arranging both the praise anC
the blame (thst they may make distinct impress
sions on others minds they have made on m;
owh) under three general headsAther polica
chlrscier-,ber public services their persona
virtues and accom- lishmenis, vices snd defects
9 j begin with :he Eu!0.sieS: and LIT, as TO thei
1 political character. The friends Of mr., n
: dams Represent him to Us, as the most uprigh,
disinieres'ed asd profound statesman, that eve
It adorned any 'ge or country; especially skilled il
the science OF Diplomacy, and in al the io egf
= relations of The nation: gifted by nature with
quick and sure Judgment 10 discern what is beet in
E all emergencies, which mas been improved by az
excellent education, ani by long experience 10 the
4 wegbtiest public affairs; and with unequsl!et
y powers Of reasoning, 90 explain the most complea
operations Of government 20 the Ilainesi under
standing, and TO justify the most doubtful 10 ID,
: best having n aim but bis cOuntry's veal an,
knowing means bat truth, reason and Justice
shrewd as franklin prudent as Jefferson gen
tie as Madison firm as Monroe, and ardent il
his couBjry's cause his own father: and WITH
al, Of the soaudss republican IT. the nation
for proof Of which last trait in his character, the,
refer to this known feet ia his history that h,
) joined the republican party in 1877, renouncin;
z and denounOsng The J,aeT0hsfs ont Of horror u
their odious principles aad projects, thus eivint
Che 6nishing blow TO the one, and bringing vas
accession OF strength 20 the other party. Tile GfctA
of GEN. JqcbsOa iibc % him the sum total o
ali that is great and good in one word he as u
mother WAsufNGroN-- HON Corruption durs
never approach even with the pf0ief Of her aid Il
enlice others to their good. For proof OF bis de
yoton TO our republican Institutions, they refer q
ihe acknowledged fact, tbst he has never, wber
occasion required, Stunned the awful respons bill.
y OF violating particular provisions Of the Consti.
tuition. iu ofdsr "a save the whole awefsrn f,or