Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-23


calculated 10 promote correct decision of the
question which unhappily divides us.
have the honor TO be,
With great respect,
our ob't serv't
FRANCIS BROOKE
President of the Convention.
The Speaker Of the II. Of Delegates.
Now ,hear the accusations and condeinnatio1s az
pronounced i'll the Report of the Chairman OF the
Committee.
II may not be unworthy Of notice, as one Of
the means, by which the public mind has been
preludced and iniiarned, that opinions the most Of
teilslve to republican people, have been unwar-
rantabiy and uncandidiy inferred from some of the
presidents COMMUNICATIONS TO congress, and grave
ly imputed 10 him doctrines in his political
creed. : lie has, on one OCCASION not perhaps
with strict rhetorical propriety, used the exp:cs-
sion paisled by the will of oar constuents'--in
reference 10 duties enjoined by the Constitution.
This phrase has been torn from its context misin
terpreted, and used rs the authority upon which,
The President Is charged with the heresy that a
representative owes obligation TO the will OF his
constituents . On another OCCASION incatrtious-
uousy taking 1t for granted, that every one would
understand, that the high obligation of an oath
was derived from heaven-he has again. perhans
without much felicity of phrase, made am obvious
tioagh not avowed reference TO his oath of.efj
as imposing an obligation above all human law: and
inns reference is tortured into public avowal. of
inc oiious doctrine, that his political power was
ijned'o'aO. IF these had been the taunts and the
ratings OF anonymous newspaper scriublers tbc,,
would have been deemed unworthy of this public
notice But when such charges are. seriously
MADE and reiterated, by men holding high stations
IN the government, and exercising some influence
over public opinion, they cannot be too stronglv
condcmned'' e''
Now, hear the perplexed quandary of .'tbe Anti
Jackson Convention itself, as described by the
Chairman OF its own Committee: While how
ever we decline discussion of these snbecte
measures OF the Administration on trhich IRE DIFF
yer an opinion and preteymit any general pindi-
cation OF the Chif Magistrate his Cabinet or
ms measures, &c" Again-ssWe do no, y;ndica,,
these opinions, Mr. AID ans opinions. ASSERTING Tho
power over internal improvements or discuss
them, because they fall within the interdict we
nave imposed on ourselves. We differ n, oD;.
mon concerning them" Christopher Ouandario.
tnroughout!-Surely every one must conclude
from this sel-descripton, that 6 the Anti-Jackson
Convention mad been actually composed of all the
christopher Boundaries within The Commonwealth
fray, good people of Virginia, look at the dcnounc-
ing spirit in its own livery, and compare il with
the spirit avowed by the Convention In the re-
port, some body is accused of unwarrantabIv and
uncandidiy prejudicng and inflamng the public
hhhd Dy nierring opinions, the most offensive TO
republican people from some of the Presidents
communications" and gravely imputng them TO
hin' as doctrines of his political creed! OF tear
ing from It's context the phrase, epalsed by the
VIII OF our onstiiuents'-nRiSinterpr it, and
charging the President with the heresy g that n
representative owes no obligation to his consitu-
ents OF "torturing reference of the President;
70 his oath OF office, into public avownI Of the n
ei?us oocrihe that his political power was
8 yuIes uiVlho and who is this somebody thus
iaiseiy accused of this wickedness with wicked
intent, seriously committed and reiterated, Tgle
the accusing Chairinan's own words: Men hold
ing high stations in the government and exercis-
ing some influence over public opinions" and
those public men cannot be ton STRONGLY, con
demned. Who are those public men, Are ,bn,-
e hiehds OF fair and candid Interpretation of the
Constitution? Friends of Gen Jackson's2 win
tns definition include the Honorable Speaker and
Members OF the General Assembly who have
heretofore entered their protests against tba mil
tied power claimed by the President? Certainly
IL VIII. Those then are amongst the pubIic rnso
10 Whoin these unchartable denunciations apply;
Out not to those exclusively The den,Iuciaiior'
hasa inuch more extensive range. Il goes in all
probability, To more than half Of the inteiliCent
public men OF this great nation
am Wiling to admit, nay, | am DESTROYS II
s.ouu DE Knoyn-notwithstanding the deprecated
character OF these uniounded s. ill-iudred accuss
uons-that think the accusing Chairman is him
sen endowed with heart of the best propen sitics
anu oil the mildest temperament; and altbonpb his
i"uit was a Snevous one, and his barbed dart too
oi"teuiy ieVelsed at me; yet, for one error I cam
ho'' IN my conscience, give up my good opinions
ana ieeNnSs towards all his merits. what then
must nave been the excessive political excite
hefts' which could have induced him TO make
accusations and pronounce con!emuations in a
sPIIi SO diametricdly opposed to the best propen-
sues Oh MS own nature: And can it believed that
convention, acting under the laudable sensib.
Ties expressed in its Chairman's letter coulJ bs,,
gwen tnelr sanction 10 such accusations and con
demnauons, If only one moment could have been
ailoWed them for reflection! PRAY reader attend 10
the spirit OF this letter clothed in ito own Ii,orv
G0htlssted with the angry spirit of the report
ne Chairman announces TO the House Of Delc-
gates the unfeigned gratitude felt by the Conven
non Tor the facilities afforded and the shirt Of ac
cominoaaton manifested, by both Hei,ses of fhe
General Assembly and tenders the thanks of tlc
convention TO both branches of the Gencrol As
semoiy, Tor their kindness and liberalitv. He de-
cidleS' that spirit conciliatory is alike honor
aDie 70 all concerned. Where can this conciI;,,o
~ spirit De found in any part of the address,
"heIe us promised reciprocation? CAN'T he found
IN accusing " men holding high stations in the Go
FcIhWent, OF wicked acts, with wicked intent2
aug can IL be believed that its application Is intend
"a LOT many OF those same public men, who bv
.ne most liberal conduct had entitled themselves
70 the thanks OF the Convention? and whose lauda
O'o example has been thus requited? cannot he
heFe mat any intent could have attended those
cTuei accusations; and sure / am, that one mo.
iieht reflection would have prevented Them
i'u' is latai spirit of denuncation does not s,o,
,eIe. no, II does not most sincerely reoret
,na' IL uoes not. General Jackson is covered with
crimes the most atrocious-careessly and promig-
cuouSiy thrown upon him: No discrimination
10 ho.o maze Of right or wrong; but the charges
ooih 70 nave been chosen TO suit the eccentrici.
uoS u an eccentric minds, and TO catch all the
sui,s IN me nation And must not General Jacls
son . friends and advocates participate in this black
Gi'',osue Oh charges against him, right or wrong?
arc they not placed i'm the condition of accessrt
faf~ IL.