Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-08-26

~ sbcfe any eihng unusual IN li,- existence OBJ
ficuo,is coalitions: Were there such colnbna-
tons between leaders in the republics of Greece:
Were there no such treaties oil alliance between
heads OF factions in Rome? Dothe histories of France
and England present no instances in which angry
opponents suddenly became ardent friends to crush
some rival, who threatened TO stop the ambitious
march of both' What history does not record
proofs, that men, originally pure, have been
verted into aposa,es; and violators of their obga-
tons TO their country by the Intoxicating influence
es OF avarice and ambition,
What, indeed, IL republic, but a system, devils
ed 10 guard the people against the proneness oil pub
TIC agents 10 violate their trusts? Why, especially
{ In relation TO the election of President did the
trainers OF the constitution anSiously erect the
barriers, which we see in it, Did they not foresce
such scenes as the brief history Of the republic al
ready records? What are constitutions and laws,
but checks upon the inordnste lust of wealth and
powert Why are men, elected for their merits and
honesty still obliged 20 before the Almighty,
that they viii not betray their .russ-ii the temp
iatlon Ia betray them a. not always irresistible?
Have VIC had no men in orr own country, who
sacriiiced Themselves upon the altar Of ambition?
Have Not men of the highest attsinments in other
countries put period TO their own lives. when dis
| appointed in political pursuitsi-In the country
from which, IN particular, derive origin, ANA
many OF our laws principles and customs, have We
not seen some remarkable changes within
hme' Did not Edmund Burke, man of tie most
transcendant abilities, i'm order to crafty his pas
sion OF avarice ambition, and TO resent the tardi-
ness oil the wings in satisfying it, abandon his first
principles and die the pensoner of men, whose prac
noes he had scorEed, and whose proilgacy he had
/ iished? Did not VIA. Pitt and Lord Castereae,l
begn their career as wings. then put on the garb
OF opostacy, and at last perish under load of self
reproach and disappointment? III experience
teaches all this. should We starte at the SUPPOSE
| ton, that the same causes must produce the same
effects in the new world as in the old? AS has been
well suggested, has the constitution necessarily
made our citizens patriots: Why, then, should we
be astonished that individuals here should despe-
raeiy risk the uncertain loss OF public favor rather
than incur the certain loss Of objects, sought form
The Utmost anxiety during long life!
he Presidency of the l.. States is the biah-
est source OF honor, influence, and e.noiumeni, in
| the republic Its station, to which the greatest
men, that ever lived, mis- ht consider it honorable
ITO aspire, and still honorable attain: With
III the last forty years but six persons have held the
office III the next forty, six may not acquire
the distinction it has been in many instances reach
ed with the utmost difficulty: the execution OF great
services the deveopemet of peculiar characeris-
tues, IN long lie, seem TO be the only avenues by
(which il can be reached.
10 gain such a summit, intense, then, must be
kthe avldity OF him. who after tOiiing through life to
freach H. has already assembled all the steps but onc
Aud equally intense must be his dismay, when
ne sees rival with foot upon the last STEP and
ready TO liit the other! In such an extremity, he
/ 'ooss around on friend 81 foe "with tears in his
eyes, hnporng aid: the RENE BibTance OF past tolls
the shame of defeat tire glory oil triumph, the in
toSicating influence of ambition and avarice, alb
combine TO make him prefer the certainty Of pres
ent qualification, even at The risk os popular CEN
sure 20 the certainty OF defeat without public CON-
mise TaIioni
! Can you doubt tie fidelity Of ths picture: you,
who nave been At school, do you forget your dread
Oh nerioity, or your desire Tor the frs rank, in
| juvenile competition! havc you lost the re,nem-
brancc q. your anSiety prior TO scholastic exarnina-
ton' ityou recoliect such Incidents cast YOUR eyes
upon MIR. Adams aud Mr. Clay, aud say whethep
| their coalition was inconsistent with human weak
ness, or worlG.y experiences:
! Have you ever been competitors for popular "a
vor? il you have, think Of the sIeepless nights and
restless days, which you have passed, amidst the
hopes @! success, and fears defeat; and then say
yOn had nearly reached such an elniuence whe-
the you have become giddy yourselves? how ma .
ny amongst you would have had the fortitude,
which General Jackson displayed, and defed
temptation;
! Is there any thing extraordinary then. in
4 the conclusion, that, Mr. Adams, governed BY
such intense passions, held out lures, through his
ire nds, 10 MIR. Clay? Is il marVelious that Mi
Clay lnpclied by passions equally strong, listened
; to friends OF Slr. Adams, aud in his extremity
caught at the bau
The condition of Mr.. Clay was nearly as critical
as that OF Mr. Adams or perhaps critical ::
ne had seen the presidency filled, for sixteen
years, by those who had been Secretaries of State
III succession the presidency had been for TWEEN
ty years the object OF all his and forts he
knew tina: the south and the east had been honor
ed, but that no president from the icest had yes
been elected he perceived that if the east should
be now again honored, especially by his aid, tic.
iceSt would be more likely to be honored, and he
would be more likely 10 be the successful candi-
date, al the next change-than If the trest was
noio, honored, and Gen. Jack ION elected hn
would have rsked his chance as a western cand-
date, il any hopes of office under Gen jackson mad
been held out; but that was not done and there
fore, upon the doctrine Of chances and accor,iiIes
10 political or parzan calculation, the success OF
Mr.. Adams was more likely to open the door in
1893, than the election of Gen. Jackson.
Mr.. Adams aud Mr.. Clay well understood all
this without any sort OF intercourse and so I'M
deTstanding II, can ANY reasonable man doubt their
readiness 10 meet each others views: was any,
thing more easy than TO to an UNDERSTANDING
sufficiently PLAIN, by the aid Of friends without n a
forniaiity and danger OF an agreement express or
even implied, to which they had committed thigh.
selves?
In what other way can we account for the
coalition
In our next letter, we shall proceed to answer
this question In the present we think we have
presented v'cws, founded on human nature, expe-
ricnce and common sense fully descriptive OF tie
matter before vs.: we are, we believe, fully agto-
Fised 10 say, ,iiat, he;e is every likelihood tina.
two such men, IS Mr. Adams s Mr.. Clay would
IN their s.'ritiU', form the coalition which pro.
duccd a0 election Of the one and the aprointnicue
Of Cte other.
Il OHIO HENRY CAAY.
In the arrangements which, il il said have Je,,,
made by Inc cabinet OF Washing ton, for the pre-
sent summer, Mr.. Clay has been dedicated :,
take charge Of the ELECrloNEER1wG ek.l-
PAtGS n TIE Northern States. and may be ex
pected here In few weeks The TRANsFEp az