Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-02
TIL. JEFFERSON.
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.
ELECTION OF SENATOR.

The ingraitude of repabics has long been
cant theme OF reproach to them: but there is
stigma Tar more vital, more Indignantly. urged,
audit is to be feared, more just; mean fckicness
oil purpose, OF feeling, OF opinion. The aeg-
ed incapacity OF the people for self government -
a preteXt upon which De-polism has manly boIs-
terec Itself IN every AGES always resolved INTO
their inconsistency, as its Interior, elemantar,
principle. The rourtly monsrchisis of old noets
historians, and oratorsin the relics of their " o,ks
handed down 10 US, omit no occasion of haunting
Democracy with this, its cardinal sin The IS ma,
liable populace, the uncertain rabble' The
- mob OF hckie Citizens are expressions which
indicate their deep-seated conviction OF the foibl-
In more recent times, history teens with EXAMPLES
oil unseainess and volatility the most slaring and
The most fatal. In Italy, republics have risen, snd
sunk again, almost with the suddenness of the
transient meteor: the banks of the Rhine and the
Sch.idt have been on one day graced with the en-
signs OF popular sway. and on the next, covering
once more beneath the scep,re CT MONARCHY: and
thousands, yet living, look back, as on yester
day. 10 the shifting scenes ofrevolutionary France
where constitutions, fiuctuatng with the caprces
OF mob ever eager for change, were created and
annu!led almost with every var ing breeze we.
the rational people of America, profess,ne to ar,
by principle, and not by ,ohim,. ough, 10 stand,
proudly exempt from the mutations hitherto inci-
dent to self governing communities. Our consist
lightly adopted, ought TO be maintained with the
hrmness OF conscious reciilude; and our estimate
OF character ought to be uniform and so inf4Ii.
bic, thai public servants, once est ab.hed in conf
dence or convicted OF mIsdemeanor, should as
surely as that Heaven is just, meet Tie rtqai,a OF
their deserts. Let consider, whether we too
have not afforded to the enemies of freedom one
quota OF material for their sophIstry and denunca-
ton. pray that the enquiry may not result in
are but
Switzerland, France, and Holland were-mere
republics, doomed, like them, to be sgi,ated by all
those wild vicssiudes of passion and CAPRICE
which at last call Tor the guiding hand OF an abso.
Lutte master.
Mr.. John Randolph proclaimed last winter in
Congress, that Virginia, within a few years had
come over to his side in politics. Without regard
ing him as authority above appeal (except in mere
insulated questions of fact, of which he Is person.
ely cognzant,) we muat him to be here right,
thus ar--that towards him, and his character. his
native state has OF late become much more friendly
than formerly His standing 10 or ID years ago.
wac widely different from his standing no,c. In
the latter part oil JeIerson's Presidency and IN all
of Msdson's, Mr.. Randolph was placed by h.
birth, his wealth, his zeal, and his powers OF de-
cars;ory inveclive, in the van OF a most virulent
opposition. The bitterness with which be asssjIed
all the leading and Characteristic measures of those
adninisiraions--hi abuse of the very fathers OF
political faith his active instrumentality In
paralysi0g his couniry's struggles with powerful
foe because of his private ieuds with the directors
OF his country's counsels- his Indirect encourage
ment 10 that foe, by exposing to her yisw disrac-
ton and strife within ourselves all combined to
render Mr.. X. no fauourhe with Virginia. All
of us, you yourselves, Messrs. Editors, concurted
in deeming him pest to the country; an enthusi-
asst, who, though not destitute of honorable senti.
ment, was ever ready to abjure or to forget pari.
oiism AZ the bidding OF bis headoDg passions. His
letter OF expostulatlon TO Massachusetts Senator
was symptom OF awakening grace: but it was a
tardy and unsatisfactory stouement, spfIngng only
from his alarm at the terrific consequences of his
own nldiscTetion, and the IncendisrJ Vaccinations
OF bis -chosen associates. II was extored only
from his fears and his shame (for MIR. Randoprl
was not dead to shame,) when the Hartford Con
vention which he had been (unwarily) fostering,
menaced US with the horrors OF treason, disunion
and civil war. II suificed not TO procure him IA
vor in the eyes of bis countymen, who were yet
far from admitting him 10 fellowship.
Such was the degree of his popularity 10 years
ago Mark the contrast, ia his present standing
Besides being admired orator. which was
always, cnaceOuniaby, his good fortune he has
cone 70 be revTenced by many, as patriot and
a sage. Ills speeches, disjonied the leaves Of
the sybilline prophecies, are priced II they
fiowed rom the same supernatural inspiration his
professions OF attachment to Virginia and TO her
Doctrines the doctrines OF Jefferson & Madison!
ARE heard with all the fondness of credulity: and
his sayings, public and private, are quoted and sp-
plsuded, as the spothegms Of a Socrates or
Franklin Nay, he has been elected, and there is
some reason 10 fear he will be elected again 10 re-
present moiey Of the interests Of that SOW ereign
state, Of which, in 1913 be was held unworthy 10
represent one ,wenty-iosuh part. instability fl