Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-08-07
SELECTIONS.
SPEECH OF MIR. M'DUFFiE

brated, as usual the "a inst by the Mechanics
Eesiiyal, given by Mr.. Sbutz, the founder OF the
town. AT this dinner, Mr.. Nj 'DulTe was present
as guest. The following the 4th In order, of
IN regular tossts:
H. Our friend George NJ DufIie- The first TO ex
pose and denounce the principles and plans of the
Coalition. The indignant voice Of an injured and
insulted people re-ecboes he CORRECTNESS. of his
opinions and sentiments. Tune, Z" Yankee Doc
dle'' One gun.
Mr.. NJ Duihe then rose, after the music had ceas-
ed, and addressed the company follows:
In rising on occasion ike this, fellow cii
zens 20 offer you The poor homage of my sincere
thanks tor the distinguished honor you now do me-
cannot but recOr, wi h a sense OF gratitude :, hich
have no language to express, TO the rosnifold
lo'A- have heretofore resolved & yopr strong
atachn ent and induigeni Kindness; and should do
equal injnsiics TO my own feelings and to your
claims upon my gratitude, if did not avail myself
o! this FIRST opportunity of addressing YOU publicly
and collectively, 10 tender Pay warnest acknow-
letsm-nis for that signal manifestation of YOUR at
ieelonate attachment, which secured 10 me in the
midst OF strong popular excitement, and an ani-
mated canvass carried on by respectable oppo-
nenis' the unanimous vote CT the citizens of HAM
bursh and its vicinity.
While advert az 10 the generous and liberal con-
idence with which you have invariably sustained
me, must be permitted 10 remark, that if there
has been any thing ia the public services il ha-
been my loriune to render in the principles have
avowed, or in the spirit with which have main
tanned them, calculated, in any degree 10 reflect
credit upon the District and State have the no
nor TO represent, Is TO be mainly ascTbed 10 the
tact, that am the representative of high minded
and intelligent people, who, While they would look
with md gnat on upon act of baseness or reach-
cry on my part, and punish it with exemplary
prompinees bY dscarding me from their service are
always prepared TO extend TO me the most liberal
confidence, while my exertions are disinterestedlv
devoted TO tbs sdvsncsiaant of the safely and glo-
ry OF onr common country, or TO the rerpetuaiion
OF her libaTiies. Having -sid thus much in refe-
renee TO myself, must now invite your atten-
lion to some brief and general views of the srea,
and ensrossng subject 10 which you have been
pleased to allude Terms, to me, so highly COM
Plimeniary.
And, in the Fl place, give it 10 you as my
deliberate and solemn opinion, founded upon my
pest reflections, that The political crisis in which
toe public liberty is now involved, is one " hich
Infinitely surpssses in importance any that has oc-
cured in the history cf this country since the re-
voiuion which resulted ia the establishment OF our
Independence.
BY the war OF the revelation, our ancestors OBJ
tanned the power, they had The unquestionsb
right to make the experiment Of self-eovernmeu.
II now remains for their posierity 10 determine
whether that experiment shall fail, or whether the
capacity OF the people for governing themselves
snail be as clea'l} made out, a. their right. That
such Is the solemn aad eventful issue which the
NSS'S VI ''CSC OHtSu Obdlcs are 10 decide at the
next Presidential election. shall attempt to de-
monsirate, by very brief exposition of the cha
racter and circumstances of the Coalition bv means
OF which Mr.. Adams sscended 10 the station ~ hich
he now occupies
assume as preliminary proposition, too clear
TO be questioned and, therefore, rsquiring no en-,
iorcement, that the right of the people TO select
and discard at pleasure their political agents. and
particularly their chief Executive Magistrate. is
Inc vefy corner stone OF liberty in alive
republic. There is no other political power that
'ne people can exercise under system of 20
vefnmeni; and 10 deprive them of this amounts
to an absolute dislranchi- ement. 1t follows as A
necessary consequence, that those political agents
who disregard and violate the known will OF the
People, IN the election Of the Chief Magistrate of
this Hepublic, the Consultation OF which recog.
nizes the right of the People TO cboo.e that NJ
gsraie are gsi!iy Of the grossest reachery TO the
feopIe' aud OF asssliing the very citadel Of their
lbeTties
Now assert, and pledge my reputation upon
ne run OF the assertion, that John Quincy A
dams wac elected against the will of majority of
the American People, and of majority of the
States by minority Of The Representative in
Congress, considerable proportion of which mi
nor'ty Including Henry Clay, voted against their
aVowed principles, AID against what they 6netc
TO be the VIII OF large majority Of Their consutu
/ eat,
also assert and am willing IN place my hum
3 N
the assertion, that the crcums ancas of the ex-
taordinary coalition between Mr. Adams and Mr.
Ci'y, furnish rs strong evidence Of an abandon
Tneni Of political principle on the part of MIR. Clsv
ana co Tupt political bargain between him and
MT. AoAsis, a. ~ ordinarily required, in courts
oil Jusueeo establish the guilt OF those " no are
charged win the highest cri,nss known 10 the law
Before proceed to make good the first of these
Two importanf propositions, must remark that all
me ahvocs'es ~ Mr.. Clay following the exam.
pie set by himself in his letter TO his constituents
have, with an apparent consciousneys Of The
badness OF iher cause, most palpsbly misstated the
question. '
They assume That the adeocates Of General
Jackson vest III claim 10 'he Pre-idencv uo,n ths
tact oil bis having received ninety mine ELECTORAL
votes, larger number than was received bv ar =
Other candds'e, and then ser about proving What
no man OF common sense ever den;ed-ttst a
plurality Of votes does not impose upon Congress
an obligation 10 choose The Candidate that oh's,,s
that plurality.
Il l. Impossible for me 70 avoid the belief tina ,
Mr. Clay knew this 10 De a false sta.spent of the
question, end that be Intentionally made il for the
purpose OF evsding The TUE question atissne. The
objection Urged from the very beginning ID. The e
lection Of Mr. Adams IT, that he was chosen Ia,
members of Congress who kHetg that Diejorjf,,
OF the People % The Cnted States and Di.,j,gj-
~ OF the Sfafeg, preferred General jackson o. nd
that several Of tie members who voted for MIR. A.
dams, voted against ibe will Of the People oil the
states they represented, solemuly and constitu.
tionally declared, and several others incIndng Mr.
Clay, against what they knew 20 be the almost n
naninVus viii ci tie People Of the States tbey TO-
presented though thst viii was not constitu-
I uons'ly declared. Such is he objection, that
Will now proceed 70 MAINTAIN IT, General jack
| son received seven out Of eleven Of me escto.