Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-05-24
MR.. wASHTNGTON's ADDRESS.

MR.. WASHTNGTON'S ADDRESS.
We exceedingly regret that our limits will
not permit us to make extracts from the Ad-
dress Of Mr.. Thomas Washington, of Tennes-
see, Of greater extent than those which we
now offer, because, we consider the address
to be one Of the ablest and most conclusive
documents that has yet appeared, with refer.
renee to the late and the approaching presI-
Dental election. The address was called
forth, by letter addressed to Mr.. Washington
by committee Of gentlemen, delegated at n
public meeting, to invite him to become a
candidate for a seat in the United States Con-
gress, which invitation was respectfully de-
clned. The address, which is rather in the
form Of letter, to the gentlemen composing
the committee, occupies nine columns of close
ly printed matter in the Nashville Whig and
Banner; aad the whole is remarkable for its
pcrspicuity, independence and attachment to
the present administration.
After having in a very satisfac ctory manner,
glanced at the relative positions Of Mossrs Ad-
ans anD Clay. Mr.. Washington proceeds to
noticethe course of the opposition, towards the
present executive, after his election, and pays
well merited compliment to Mr.. Adams,
and passes high encomium on his first mes
sage.
"The habit which tho American people have
acquired of making the Administration, the OBJ
iect Of all their censure or defence in political
controversies, must have been adopted from
the English; but there is no analogy between
the structure Of their governments in this re-
spect. In England, it is a maxim thatthe king
can d, no wrong; Of course, he is out Of the
scrapc. But there, very great responsibility
is devovcd upon the ministry; for the very
sufficient reason, that measures originate with
them, and are officially proposed by them to
parliament; and hence il is, that we SEQ tho
British ministers, in person, introducing bills
already framed by themselves into tho house
Of commons, and exercising the privilege there
Of advocating them. In that country, there
fore, the force Of the opposition is well direct
cd against the ministry; and whenever a min
istcr there is unable to command majority IN
parliament, he is under necessity of resgning
and a change takes place.
For the above reasons il is very evident to
me that If the national interests have been neg
lected or violated since Mr. Adams came into
office, the blame ought TO be attached to Con-
grcss. How has he regarded those Interests,
and what has Congress done to protect or ad-
vance them. In his first message, which is
supposed to be kind Of text book of his po-
litca sentiments, he came out as the avowed
patron and advocate Of the American system,
and recommended such other objects Of i'm
IN fe "a IA
character. increase our security, aud enlarge
tho sphere Of our happiners While that mes
sage was yet wet and smoking from the press,
it met with a most virulent attack from tho
opposite ranks; il was garbled and perverted {;
evidence was pretended to be seen in 1t, that
Mr.. Adams claimed the tenure OF his Office
lure dipino; and that he renounced all con-
nection whatever between constituent and rep
resentative. Being somewhat too rhetorical
in the style Of its composition, for a grave
state paper; it was denounced as fiction and
ldeality, as the idle dream of a visionary re-
cluso, as perfect famfaronade; and no epithet
Of abuse or ridiculc, was too gross or too vu-
gar, to DO applied to its author. IL is hoD-
cper, with all its defects, just such produce
ton as is above the capacity of any man be-
longing to the phoie opposition party; 1t Is
the ofspring of a mind cuitipatcd in the
highest degree, eneircied Uith science,
adorned Nth literature, embeiiishcd Dith
taste, strengthened by reflection, HJerdhxcd
by an ertensipc intercourse NTH the porid,
and enlarged by a more gifted aud ample
ken into human destiny than has fallen TO
the lot OF any of his eotemporaries. In
truth. its being so much in adpdnce Of the
common places, Dhieh arc more congeniai TO
the education Of such men as zoe generally
meet NTH IN political life, IS ,ohat constitutes
the real objection to IL; IL is IN that point Of
vie,o, III adapted to the purpose for ,chich 1t
,ods INTENDED, and Mr.. Adams must therefore
not erpect It to be justly appreciated ereept
by Posferity."
Never did Mr. Adams receive higher COM
pliment than that which is voluntarily bestow-
ed by Mr.. Washington ;--ncver was compli-
ment more justly mcritcd.
In the next place, Mr.. Washington consid-
ers at great length the unprincipled and un-
provoked attack Of the Opposition, he takes