Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-05-09

serted The existence OF the Webster letter. and
Why did he not also " candidly nc knowledge, -
hat the story of this Webster letter was no longer
calumny"; but was confirmed, not bv one of
IN ''Swi>s LEGION" but by Mr.. walsh.-IYhy-
because 1t would not have suited the purposes of
the Coalition.
TO the Editors Of the Enquirer.
MAJOR-GENERAL OF THE ARMY.
piece in the Enquirer of the 18th April, sign,
ell :, Virgnius, in Just reprobaton of the Presi-
dents nomination of General M'Comb. as Major
General OF the Army, has called forth the accus-
toned invectves OF certain atmnstra ton print
when any thing is published that brings in oues
ton the motives infallibility of Mr. Adams
The Editors OF that paper :. foresaw and foretold
That the nomination OF M'Comb, as Major General.
would raise the aninadverson and disturb the
nerves OF the Enquirer: they also sooth
sayers, "when d runor prevailed, that that distin
guished soldier and eminent citizen, Gen. Harri-
son, would receive The nomnation!'' What Their
opinion was, on that subject, have not ascertain
ed. Ii this distinguished soldier and eminent c;,;
zen, came within The range OF the, presi,Icn,'s So
lection, the President has done him an injury hv
cropping him and preerring another. But if Gen
H., as citizen, was not eligible 10 the station OF
Major General, the President, nor his Cobinat
should have designated him, to raise expectations
IL him aud his friends, to be finally Disappointed
III the President was sincere i'm the intention
to nominate Gen. H., what change of circum
stances could have effected change in his pur.
~
yet inscrutable TO the public, and probably 10 him
sell Gen. III also. Ii he never did intend sucb
nomination, why should any thing on the subject
nave originated with him or his Cabinet. But il ia
'a'eu lahu let the Editors OF the paper, above re-
ferred to, deny il by authority if they that the
Government did actually tender the nomination to
Gen. HARRISON and that he entertained such :,
moral certainly that his name would be sen, to the
senate as 10 ieei some delicacy abou taking his
seat III that body. Have the grounds on which
Cen Harrison just :" anticipation. was faSified -
been explained TO him? should not expcct sucb
explanation from the Government f,om ,lsint,r-
esiedness They might obey the sentiment of
justice ot the ear, whilst the motive of lis eynres
sion was OF different character On th. s,b;.c,
OF The general satisfaction, that the nomination of
McCornb has Afforded, will not allow mv,eI IN
speak with the certainty OF the aforesaid Editors
report has reached me, that Gen Gaines i, viii
ing To serve either under Harrison or McComb:
and am willing to admit the fact: atbouoh this
consent oil Gaines 10 be out-ranked upon other than
military principles OF promotion, by Harrison or
McComb, may cure the error to himself-yet
e rights oil another, oil equal, If not superior prc-
tensions TO his, well as the rights of the army
throughout are involved in these uominatIons
and most especially, in that of Harrison AS to
the general satisfaction that the nomination of NJ
Nono VIII give 10 The Army, am at direct issue
WIN those Lditors But it seems that Me- Comb is
entitled TO the nomination, by virtue of a t,y;t
zen PfedSe asked and received of Mr. Monroe
Us. 'heir language, that his transfcrence from the
"h. W 'he sian, should not prejudice his future
claims TO promotion. He was then the elder of
The three-he Showed this written pIedoe which
the President was bound, if not in law vet i'm deli
c"cy TO his predecessor, TO Iespect-and his ac-
uohS' dufs The War, were OF the most distinguish
ed Character" Alter reading the prrceding ex
tract from the views OF those Editors in s,,ppo of
McConb 5 nomination, the question presents itself
whether McComb, by accepting the direction of
the Engineer Department, was thereby promoted
vi 'euuceu III MS grade: III he was promoted
of f.Lyi
pledge oil future promotion! His rinhts wouId
stand on the same basis without, as we'll as with
that pledge III he had no rights but those con.
'e,ieu py such piedSe,what are those thus rescrv-
ca! had never Known that General McComb
belonged 10 any other than the Engineer Drnart-
hcnt- III McComb was really promoted, when he
received uie direction OF the Engineer Depart
iheh'' mere was no concession Oh his part-an the
dioFe-did pledge was unnecessary, as a considera-
tion ior his having received benefit And If.
ON the other hand, he was raised from a higher
grade, when his professions were better founded
tiidn those OF Scott or Gaines-to hold hi. then
I1'iA-wny should such temporary degrddatio,,'
q use the word technicaly,) have EIilen 10 hi.
iot have often heard that humilitv wa
young ambitions ladder''-but | did not know il
Vas soldiers virtue, or soldiers means of pro-
"oo' ana IL Is lar, am sure, from being The one
or The other III the character OF Gen iIct 'o,nh
ihese Editors attribute some Influence in AZ
comb nomination, 10 This pledge Indeed thew
push their defence OF the President in this affair
10 7uch an extreme, as 10 lay down this bold and
startling prnposition--that 90 he (the President
was bound, II not in law, yet in dclicacy to his
predecessor, TO respect his written DIedoe I
WIN put this Case, which may not be altogether
hypothetical, TO test the soundness OF the doctrine.
a PRESIDENT may give pledge "a distinction Gems
10 DE takcnb by these Editors in favor OF one that i
wrlten) to appoint Office, as the vacancies may
occur, certain distinguished iedefaiists of n Ter
sey Dut the incumbcDts survive his official term 4,
uie succeeding President bound 10 redeem the
pledge! by all means-agreeably to the premises
Which, presume, are to be taken with this condi-
uoh' mat the party meIited the Office But the
Pease' py dchoting ioregone conclusion, leaves
nothing toa President but the ministerial Office nj
e,Aecu'ihg me Intentions Of his predecessor II
hd' IL not thc import OF a pledge, where is the
necessity OF anticipating cases which should be
uecided on Their own merits? DO not such views
oi uie oDilSauon oil pledges, upon any other than
THOSE VINO give them, sink the successors into tho
mere executors vi the will VI their in
ohice' would Thomas Jefferson have been bound
ny the pledges oil the elder, or General Jackson
should ne be elected, by those of the Younger
ADAMS! III 80, i. Pickering might have been CONT
hueu Sccf Oi Stale TO the one-& II. Clay NAV be
i'iiy anticipated TO I'LL that Office under the other
.cntle''" h,who have advanced the doctrine recon-
suef your opinion Of ibe obligation of one President
10 respect the pledges of his Predecessor whether
parole or wiiltenfor, see no moral difference be
tween them. i shall close what / had 10 saw ON
'hiS suJect, by a few remarks on an extract from
q Itutr 10 the editors OF the Marylander which
'heSe gentlemen having introduced into their CO.
'Hn'ns, 10 doubt, believe with hi. writer
every thng II contains 10 be true | find i'm
'his IetteT The following statenient---'. ln irne
oil war: when Gaines aud Scott afeady .isO0nl.h.
cd, might haze been seiecfed-fI have italicized
In