Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-24
VOL. XIV NO. 81

MIN, ne would swear he was stranger to his beS.
friends. They have drawn the character of Madi-
son, and given it TO the public for that of Adams
Was MIR. Adams pure and upright in bribing Mr.
Clay TO elect him; In betraying the federal party
with falsehoods TO Mr. Jefferson, asld reclamn, il
by promises TO Mr. Webster-in charging a double
salary and for constructive Journey while minis
ter, and paying that dishonest charge to himself
while Secretary of States Was he patriotic when
writing his letter to Levitt Harris, underwriting,
the resources and rdiculing the spirit of his
country, when that country, was involved In
the casualties OF bloody war9-Did patriot
ism inspire his mind when he urged the
surrender TO England of the free navigation of the
mississippi; or when he negotiated away the Colo
NAL trader Was he patient and faithful in the dis
charge OF his duties when he forced the Post
NJ aster General the appointment of the presen.
| deputy at Nashville, and repulsed with petti-
lance the representatives of this state while res
pectiuliy deprecating that act of oppression Hfs
private life, in far as il be separated from his
public conduct docs notreach beyond the wears of p,
berry for his youth his manhoodS his age have been
spent IN lucrative coDneXion with the public trea-
sury. But If the Richmond citing will answer
the questions above proposed with only .ssmau
approach TO acknowledged facts in the conduct Of
Mr.. Adams, they will render perfectly harmless :,
warmer zeal and larger minority, than they rep
resent or express The opposition in this free and
enlightened country, stern and general az il is
1t COMFORTS with the modesty and tolerance OF
these gentlemen 10 denounce, " as studious mis-
representa- ton of the Presidents 1neasuresp
/ +" u peTversion OF his most careless language"-a
wanton attack on his character and that of his ca
oinet as premature and unsupported by the real
character OF the administration. In such estina-
ton are the motives of Macon, Calhoun, Van Blu
rem and Tazewell held by gentlemen who see in
the career OF MIR. Clay nothing but patriotism anu
virtue III ls very true that opposition TO the re-
! election of Mr.. Adams was manifested in. the
country, before his administration was organized.
or the course of his policy had pointed towards ar
binary power and cabinet succession. But the,
klchmond meeting do not require to be told, that
tins opposition was the natural effect of his unfair
I therefore ant to
the organization OF his government, and indepen-
dent OF the character of his measures. An eaui-
table, enlightened, and prudent administration
iniSht indeed have allayed this original opposition;
but the prudence of MIR. Adams measures has not
exceeded the purity This election and his friends
who are continually hoasting of his skill and expert
ence, have the modification find the policy Of his
government as fruitful oCoppoition as its O.
rign And it may be fairly affirmed that when we
Consider ms impure election, his extravagan doc
hines and mischievous impolicy, the Opposition s
as temperate, as sentiment so strong and eens.
raj, actuating a body polite sensitive and ro-
bust as the American public, well be expected
10 be.
Which OF his measures are conceived TO have
been studiously misrcpresonted' - 1 cannot con-
lecture, but If the Panama Mission and the mere
tiation respecting the Colonial Trade are the sub
jects of this Misrepresentation the advisers OF Mr.
Adams in Richmond, would relieve his reputation
and add TO their own very much, if they would
hasten to convince the country, that the mission OF
MR. Sergeant eyentuated in any thing better than
/ -'4'H'c
our profitable trade with the British West Inaias
has really not been transferred to the ports of the,
ST Lawrence-and the north of Europe. But they
tell the people of Virginia that the MonarcL;caI
declarations OF MIR. Adams in his first Message
were not serious, Were merely " his highness'
ievIty'-'' his most careless language What
must he think of the heads of these loyal Virgil
mans, Who can invent no better apology for his So
Tenn aud consideraie expressions, or what must
think of his, for having forced his advocates "a
such daInning eNtremities Of excuse? It ia how
ever easier 10 suppose that these gentlemen III.
dulged in g most Careless language" IN framing
this absurd apology, than that Mr. Adams aid,
when he asserted in message 10 both Houses az
Congress, and re-asseTted 10 the Senate on the
nomination OF Messrs. Anderson aud Sergeant
. the constitutional competency OF the executive
to institute embassies and to commission enyoys
without the advice or consent of The Senate. ana
whenh he cOunseed the national REPRESENTATIVE IN
proceed in promoting the general welfare and in
executing schemes of internal imprOvement-in
building d" Light Houses Of the Sky and watch
ing the radiance and revolutions Of the r1anets
without being Paisied by the will of their con
stitucnts."
! The object of these and other apoIogists Of tba
PRESIDENT - to reconcile the country to his unwar
rautaoIe pretensons, upon the ground that tbe5y
! are mere ABSTRACT opinions, casually conceived and
carelessly expressed; which he has never at
tempted and never will attempt TO reduce TO ura,
ice, and which, in the instance OF the Panar,,
Mission, he actually abstained from enforcing -
AS IL the principle were not every thing and Sfh,
practice, in any particular case, nothing Uaun.
den did not regard the amount Of ship money levied
upon hlIn, but he resented and resisted nj rgeat
cost and peril, the principle which this tax of 2Os
involved And his Jaci0uS opposition is called by
the loyal Hume itself, bold stand in defence Of
the laws and liberties Of his country'''. by yTich
he merlted great reDown with postority" The
Jdcti0us opposition Of ancestors 20 the Siam,
Act, was not to the particular law or to the 1Dod
cum OF exaction, but to the principle IF far5se
ne people Of THIS country 'oithoui the coasent6}
i Their representatives., as the Adams men ma,
learn by consulting NaFshalrs history of he AM
rican colonies The same important work viii re-
mind them, that when that irritating measure wa
exchanged for the more invidOus one Of duties on
certain articles OF importation, the same principle
/ Of oppression was deserted by the saeacity ana
opposed by the independence OF our fathers; and
that when II was attempted to concate them t,v q
rePeaioi an the duties except that on tea II was
: regarded as an assertion. not surrender, Of ihe
odlOu5 prnclplc OF taxation without representation
and tiat the spirit Of patriotic resistance instsai
oil being assuaged, rose higher and higher until h
ndmed forth in open rebellion. Marshall oh
serves page 3SS) " he contest with Ametif..
was plainly contest Of principle. and had boom
conducted entirely on principle by both PARTIES
he am0int OF taxes plopOs-d 20 be raised was TOO
uncomfortable to Interest the people Of either co,tr
N Try But the principle vas 10 the opinion Of bo,b,
OF the utmost magnitude" So the contest -
tween the President and the people Of lie Tri.ea
states IS plainly contest Of principle " and =,
such has boon " conducted by both parsieso IL
maintains thc twice declared doctrine of bis o. cl.
shtunonal competency" They complain tba, 4,
m.,ttcs Hfecly against that principle OF the con
'u'u'l9h' winch limit the control Of the executy,,
over inc oiJects and expense Of our diplomatic in
HffOuFse. This principle d. Of the tismot NOS.