Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-09
COMMUNICATED.
To Philip p. Barbour, Esquire.

COMMUNICATED
To Philip p. Barbour, Esquire.
SIR: You are one OF the favourite sons of Vir
ginia. Your virtues have merited, and have re.
reived her applause. Your talents have attracted
her highest admiration. She has viewed with de-
light your ascent to political distinction. and her
eye has beamed with the transport of parental Joy,
as she conferred new honour. one, " HON she
is proud TO call her The period has now ar
rived, when, by pursuing the dictates of high
and enlightened. patriotism, you may consumma
your glory, or by adopting different course, for
tel, forever the fame that you have already scguir
ed In this crisis, it behooves you to act with
prudence and crcumspeciOn. The enemies of Mr.
Randolph profess to be your friends. They have
addressed you in the language OF compliment il
not OF adulation. They have appeale to that
ruling passion Of the human breast, which is an
incentive to the nobest virtues and the fouest
crimes. They have touched the spring that made
Washington hero and patriot, Cromwell
usurper, and Cesar, the destroyer Of the liberties
of his country. Beware, lest ambition, in the
garb of patriotism, lead you to your ruin.
Virginia, Sir, does not now need YOUR services
in the councils OF the Senate. She wishes to re-
serve you for future occasion Her present re-
preventative has the disposition, and the ability
maintain her principles, and she deems his re eec-
ton essential TO her triumph. You have, no doubt,
been informed that the opposition is not TO tine
Sir, believeit not. This is artifice designed to
add TO the number OF your adherents, to allure you
from the pa OF duty and TO cover The disgrace,
incident to the defeat which is anticipated. By
what persons, Sir, are you solicited TO become
candidate for the Senate of the U. S.? Do you
recognize among them, any of your real friends,
or any Of those firm pillars of the constitution
who have remained mistaken in all the vcissitudes
OF party strife? imagine not. Your adherents
are mostly composed of hose politicians, who, in
consequence OF some obliquiiy ojudgment, have al
ready abandoned the principles of the constitutions
and OF chose, who having been long wavering in
their political faith, have only waited for decent
pTetext TO desert Virginia, and to fail into the
ranks OF the administration. do not pretend 10
deny that there are many firm, honest and intelli-
gent politicians, Ia the Legislature of Virginia, who
d!sapprove the course OF Mr. Randolph do not
hesitate TO acknowledge, THAI as Yirginian have
7 been moriied, TO see representative of the Old
dominion, descending from his high and dignified
station, 10 enter into personal controversies, AMI
endeavoarins TO maintain by heat and passion
principles that founded o. the basis of eternal
truth, and hat are capable of being sustained by
argument and reason. l co TESS, Sir, that when
searching tor the cause OF the moral influence and
political distinction OF Virginia, look 10 the mild
serenity oil her w ashIneton, to the calm phil So
ply OF her Jeherson-to the godlike eoquence of
her Henry and her Lee, and not TO the incorporate
zeal OF Mr.. Randolph. But. Sir, / am not pre-
pared, nor Is Virginia prepared, TO sacrifice Mr.
r'ahooiph' Nor VIII she be prepared TO make this
sacrifice, so long his reelection shall be regard
ed by her friends test of adherence 10 her
principles, or his defeat be looked upon by her enc
MES as an occasion OF triumph TO the admnistra-
aon. conJure you. therefore, If you have any
regard LOT your own consistency; if you have any
regard ior the principles which you have hereto
ioie avo"ed and s'renuousiy mansined, to look
- disr mat %
made 10 you; TO examine well the characters and
political views of those who have addressed Won.
and promptly and Indignantly refuse to become the
instrument, In such hands, OF bringing disgrace up
on yourself and modification upon your best
friends Your interest, if rot your honour de-
mands this course. Whether you meet with sue
cess or defeat, your final disgrace Is equally GER
tain. No sophistry can conceal your motives, no
proiestaiions of innocence can avert the dreadful
sentence OF condemnation Your adherents, Sir,
are OF all parties Their political creeds are as
various az their persons. They bound together
W no piincipls OF cohesion, and as the
OBJECT Tor which they have addressed you, shall be
attained or defeated, dissentions will arise, and
THIS heterogeneous mass will dissolve into its dis
cordani elements. What then, Sir, will be your
condition! Abandoned by your old friends, who
nave heretofore sustained you with mistaken con :
slancy and Election, you will exhibit the melan-
cnoly spectacle Of unfortunate Mariner who
having loosed the moorings that bound HIM TO his
nome, his country and his friends finds himself de-
serted ana fors1ken, or deceived and betrayed By
MS perhdious companions. These, Sir, are me-
!anchoy anticipaions; but, be assured that il rests
with you to make them false, or to render them as
nue as The sacred prophecies. But your. friends
nave confidence in your wisdom and integrity, and
they rely upon their influence to avert The evils
which they apprehend. They appeal to your pru-
aence, to your honor, and to your patriotism, to
denounce the unhalowed attempt, that is low max
ing, TO tarnish the putty of your political carac-
yer, and TO PROSTATE the principles Of Virginia
Ihey call upon you 10 avow in language bold
and unequiyocal, your determination to be consist
eht' They call upon you to declare your utter alb
horrence OF the counsels OF those who have urged
you 10 abandon your principles and to sacrifice
your Character They solemnly warn you, not to
cast the brand Of discord among your friends, les,
you light the torch of hope for the enemies Of yu-
GINA.
CHATHAM
For THE EMO TTIRER