Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-24

FOR THE EN'QULRER.



avoided taking any part in the pending Presiden-
tial Election, except so far as might be inferred
from my frank and undisS'iised opposition 10 The
administration, and particularly to the President:
alter had scrupuiously observed the most impair
tai conduct towards the political partizans OF all
parties, both in my Official and social intercourse;
alter had actually caused TO be printed, at nay
own expence, the wh0lo OF Mr.. Clay's Taiiif
speech, putting the parts oi it, used for animal
version, under brackets; and causing the same
parts, quoted my reply, 20 be put either under
Brackets marks OF quotations, referring in each
10 the page IN Mr.. Clay's Speech from which it
was taken, for the express purpose Of giving the
reader the greatest possible facility in turning To
air. Clays Speech for Information; and thus ena-
bling him TO do Mr.. Clay the EXTREMIST ustice;-
alter had been equally scrupuous in all my pub
LEGATIONS heretofore made. in relation TO the Pre-
sdent, Tor the express purpose OF also doing equal
justice TO hin-could il have been expected that
with others, L should be dragged before the public
charged with 'tfltCdTTGRtG0iy end uRcdniid!v
inicrring opinions from some Of the Presidents
communications 10 Congress, and the most often
sive to n republican people, gravely mputing them
10 him, doctrines vi his potcsl creed?'' Yet
strange il is, am left to infer, that am at this
moment unwarrantaby, untruy and disingenu-
ously thus charged before the pubiic:-and by
whom is this done? BY the Chairman of the Com
mittec of the Adams Convention--nav worse;
condemned also by him without a hearing, with
out evidence-indeed, against all evidence This
accusation and condemnation too, have been sane
toned by vote Of the Adams Convention itself
do not mean, however, 10 apply my animadver-
sons, on this occasion, 10 the whole Convention.
know it was scarcely possible, at 4 single reading
for the whole body OF the Convention 10 under
stand, as to amend long and complicated address,
besides, one of the Committee has awarded the
whole exclusive merit Of the Report to the Chair
man himself. The individual members ofthe Con-
vention may, however, make the application 10
themselves. Be il So Then, If there be right
and justice in the land, will this defence afford me
ample protection against the whole, however for
midable their influence. II pains me much to be
compelled to make the application to the Chairman
himself. i never indulged any but the kndest
feelings towards him; and therefore, was this cruel
wanton assault upon me, under the disguise of a
description not easily 10 be mistaken, the more to
be deprecated, and the less TO have been expect
ed. And how has il happened, that the Adams
Convention celebrated for talents and respec tabitv
has permitted itself, through the Chairman of its
Committee, TO transcend lbs powers and duties
which were intended solely TO put up one, in at
tempting TO pat down maryland even in the ef-
forts put up this one seem 10 have bestowed on
him more bruises and scarifcations, than they have
plaudis and decorations; whilst they have assailed
his antagonist with so many and such atrocious
crimes, often reinted to be ridiculous from their
numbers, and incredible from their righteousness
am still willing to believe that the accusation has
been inadvertent, not seen in all its offensive
bearings by the sagacous Chairman. The charge
as understand it, substantially, is, the expression
OF false opinion uncandidlYy with view to excite
Inc puDnC against inc GFeSlQeut OF the
L. s. II is earnestly hoped, that the high charac-
ter of this charge did occur TO the imprisoned
Chairman. The seditioc law was intended to nut
down or punish the expression OF ilise opinions so
as TO leave the orthodox governmental opinions I'M
disturbed How much Worsc is this pronunciation
than the sediion law ? That lazy affected TO give
the accused fair, impartial trial, the benefit of
counsel, with the privilege of giving the Truth in
evidence, in his defence; all these privileges are
here denied. The accusel Ends his condemnation
in the accusation itself Xyithnut
half named without trial. without evidence in
deed directly against evidence, the most notori-
Gus, palpable and conclusive whilst 10 complete
the charge, and TO immediate its victims, no scruple
is felt against adding wicked intent. This gene
raj charge, however, assumes more the character
Of specification. in the following words-e'He Nhe
President) las, on one occasion, not perhaps lrith
strict rhetorical i'TopTieiy, used tie expression
'palsicd by the will Of constituents . This
phrase has been torn fi0n1 lis CONTEXT Inisinter-
preted, and used As the authority upon which the
President is charged with the heresy that a repre-
sentative obligation TO the will Of his con
stitucnts. The moro specified charge here is
that the phrase used by the President, snalsed BY
the will Of constituents" ''6us been torn from
ats contest, misinterpreed, and used as the auho-
rity upon which the President is cha .ged with the
hercsy, that representative owes no obligation to
the will Of his constituents" So far as regards
myself, / here pronounce this charge OF tearing
this infelcious phrase from It's context and making
unworthy OF it, totally destitute of all folln-
da;iOn in truth; whilst il is passing strange that il
never should have occurred to tue astute Chair
man, that i'm this very sentence he is guilty him
self Of the very charge he mad so unjusty and I'M
charitaby applied 20 others, who are perfectly in
nocent, to witt tearing the phrase "palsied by the
will of our constituents" from its context and ap-
plying il 10 an use, at once both and fantascal
and whether with an intent, wickc, or charitable
calculated 60 impose on the ignorant and credu-
lous whilst have drawn the true meaning ofthat
phrase, not by tearing II from its context, but by
sticking it TO its context, and inierriug its true
meaning from the connection with the context
Now for the proof This proof, far from mani
Testing the least disposition 20 misrcpresent will r1-
questionaby show the most scrupulous and con
scentious attention. 20 rendering the President am
pie Justice in all quotations from his Message in
tended for my animadyersions The following in
troducory observations will be found: The remarks
which thought an inPerious duty called on me
20 make, Mr.. Adams first message TO Congress.
and which Message I then pronounced, in nv
judgment, 10 be proclamation Of a great civil
revolution in The government Of this Union.
lFr0n The 8" Goiden Cuskef," Gel
Believing the subject Of internal improve
Inents 70 be the pivot, upca which all the govern
mental machinery has been turned, and is turning,
for subyerting the Constitution of the IT, States
AID eradcating its federaive principle the writer
thinks that too much attention cannot be bestowed
on is especially as regards the use, which seems
intended 20 be made Of IL in the hands Of the mas.
ter workman. He will, therefore, insert here
every thing the President may have said upon
that subject, disclosed in the newspapers, whe-
ther official, unofficial, separating his views of
that subject from all other az far as is practicable
Let the writer most earnestly entrcat you, fellow
citizens, to look stcadfasy at this subject for your
gelves. IL calls loudly for your own distinct and
profound consideration. The writer has given the
subject his whole attention. But yet he may be
mistaken. IL would pain him to the heart, 70 do
the smallest wrong 70 any human being. But
zphen human liberty il af hazard all cOnsidcra-