Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-12-12
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wEf3KEsDAY MORNING, DEC. ~. l8q7.

A<Ht1" ttbCt OiOW " OF CClN. w Z SHOULD |
like 10 seeStiem adhere TO that habitual course of vi
nperati1pSsr'fch has marked their columns ever since
a nothetnSthan was proclaimed President, of the United
s,a,es-but this s,abblng of theirs under the fifth rib
this ''dsmuing with faint p~raise"-,his Cabling and
comp!imeniisg a few passages Of Mr.. Adams message,
in the same breath that a hos; of sins and imperfec,ions
are brought up in review, is ,osay the least of il very
unfriendly, and deserves al our hands a few words Of
acknowledgment.
The passage of all others which seems most TO have
Affected these sensitive guardians of state rights, is the
following: ITO preserve" says the President, "to i'm
prove and to perpetuate the sources, and 10 direct in
their most effective channels, the streams, which con-
tribute TO the public veal, is the pu rpose for which
government was instituted, &c. &C." The Enquirer
with a most pathetic note of Interrogation enquiries
'What! this limited Cederatirc government of ourss'
Yes gentlemen this limited federative governnen,-was
designed TO improve, Perpetuate, and direct the re-
sources Of the country, or what was il designed for?-
Was j, designed to produce tho opposite results-or is
If absolutely unconstitutional for Congress 10 pass any
law that shall really benefit the country? What says
the constitution itself ave the people of the United
States, in order TO form a more perfect union, esta-
ihiish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for
ltbe common defence, promote Me general aceyare, and
secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and orr
IPosterity, do ordain, :" &c. &C.. Where then is the tre.
Ison of the Presidents language, or is that treason in
Mr. Adams, which in the trainers of the constitution
was deemed patriotism and wisdom? What does the
Enquirer think of the following passage Fl ON MIR Jdf-
ferson's far famed inaugural speech? We think, to use
the elegant ptraseology of our brother editors, that i,
is "confoundedly'' like MI Adams own notion Of ,h c
purpose OF government. " a rising nation'' says MIR
J. 'spread over q wide and fruitful Iand-trayersing
all the seas with the rich productions of their industry
engaged in commerce with nations who feel power
and forget Notwithstanding rapidly to destiaies be-
yond tie reach ofNaoytGi eye-when ! contemplate these
transcendent objects, aud see The honor, The happinc,s,
AID The hopesef M's belored country committed to the
issue and The ~auspicies of Mts day, / shrink from the
contemplation, and humble myself before the magni
tude of The neutrality-suspicious. If President Adams had
used This language in his inaugural message, or any of
his messages-if he had said that the honor, the ham
p'aess and tie hopes ofthis country were to
hs auspicies as a Chief Magistrate OF this nation, wha,
a tremendous hue and cry would have been raised,-
what an awful clamor about state rights would have
Numbered in our ears. But MIR. Jefferson was a ia
ooSife, aai even his errors were regarded with kind
ness. Mr Adams is not a favorile, and if I've were TO
speak with the tongue Of an angels there are those
among US who would torture his language into treason
against the liberties of his country. But let Us go a
little further. We have not time to scan the messages
of WasIington and Madison, but we have accidentally
lighted on the following passage of Mr. Monroe's inau-
lgurai speech: ''sucb is the happy government under
which we livei a government adequate 10 every prrpossi
yor aohich the social compact ,oas }ormed.n Indeed!-I
WAS ever definition given 10 the powers of government,
more bread and comprehensive than this? Why did
The Enquirer's patriotism sIumber when this devouring
hcresy was promulgated by President Mouroe? WHY
did the whole country sleep, and permit so uuwarran-
table an attack on state rights TO pass unnoticed? 1t is
an indirect compliment to Mr. Adams, that his revilers
are driven TO such wIetched expedients in order 10 ira
duce him. II shows the hallosness and desperation
oftheir cause to deal in suci, petty warfare.
The Enquirer again harps upon the West India
trade, forgetlul of the explicit information Which IFS
Liverpool correspondent furnished during the summer
of the real causes of the British policy upon that sub
jcct. The President asserts thai no loss has been sus-
tanned by orr commerce, navigation, or revenue, BY
The materna! interdict which has Occurred-bui NIessrs.
Richie and Gooch will have 1T, that our agriculture
has suffered considerably. VIII tho gentlemen be
kind enough TO point OH, 10 their readers and the pub |
lie, wherein the suffering coDsists7 VIII any intelIi-
gent farmer say that the prices of bis products have
diminished, or his articles Of consumption enhanced,
in consequence OF the interruption of that trade. This
IS the true test, and there is none other for deternin
ing the amount Of injury, about which the jackson
pack have kept UP such an nnceasing cry, and con.
corning which they are Just as iguOrant as they are cla-
one more quotation from the Enquiret's remarks
on the Presidents Message, and we are done. "Letit
not be forgotten BY the people" they say "'pl,o have
been tantaiizsd by great Internal Improvements, that
the surveys are nearly illusory; that they have been got
up principally for effect; thatit was an engineering at
the hearts OF the people," Who authorised these sur
to be made? Congress! the Representatives of
the people! Did the people tben devise a scheme in
order 10 cheat the people, Is the President 10 be
because the representatives of the people d-
rected him to execute their wishes. How blind, un,
and merciless is the spirit Of party! What