Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-11-09
COMMUNICATED.
MIR. MADISON.


Many persons are at loss TO know how il has
happened that MIR. Madison's opinions found their
way into the'news-papers- and that too, in such
q shape, as 10 require that he should, under his
own natne, stop the improper sought TO be
made oil him. When the Editors of the Lynch
burg VTginian attempted prop the sinking cause
oil the administration, by The naIre OF this
bic man, they announced in the most imposing
manner. as 90 fact within their oLcn knowleige"
that he had recently expressed certain opinions.
Iheir article was sreedily copie, and Mr.. Madi-
son ieil n due 10 himself, TO the legislature and
to the Governor, to correct the statement. He
could not conjecture So the ground on which the
statement Is alleged to be within the personal
knowledge of the Editcrs.'' The Editors, after
misrepresenting his opinions of the powers OF the
federal government to the tariff could not let so
good an opportunity escape them of ndulging their
hatred towards The Governor, and were pleased ia
make Mr. Madison say that, "W. b. Giles that
dog IN the msnger, is fast hurrying his beloved
Virginia 10 ruin and contempt we again repeat,
that what we have here stated is of our Olc1l kolcl-
edge, and cannot be contradictory Yet Mr.. Aladi-
son DID contradict the statement, in manner
which denies the claim OF the Administration to
" indefinite power over the entire resources of the
country" The reader will recoilect that he said
ne was every sure that l could never have so
Tar forgotten what owed to myself or the respect
due to him." she Goyernor) to have spoken
oil him In the manner stated" Wen, here's pref
~ editorial trick detected and exposed
when the article in the Virginian fret appear
ed, the friends of MIR. Madison satisfied that
1t was either false, or that some gross mistake had
occurred. Others, relying on the characters of
the Editors, as gentlemen, actually believed il,
s;nce they spoke upon their "o,yn personal
knowledge" Mr.. Msdison's letter put has opin-
ions on their proper ground. even at the expense
Of the Editors. Bot il remained still unexplained
why AMI wherefore, they had ventured 10 speak
on their own personal Knowledge as Mr.
Madison was not aware Of the ground on which,
they did SO
The rumour now runs that the following is
" the ground which the Editors bo;tomed heir
statement: a member of our Stale senate had
written 10 Mr. Madison Tor the puf ose of getting
an expression of his opinions, and the anss or .
which il is said he received, he left at the house
OF friend in New Gls-gow, who showed II to
one OF the Il iiUrs of the YngInian before il was
restored 10 Ihs owner. Ii thi. sta emenl be true
two questions arise. 1T, is there no objection TO
This mode OF obtaining The opinions OF nlan whose
ardent desire ~ not TO be brought into the polite
cal strife of the day? p. How did it happen that
letter thus eisurely inspected. could have been
so Tar misrepie.e as to require the conyadic-
ton OF Mr.. Madison himself? These facts make
II desirable that the whole letter should be pub
hshed. we presume 1t is upon the authority of
this letter, that aIr Madisoa's p. eference Tor Mr.
Adams, his appreciation OF the Panama Mission
and other measures ofthe administration have been
asserted not upon the authority OF this letter
upon thst OF some other equally misunderstood
Ids explanation is IN cifculst ion, and If il be
materially variant from the truth let it be contra.
dcied ~ these who are interested.
WARMIN ) TER.