Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-07-03
RICHMoMD, JULY 8.
COMMUNICATED.
THE PRESIDENCY.

TIE PRESIDENCY.
No. ".
That part OF Mr.. Adams's life, at which are
formed the principles opinions that mark the fu-
ture man, was spent in Europe and in the society
OF the aristocfacy. Situated as he was, the OF
the planest Republican, nigh, have been dazzed
with the glitter and splendor by which he was sur
rounded, and have formed equally false notions OF
the great objects of government" and of its
ce.sary strength and magnihcence. / grant that
there are few men, who would now be better Re-
publicans than Mr.. Adams, If they had passed
through the same scenes, and under precisely the
circumstance; aud still fewer whose personal
manners would be less offensive. His father in
writing on the constitution of our own country,
seems TO have thought il less valuable than that OF
England, which he pronounced I" The most siupen-
dous effort OF human WISDOM The bold usurpa-
lions of las administration matters of history
These hight toned opinions OF the father were well
calculated to pre.dispose the mind of his son TO re-
ceive and adopt aDti-repubiican Impressions I'm
der such circumstances 1t was natural that a young
man, Z" born with silver spoon in his mouth -
should think that every government ought to be
strong and brilliant; and that those who administer
1t should hive power to do whatever they mig hit
please TO think would promote 80 the general wei
fare" without being 90 p'lsied by the will of the
people," /, would be difficult for him to conhde
in, aud respect the of the people, the Plebeians
of the country. Even in the bosom of this repub-
licsn nation, it is an equal chance if the son of a
great or tUeQHhy man is not arrogant, and looks
upon his less fortunate neghbors, as his interiors
in every respect; when, in fact, they may be more
virtuous and intelis ent, and possess even better
manners. The experience OF every plain man will
| endorse the truth of this remark. ss Just as the
twig is bent, the trees inclmed'' man educat-
ed In the heart OF an aristocracy is ap: to be an
srstocrat, and especially, if lie can boast of fami-
ly and fortune. Mr.. Adams has been always an
ambitious man; and, in the gratic cation of his am
btion he has IN
some of the sentiments aad cultivate some of the
virtues of democracy.
But if his whole career from early
manhood to the present time. we shall find that
notw outstanding all his DISCUSSES, il is apparent
that he is opposed 10 the doctrine that oil Do,,er
resides IN the people. In proof of this, many
facts might be referred to. II is sufficient howey-
er. only TO refer to his writings under the sigma
ture of Publicola, in opposition to Pane's Rights
! of Man; from which would make extracts, If |
had the pamphlet by me;) to his more recent de-
nunciation Of that work, as " worse than vorth-
ess"; and TO his contempt of the will of the peo-
pie. so clearly and unblushingly expressed in his
| fret message to Congress.
| new fact has been lately brought 10 light, il
Illustrative of MIR. Adams contempt for our country:
for It's government and the manner in which il has
been administered This fact shows that he ia ca
fessed to act with, and for us, and received our
bounty and confidence, he entertained for US even
less respect than eur open enemies.
Whilst at Client with Mr. Clay and Others, me-
gotiating the Treaty of Peace with Great Britain.
MIR. Adams wrote letter to Mr. Leapitt Harris
then at st. Petersburg, in which he used the fol-
lowing most extraordinary sngusge!! " That the
,car toas Just 6eginning-that shortly the Unit
ed States Mould be crushed by the superior
potoer of Great Britain - that ,Ue tcere under a
FEEBLE and PENURIoUs Government ,cith
l. fUe frigates for nary, aud scarcely fpe reei-
| e,Ifs he eli fin II
COMPUTED this letter, ii is said, to the mall in a
city where the enemy had opportunity of ascer-
tainng IFS contents, 40 is customary with European
powers; though he cared whether il fell into
their hands or not.
| The authenticity of the letter must have been
established in court of justice, as it was read in
ertdence in late celebrated trial in Philadelphia
The fact has been published in many pspers since,
and in the Enquirer among the rest. No explana .
ton or notice of il has been seen by me. / read
The account OF it with establishments; and confess
with some incredibly at first.
Before his conversion, MIR. Adams was the adj .
voeate of strong Government, bordering upon ar
biTsry power; and since then we have seen no
evidence that he has in reality, abandoned those no.
lions. His contempt OF his own country cores
ponds with his exalted opinion of {" the superior
power OF Great Briiain.'' In this be is consistent
The {" fee6ieness" of our Government has been ais
ways source OF regret to him. But no man on
earth has so little right 10 complain that it 10 pe-
nuJa0usj Tor the records of the treasury will
show that, for one year and ten months services:
including the very period at which he wrote the
aforementioned letter, HE received the handsome
sum OF upwards of FIFTY EIGHT THOUSAND
DOLLARS. AT that very time our treasury was
nearly empty; our army IN want of arms, clothing
end provisions: and General jackson actuaIly
pledging his private fortune to supply his gallant
troops. We are indebted in no wise 10 Mr. Ad-
ans, that we escaped being " crushed by the su
perior power OF Great Britain" To Gen jackson
we owe deb, of gratitude on this score, which
just and generous people will know how TO pay
when they vote for the next President.
Mr.. Adams's letter 10 Harris my be of a piece
with The disclosures which Mr. Clay promised to
make OF certain transactions al Client Implies ing
Mr.. Adams. The dsclosuT es have never been made
and since the coalition Of these rivals and enemies
there is no prospect that they ever will be made
" Shadows, clouds and darkness must rest on the
subject" Mr.. Adsms's wish to surrender the
navigation Of the Mississippi TO Ihe British, in ex
change for certain pallry fishing privileges, ought
not to be forgotten If his colleagues had felt no
more confidence than he did in his country, this
important right might have been surrendered, and
God knows what other humiliating terms might no,
have been aeceded to- PLEBElAN.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
We appeal 10 those " no ere sccus orned to read
the skies to say what is the Interpretation of The
present Signs.