Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-11
From the Richmond Enquirer.
ELECTION OF SENATOR.

Front the Richmond Enquirer.
ELECTION OF SENATOR.
The ingrati,ude Of republics has long been
eo,,t theme orreproach to them: but there is
stigma Car more vital, more Indignantly urged,
apSi, is 10 be feared. more just; mean fckh-
ssssL -of purpose, of feeling, Of opinion. The
a,leved incapaci,y of The people for self govern
men,--a pre,ex, upon which Despotism has
manly bols,ereditsrH in every AGES always
,rsol.xsjialo their inconsiancy, as its Interior,
elementary principle. The courty monarchists
Of old-poets, historians, ard ora,ors-ln the
relics o. their works handed down TO us, omit
no occasion Of tauntiug Democracy with this,
its cardinal sin. The "mutable populace, the
"uncer,ain ,abble,' the "mob OF tickle citizens,
are expressions which indicate their deep-seat-
"a conviction Of The foible. In more recent
times, history teens with examples oil INSTEAD
mess and volatility the most slarins and the
most fatal In Italy, republics have risen, and
sunk again, almost with the suddenness oil the
transient meteor: the banks OF the Rhine and
the Scheldt have been on one day graeed with
the ensigns Of popular sway, aud on the next,
covering once more beneath the sceptre Of
monarchy: and thousands, yetiving, can look
back. as on Yesterday, TO the shifting scenes OF
tu ling with the caprices oil mob ever eager
for change. were c.rated and annulled almost
with every varying breeze We, the rational
people Of America, protesting 10 act by primer
pie. and not by tohim, ought TO stand, proudly
exemp, from the mutations hitherto incident 10
selfpovernine communities. Our consistency
ought TO be unwavering; our opinions, never
lightly adopted, ought 10 be maintained with
the 6rmness Of conscious rectitude, and our es-
innate Of haracter ought 10 be so uniform <
SO infalhble, thar public servants, once estah
iished in confidence or convicted OF misdemean
or. should, as surely as that Heaven is just,
meet the reQuiIal of their deserts. Let con-
slider. whether We too, have not afforded to the
enemies OF freedom one quota oil material Tor
their sophis,ry and denuncialion. ! pray that
The enquiry may not result , AZ psSyng That W.
doomed, Ike t6em;Saa were-mere rspuoHes'
wild vieis si,udes Of passion ny all those
at last cali fer The guiding hand OF AN absoldte'
master.
Mr.. John Randolph proclaimed last winter
In Congress, that Virginia, within few years
ha1 come over 10 his side in politics. With
out regarding him as authority above appeal
(except in mere insulated questions Of fact, Of
which he ispersonally cognizant,) we mt sl0~n
him TO be here right, thus far-that towards
hiui, and his character, his native state has 0!
late become much more friendly than formerly
His standing 10 or Is years ago, was widely
different from his standing noto. In the latter
par, Of Jeferson's Presidency, and in all oil
Madison's, Mr.. Randolph was placed by his
birth, his wealth, his zeal, and his powers OF
declaratory invscti,e, IN the van OF most vir-
nlen, opposition. The bitterness with which
he assailed all the leading and. characteristic
measures oil those admiuistra,ions-his abuse
of the very fathers Of our political fai,h-his
active fundamentally in paraysing his coun-
trys's struggles With powerful Toe, because OF
his private feuds with the directors, Of his
coun,ry's ceunsels-his indirec encouragement
TO tina, foe, by exposing to her view distraction
and strife within ourselves-all combined to
render Mr.. h. no fauourife with Virginia All
fus, you yourselves, Alessrs Editors, concur
red in deening him pest to the country; an
enthusiast, who, though not destitute Of honor
able sentiment, was ever ready to abjure or to
forget patriotism al The bidding Of his headong
passions. His letter Of expostula,ion 10 Mas
sachuseus Senator was a symptom Of awak-
eniug grace; but IL was a tardy and unsatisfac.
tory a,onement, springing only from his alarm
al the terrific consequences Of his own indiscre
fion, and the inceudiary Vaccinations Of his i'll
chosen associates. Ii was extor,ed only from
his fears and his shame (for Mr. Randolph was
no, dead to sharne,) when the Hartford Con.
yeu,ion which he had been (unwalily fostering
menaeed US with the horrors Of treason, disun.
ion. and civil wa. 1t suficed no, to procure
him favor in the eyes Of his countrymen, who
were vet far from admitting HIM to fellowship.
Such was the degree of his popularity, II
wears ago. Mark the contrast, in his present
standing. Besides being admired as an orator
which was always, unaccountably, his good
fortune-he has come to be reverenced by ma
nv. as a patriot and sage. His speeches, dis.
iointed az the leaves the Sybillne prophecies,
are priced a. if they flowed from the same au-
perna,ural inspirations, his professions oil at
iachmen, 10 Virginia and to her doctrines-,he
doctrines Of Jefferson and Madison!-are heard
With all the fondness Of credulity: and his say
ipgs, public and private, are quoted and APP
nlsuded, n the ape,hegms Of Socrates or a
Franklin: Nay, he has been elected, and there
l. .o,ne reason 10 fear he will be elected again,
~ renr~seut moiety Of the interests Of that
.oxersixn state, Of which, in 1918, he was held
rnworthy 10 represen, ono twenty -foar'h part
sMr llsyeAia 1874