Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-12


IN foreign countries about the courts aud palaces
OF King and Empcrors, where nothing was pre-
scented but the social and political inequality OF
men-and that fears might reasonably be enter
tanned, that he had at limos inyountarily put on
the livery of those, whose rank and splendor and
power were SO well calculated TO dazzle and charm
the mind, and 10 cstrangc il from the Republican
simplicity peculiar TO our own. Our fears on this
subject might have been trengthcned, when we
advcrted 10 the labor he had encountered, whilst
member of MIR. Monroe's Cabinet, TO furnish TO
members of Congress and the Beau monde of the
nation, a treatise upon Etiquette and the best mode
OF paying morning visits But zee relied, that the
impressions which our free, our beautiful and hap
py institutions had made upon his heart previous
10 ms FIRST mission 10 Europe, and which were
portrayed so coquently and ardenty in his orato-
Iic2l display IN his hrst 4th OF July speech in the
nth Year OF our Independence, and The grateful
sentiments he owed this confiding people. would
have had their full effect in projecting him from
The fatal and captivating influence of Royalty; and
mat as he had been recalled for the purpose of be-
ing invited TO occupy the next 10 the first most dis
tinguishcd place in the councils of the nation no
thing might be feared from ali these consi,lera-
tons.
We have offered these preliminary remarks upon
what were our former reflections, in relation 10 the
past election of MIR. Adams, that we NAV answer
allegations, addressed TO tic friends of Gen Jack
son in Virginia and in other ostsIc Southern States
/ accusing them OF an unwarrantable indulgence of
local prejudces, and personal antiuathies in which
we have considered ourselves rs part of the COM
ihunity, embraced; and that the objections we now
cnter'ln TO has reelection may, as they oupht
have their full force.
We are here compelled 10 declare. that the cir
cunstances attending Mr.. Adams elevation to the
: Prcsidency-ihc manner OF his elcvaiion-and the
con3eqtIen formation of his Cabinet excited in us
the iirst serioVS impulse of alarm for tie Vestal
sancty of the constitutions and the welfare and
prosperity oil the nation-and awakened US 10 n vi
siiant attention 90 the Doctrines that were 70 nc n
I 'o"eu, ana the consequent measures that would
be adopted.
1t became necessary TO mount double rrlard on
! me "a'cn-tower OF our liberties. From the day
mat MI Cl'y with his band of faithful friends in
me Congress OF the U. States, (many of them an
ucpa,iig the fruits of doctrines subsequently, in
cucaied, mot pa'ied by the will of their constitu
eii's' had gone over 20 Mr.. Adams and the dov
ON which MIR. Clay received the opnoin.ment ~
secretary OF State, 10 the present moment have
| we considered ourselves justified, by circumston
es'co'einporaneousiy disclosed as connected with
ese events, IN at least suspccting that there was
| direct or indirect understanding between then,
inc OBJECT OF which was less the rood of their coun
try and the inviolability Of her laws than te Ora,
ullSa,ion oil their own absorbing, oycr-reaciing
S.u A.i circumstances fruitful in testimony
continually developed, have tended 10 increase, r;l
uier than diminish, our suspicious.
Although, during the canvass for the Presden
| Cyl VII. Clay had opposed the election of Mr. Adj
@itS, upon inc ground that he then Secretary
o. olate and the precedent of successfully eIectin
'hose who filled that station to the Chief Mags tra
cy, mad become "emnently dangerous to The
safety oil the Republic and the sovereignty of the
eopie-yet, IN his letter TO his constituents in at
tempting TO defend himself for having voted for
Slr: A., he most thoughtlessly takes shelter from
'heir dspeasure, under this very doctrine of ssaf,
precedents which he had in his competition wifi,
VT ADAMS so velcinenuy denounced, and in sub
stance, Claims the benefit of IT. for the nurnoso of
procuring his future promotion ~ tbc Pro;5o,c
~ II, under the influence of an jnordinate love ~
popularity and reckless ambition neither th. safot,-
OF uie hepublc, nor the Peoples sovereignty, were
worthy OF a moments consideration The Ian
guaSe oil Hlr. Clay IS but that of Claudius Caesar
ana IS as omnous, II sanctioned by the peopIe Of
inc ia'e OF contributions, the debate on The sub
1ect oil the eligibility of the Nobility of GaIl 10 the
isg'"h 7eha'c was OF the destiny OF that Republc
" The measure which now defend by EXAMPLES
wiz at future day become another precedent II
IS fo1c netc re5Il1tiOn In time twill be History
Mr. adams informs Che people Of these Uni
ted States, tiiot ne would most cheerfIIly refer
aSain 10 IN, the election Of President II he could
believe their wishes would he advanced by the re.
suit OF the new trial--By which lie denies that
he has been guilty Of cxcrting any undue iuIu
cnce upon the election, and assumes 60 himself
character Tor i~intercsedneSs-for Justice and for
humility OF purpose, which last at least is in per-
feet contrast with the tenor of his whole life "a,
THINK he vas mistaken in his professions Of such
perfect obedience 70 the sovereign will On no
other occasion las nc displayed much indiifcr-
c!lce 10 tile glittering golden coronet of power
Ills whole shifting course Of political life from hi;
very youth upwards, had been iourne[, 70 tIiat
point, TO which he had just attainei-the last roaI
Ia the race OF American ambition. And Mr.. Ad-
ans Ci any man on earth can) furnishes q bo,n,
and ilattcring illustration of the truth of tI,e
maxim, 'evcry man is the Trainer Of his own for
tune. We ask, can it be believed, that he would
nave submitted 10 another encounter with his most
formidable competitors Depend upon il, since
the Garden OF Hcspcrides never bore finer apple
OF gold, this modern Hippomcnes would not have
cast II from MS hand, for all the Ataantas that over
ran--nct for ali the beauty OF Republican yirtuc-1
all the shouts and praises Of all the spectators in s.
merica.
We adopt as our own, the language Of utter dis
appreciation expressed by fellow citizens in cy-
cry quarter Of the y. States, 10 that odious and
daring political sentiment, communicated in the
spirit Of dissatisfaction anu rebuke TO the Congress
OF the United States, in Mr.. Adams first MESSAGE
TO that body-"while foreign nations less blessed
with That freedom which is power than oursel-
YES are advancing with gigantic strides in the
career OF PUBIC improvement, were we TO slum-
Der In Incidence, fold UP orr arms and
proclaim TO the world, that we were paIsied by
lhe VIII OF our Constituents, would It not be, 10
cast away The bouniics Of providence, and doom
ourselves to perpetual interiority" No eyplana-
non attempted IN he Fivcn by his friends TO these
lncautous expressions" have satisfied our minds
thdt he did not intend by this and other similar
doctrines, tolay the Foundation Of the most unusf
habic ana dangerous usurpation Of power And if
we had mistaken the plain import Of this sentence
10 winch We have alluded as erDTeescd-fhe tnea-
sures pursued thereafter remove our doubts and
demonstrate, that MIR. AdaIns's theories on the
powers OF the government, whether borrowed from
oiher Countries or his own, when reduced into ac-
uidi operation, are Subversve OF the sacred prucj-
pies migrated into the constitution and assail SOME
oil the dearest pTcr0gatiyes Of freemen-freernen
who claim for themselves the right Of self-oovern
ment through the instruncntalitv Of faithful re-
representatives. ~ legislative bOdies-frcenen who