Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-29
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
TO THE pUBL!C

iaNoreW rCu0rI
may be considered The frequent attcmpts made 70
give the Presidents first Message to Conqress tlc
an oil casual. careless and ncou ;ide rate ,,roc
cli anu 70 solve It's most deliberate doctrines into
:uVef'ent expressions made, not g perhaps with
strict rhetorical proprcty, or " without nicb fall
city OF Phrase; whereas, | believe that if vas
one oi the most deliberate and laiored prodtcticns
which ever flowed from his laL. rious non ,ni
uat III ITS formation, the President called forth the
utmost efforts OF his logical aud rhetorical no,vorc
aided by all his studied ingenuity Of nrren
rlrst then, observe its logical rangemcnf i'm re-
laon 20 the inel;citou5 phrase as hi. best friends
seem TO think it-'' pasied by the will of our con-
sutuents,D when returned to its context. I'm the
very eXordium OF the message, the President in
uoduces this subjcctin the following words:
From Presidents .ddanss' .6{eSsuge-Is25
Extract lst-from the eXordi,iin.
Europe, with few partial and unhappy ex-
ccP'l1hs; mas enjoyed ten years of peace, during
when an her governments, whatever the theerv
oil their constitutions may have been are success
Slvely taught to feel that the end of their inst;,
uoh is The happiness of the people; and that the
exercise OF power among men can be justified on
~ by the blessings it conters upon those over whom
it Is extended -''''
In tins quotation, find the Presidents first
postuiate most logically introduced-to wit: Thai
Whatever be the difference of the theories of Eli
lopean constitutions, the end of the institution f
the whole, is the same-to witt g the banr;'o -.
Oh me people,. lie then takes a broader erro,,n5
III relation to the exercise Of power NV man in
cluCinS, with the European, our Government a,
wen as al others; which power, lie asserts = can
Uihy De Justified 10y the blessings il conlcrs upon
nose over whom il is extended Havin, M
Viously asserted, ." that Europe with few, r,r
uai exceptions has enjoyed ten wears of neace
during which all her governments, whatever the
s.ieoiy ol thelr constitutions may have been are
successlVeIy taught 10 feel, that .he end of their
institution IS the happiness Of the peopIe. ;, A.
Inongst the lessons taught must necessariIv he in
Giuued me Holy Alliance, being the only extraor-
ulhafy lesson taught by the European Govern
ments tcithln the last ten years Fyore thor
tne President gives his first postulate accomno'
med with high-wrought eulocium mon The
conduct Of the European Governments within tbe
last ten years, including the Holy Alliance, the
most important of their acts The post,,Iote -
that the end Of all governments is tbe same yvbat
ever De the theories of their constitutional vii.
inc happiness OF the pcople"-and that Euroneon
governments have been taught that lesson and
Deeh engaged in practising it q within the last ten
years in the 18th column of the printed Moe
SAGE TINS aliiportant subject is introduced in the
y Extract 2a-foty columns from the first.
ana no government in whatever form con-
sututed' can accomplish the lawful ends of its in
s.ltuuoh, out In proportion as IL improves the cop
uiuon OF those ever whom it is established Roads
ana canals, by multiplying and facilitating the
communications and Intercourse between distant
regions and mulutudes Of men, are among the
most important means OF Improvement But f,oral
POLITICAL intellectual Improvement a.. dt;tjes se
signed by the author OF our c-,fs.o--s IN soci,l
no less than to individual man
here Is laid down the second postulate, with
strict logical propriety-to wit: that no poverT
ihent' whatever be IT'S form, can accomplish the
lawful ends Of its institution but in promotion a II
improves the condition of those over whom IL -
established" The President then most loqicaIlv
points TO roads and canals, as AMONGST the roost
important means of Improvement; ana most loci
CARY concludes, " that moral, political and intel
iectua improvements, are duties assigyied IN, t5c
uUth0F g Our existence 10 social no less than in
a'u'd"al man. ~ mean here TO confine myself
Simply 10 the bearing of this po5tulate when taken
IN context with the phrase palsied nv the triU
OF our constituents" Not as il irnnlieS Ire H.
TioGtI0n Of Polcer from tie aisthoy Of orr crisf
eHce-alias juTe diUiRo. That will be e1so,ioad
presently The President again introduces the
subject most logically by the highest vrouolf on
iosluhs upon the governments of France, Great
brItdn and Russia by name, for their f-snerous
emulation IN contributing their genius and tbair
treasures 10 the Improvement Of the condition of
we "hoie hulnan species, particularly the Dcopl,
o. tne United States in those branches of science
when ne beyond individual acquisition; and en-
CURES whether our country has not contracted
nigh and honorable obligation TO par;icoote in tbo
necessary expenses and eXertions for the improve
menu OF the human race! This obligation is not
Glouhocd upon any power, pretended 20 be CON
tanned IN the constitution, but upou the moro
ground That our country chad assumed her station
among the civilized nations of the eartb.o and
WIN peculiarly correct logical arrangement. The
PRESIDENT proceeds to specify more DorticrI,rI,,.
some Of those great benefit, done 10 rnati,,J ~,
tnoSe thrice great and generous nations, which he
says ne does ruth no feeling Of pride as an lime
Ticnt--to witt building 1870 lighthouses of the
SKIES, and putting Observers in them, for the mr.
pose OF acquiring the lights Of science and of re-
hecung those lights upon us, with the rest of the
World whilst we have not a single lighthouse of
ule sky to reflect in turn these scientific Egbts
upon Them; but permit 60 the earth to revoIye in
perpetual darkness 90 our unscarchiner ewes -
Llelcc nave we incurred an mcalculohle debt of
Eiau,,"te 70 th0'e great and generous nations
CIllcd with these po5ulatcs and auxiliary in
cldent5, most adfOitly thrown in TO the honor OF
unlimited governments, with a rspetition Of oDo Of
ms former p0stuiates-to wit: That the tenure
OF power by man is in the moral purposes of his
creator upon condition tha il shall be exercised
70 eH"S OF banehconce, 10 improve The condition
Cd himself and bis fellow-men," the President
most iorcibiy, logically, and rhefofic9Uy Jratys
the following conclusion:
" lille foreign nations, less blessed with Gat
IIceoom' winch IS power, than ourselves, arc adj
yancins with gigantic strides in the career of p,llic
improvements were we 70 slumber I'm indoienre
on od up our arms and proclaim % the world that
we arc paisicd by the win Of our constituents
would not be TO cast away the bouniies or Proyi
uenco' and doom ourselves 20 perpetual inieriori
Here We have Che phrase, "paisied by the ,vill
OF our constituents" returned 10 is context: and
what IS IFS plain and undeuiable nae1nin~. when IN
Ken IN connection with that contezg
surely we slumbcr in Incidence, fold our
arms and proclaim TO the world that VIC are palsied
~ .t' %Itt y OF" coNst""cnfs, 10 would be to cast
away the counties Of PrOUidsucc and doom or
selves to perpetual inferio1iy' to foreign nations
who, not thus palsied " are adrancing with oio,r
uc sIfi1e5 IN the career Of public Improvement
!. rs Uue' ulS conclusion IS not drawn By thc Pre-
sident ~ the usual course Of logical deduction.
ffrH nrt HI ga.