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

the precious monument, which | shall preserve
with great care for the contemplation Of my pos
teritv.
g am, sir, with many thanks, for your Kindness
and polieness; your obliged friend, and humble
servant,
John ADAMS
10 THE PEOPLE
bEEEow CITIZENS:
Although own happiness is naturally The
primary object of our sO!icitude, there are few os
the american people, we presume, who arc not
anxious, that mankind at large should profit by ON
example, and become as free as ourselves We
may indeed, under the influence of sell-esteeln.
which is Inherent in nations we'll as indvdu-
ais, FIX higher estimate upon our condition than
reason Iis;iiies; but may he excused, if we
gard our republic, in several respects. model for
other states, when we find it so designated by MA
ny great and enlightened persons in Europe, who
nave spoken or written upon the condition of the
new world.
Raising ourselves, then, above the influences OF
unworthy passions is ii not orr duty TO act, seeing
that we are objects Of scrutiny and example, as
# we were not merely under The eyes OF men OF
the present day, but within The observation of pos
terty
Ifsuch is our position. an il such should be oar
iuty, what spectacle Is at present presented in
our republic! Instead OF cheIishing the purity,
becoming infant institutions, seem DESTROYS 10
idescend 70 the degrade ton Of Athens and Rome
IN the Gays Of ;hcr deciinc We behold a man,
whom the whole people would go forth TO see aud
honour, rs Il plblc oencactOT, II he were not 4
candidate for their sutrages prescribed and traduc-
ed III every way, that the basest passions can de-
'ise-hec"use portion Of his cols0rylnen have,
resolved to confer upon him the highest mark OF
their gratitude and confidence
Yes, if Andrew jackson had not been called bv
his conntryinen, upon the political stage, every
one would apply TO him the ou!ogum OF the poet
upon einc!nnatus-
h" OF Old the farmer Iea hi. f;!d,
Jailed by tr voice Il k'nf
4, he hi conniry's guardian .itii
lie .eu hs tui 81 h'mr
Ite foes suhducd. her " pn7 rrdre.t.
No lust Of power i,, .oul fos,.s;
fe chose einrioU. DOOM
Again b, gap the plough, snd. iAras
Sill sheds arsdiauce o'ei hs nins.o
Bnt, when, not only without ihc all or priyty,
but against the wishes OF those who NAV b.. called
trading politicians, the voice the ycomanry of the
country calls upon him to leave his plough and TO
receive civic hOpours ut their hands Andrew Jack
son is denounced, as il he had Intrigued aud traf-
hcked for nominations nay, if he had betrayed
his country, or sought to tramp!c upon its Iibcr-
ties !
Is this spectacle, worthy ola free people, in
an enlightened age Is it not a signal, at the sight
OF which men should arouse, if their liberties
were assaled: Are they not. in fact, threatened?
!! II shall be in the power of selfish and ambitious
men, TO prescribe and PROSTATE those who have
rendered the highest services. who will be left TO
stem the torrent oil corruption, which is at all
times gathering TO overwhelm public liberty:
let II not be supposed, that this prescribing Shirt
!
day; II IS the same monster that deprived Socra-
ties OF life and Aristdes of his country: it is the
same spirit, which, actuatDg the patricians OF
! Rome, paved the way for its partition between /,
Cesar, Antony and Lepidus; il is the same
spirit, which, thirty years ago sought to blast tie
fame OF franklin and to wrest from jefferson the
gratitude OF his country!
FRANKLIN, alike the glory Of this nation and of.
/ T.maniiy, was prosecuted, moi only during the re-
volution, but long after the enjoyment OF those H.
! berries, which he had powerfully Iaboured TO es-
| tablsh; even when death lad closed his splendid
career calumny dared TO assail his fame with the
weapons OF ridicule ard Mr.. BENJAMIN Russell of
Boston, WHO was then, and is again, d" printer
/ by authority, and WIN OF course is sanderer OF
Jackson. excused such atrocities in this language
-" ~ dead Villains said he, were spared ~
historians and biographers, where would be the
lessons oil instruction, which get from the re-
fcords OF former times
7 JrFFERsoo;, too was denounced by every ep
net, and accused oil almost every crime that can
degrade human bcing--as a traitor 10 his couu-
TRY, and pensiouer of France as yiolator Of the
most sacred private obligations, and an op,n con
rtenner Of all the deccucies At private life nay r.
such an extent diG he spirit OF prescription prevail
that there is no cdlariiy that can bciaI people
which was not ba-phenously inprecatcd upon The
repn.hs II it should place him 10 tiie pre-ential
.chdH
F Ifthe enenirs oG human liberty shall quote smcl,
abuses as these, proofs OF inpcifcction in our
institutions, or Ignorance in the people. the reply
! Is as obvious IL is emphatic the contorporarics
/ Of Franklin and Jefferson cxclan, frue indeed,
II isat ignorance is the nurse ofcalumny and true
II ~ that, thirty years go. the people were not
equally wei informed, but behold ie fate Of Franz
lin and Of jefferson, AMI see in IL tic prood eti
dencc OF tie virtue, a. well ~ Of To-. intelligence
OIL the American people. Where, now arc their re-
Vers; "hs' history or biography transmits The
scord OF their ibcis2 Far from being degraded inte
keyes Of their co1nirymen. o. OF TIE world, dle
siame Of The republic Itself is preserved in purity
Ply the honour' conferred upon fr1nklm & jcacr-
con IN lie, and which await them ison IN d'mirins
poserty'"
Such IS Tie picture Of the past. it s GO the free
men OF thc present day 70 h!I up thtr own plcIl
-, pc. e....;.., ,.., o., ,-os