The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-06-05
GALLERY or PORTRAITS.
MR.. ADAMS

~ ling Us rum 'hheNsdhih NO man
las been more misrepresented thau Mr. Adams.
and there is consequently none whose character
is so little understood by the great body Of the
reople The very ground which his friends as.
sumo, as constituting one OF the strongest argn.
mcnts in favor of his continuance in office, Is a.
, drohly turned against him by Ills opponents, ana
that, too, in the teeth Of fact. When we say that
hiSlong residence at the different European counts
peculiarly qualities him for the performance Of
the diversified and complicated duties Of the
Presidency, We are answered, that he has imbih-
ed metropolitan and monarchical notions of
government. which readers it unsafe to trust the
destinies of the Republic to his guidance bu,
we call for evidence in VAIN. In truth, Mr.. Ad-
ans resembles Mr. Jefferson more than any one
of our Presidents lie is only deficient in one
essential quality essential, because it subdues
enemies and makes friends, one cannot tell how
or why. Mr. Adams does not possess that S,ia-
piter IN moio which distinguished Mr.. Jefferson
above all his contemporaries But, as Leather.
stocking would say, that " is gift of natnr not
TO be larn,d from books, which an honest man
may or may'nt have Gifted with discrmi-
mating minds, improved by intense study andex-
tensive observation, both Mr. Jefferson and Mr..
Adams were deputed by their government to rep
resent it at foreign courts. Why not as well say
that MIR. jefferson was an aristocrat because his
companions were Princes, and monarchist be.
i 4 Y al
evidence, to allege such charges against Mr.. Ad
ams The style Of living, the dress and the equi,
| page of Mr.. Adams are as plain and unostenta-
tious as were those of Mr.. jefferson, and his
| manners equally as modest and unassuming. -
| If we are disposed to Judge the tree by its
fruit we shall certainly require no farther evl-
dcnce that he has been unseduced by the splen-
dor Of courts Besides, to suppose the contrary
would be to admit the inference that our repub-
can institutions shrunk from a comparison with
the monarchies of Europe.
But we will 40 longer detain our readers from
the perusal of the extract:
From the Village Rec0rd.
Mr. Adnms--Thc question has been frequent
w asked us--what sort of a man is MIR. Adams !
The inquiry is a very natural one every body
likes 10 know what kind ola man the President
of the United States Sand no reason Is seen
why we should not answer IN way 10 give our
readers who feel an interest in the subject, what
information we possess. a labored ana hlSlHy
wrought panegyrick need not be looked for F.;
full length picture must be leii TO an ADLER hand;
sketch, an outline, presenting few prominent
fpaJt Ie all usp \
ams's talents we need not to speak.-Even his
patriotic enemies are ptoud Of them. giving
uste to the literature of the country, and eleva-
ton to the character of her statesmen. The
powers of his mind and the influence of his pen,
have been felt in all the negotiations IN which he
has been engaged especially in those which led
10 the Treaty ofPeace, aud the cessation by
Spain. of the Floridas In his dress and man.
ners, Mr.. Adams is plain, simple and unostcnta-
tious Easy of access, frank and courteous
without ceremony OF parade; and he is sad by
those who knew both, much TO resemble Mr..
Jefferson in the happy talent oiputtinS hIs visit
ors at their case, at the same tipe that respect
for his person is increased. In the relations of
private life, he is pattern ofvirtue and mo-
del of good and regular habits On Sabbath he
is an attendant at Church twice day enter
tains his own opinions, and is tolerant of the SEN
tiinents of others. There is no affectntion of
state or show about him so far otherwise, he
walks to meeting dressed as plain country gen
tleman prelerring this simple mode, when the
weather permits, TO the parade Of a carriage.
Mr. Adams talks of business not as matters of
| state mystery,-but with all proper freedom
but cautiously abstaining from any interference
with subjects before either house, except so far
| as beacts openly and officially Surrounded by
books and papers, during all the early part of
the da> Mr. \. is found in his study, deyoting
| bmsclflaboriousy TO public business. There
never could be more industrious publcservant
| To perform with intelligence, honesty, and care,
the duties conidod to hun, appears to be bls chief
pride. In the midst of all the conynlslve throes
ofparty--the violence of assanlt--the personal
attacks upon himself-he seems the least inter
ested, the most unmoved Of any person IN Wash
meton. You would not suppose he was aware
an election was approachng,i In whlchhcwas per
sonally interested. When attacks the most bit
ter. and charges the most gross, are buried at
him by the exasperated politicians OF the South,
as fhe was trditor--thc very worst man III the
RepubIic--so calm and unmoved is he, that an
/ observer would suppose Just such man must
have been in the Poets mind when he wrote
"Justum ct tenacem,' &c.
! GLOW does all this affect the President?' was
20 have the means of knowing. " He does not
seem TO know ne is concerned in the matter at
all was the reply Mr.. Adams appears TO think
only ofdoint the public business faithfully aud
TO conGde entirely 1.-THE intelligence and good-
uess of the people. that if he serve them with shi-
gleness OF heart they will do what is right and
proper. Ifhe seek popularity the public will
iudge whether it be by censurable arts % olJec-
tionable means. TO devote the energies OF a
strong mind with untiring zeal TO the public ser
VICE TO ann, with enlightened forecast, to pre-
serve harmony our foreign relations. 10 be
cautious in the conduct of affairs relative 10 a
State. misled by TOO near view of her own inter-
ests. without duly regarding the rights oil others
iutiamed by resentment, e2aspcrated by passion,
and led to acts of contumely and violence, ad-
vancug with a steady, yet cautious step uniting
Cancellation with irmmess, and IN moments me
most irving adopting every practicable means
to promote the just interests of Georgia, guard
inc. at the same time, the rights OF the indians
who look to the Union for protection--to tenn
ner the assertion of National Sovereignty, when
unoues1ionable, and demanded by imperlous cir
o,,e+anca- nv acts of bPneticence.