Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-02-16
FoR THE CoNsrIrvrIoNAL Vino.


FoR THE CONSTITUTIONAL Vino.
Inc writer has always admired the powerful mind,
me great requirements the aborious investigation of
WIN. IL. Giles. In the Golden Casket the writer
saw much to approve. II is an ingenious production.
'nanifests much reading aud much laborous thought
oy great mind 1t contains as we think in this coun.
try, great many impor ant political truths
But like all other human compositions il has soma
faults In tracing the miseries of other countries ex
cusVey 10 their forms Of government, and political
arrangements, 1t 10, the writer thinks not only not
philosophical, but fancifu romanck and poliiicalIv
enthusiastic. The notion the thinks is pla.
tonic, uopiau, end wild enough that the mere change
OF these forms OF government and of these political ar
engagements, how wisely and prudentiy soever accom-
plshed, would these mserjes 20 s,ibs1e
his might not be the case, though the forms of row.
erninen aud the political arrangements, were the sole
cause of these miseries.
HAD England, for instance, just such government
as ours some presidential Adams might be disposed 40
to interpret her constitution afford governmental
encouragement TO manufactures int, nal improve
ment 10 nautical enterprise, to SCIENCE and perhaps
even to religion and benevolent indy efforts for
the benefit of certain free persons. In some negoca
tons, too an English Adams might fail. To render
ms Messengers quite argumentatve with other goy-
etnuents, as they have long been republican John
SUI might not be strong enough the water. These
awful squin'iugs tow ards monarchy might indeed ex.
cite some Jackson in all re unconceipted and incor.
rup'ibe virtue and patriotism of Roman Cincin,atus
10 run 10 her relief This pure benevoence and phi
ian,lropy oil his, might produce reaction of such
sort, as TO induce some county meetings and some
convention in what manner got up but consis-
ting OF highly respectable men. doubt the capacity
OF man for i!-govPrnmeni.
But tie writer thinks that the suppositio is not war.
ranted BY fact. Without bringing to view al the caus
es, which conduce TO bring about an effect, no effect
can be satisfactorily and truly explained In respect
10 The mseres of the people of Europe rs the writer
Thinks MIR. Giles has not done this France with re-
Pubicanisn and inhdelity, made the experiment to
remove all her grievances and all her miseries, and
most completely failed. She dissolved the connexiou
between the church and state. She overthrow the
monarchy and the aristocracy. She became repre-
sentative republic. Liberty and equality prevailed
over the crown and arstocracy Yet. with all her e.
quaiIty she was far more wretcbed, than any Bour-
bon and any socracy, with all the attendant neouala
lties had ever made her. This is proof enough that
france, in order to remove her miseries besides
change OF the form of her government and of her DO
hticai arrangements, stood need of other thinps
Though far more vi7tuous & pious in the attempt
which She once rOade England failed in manner soma.
what similar And wherefore? For the want of yir-
tue? lnfdelity, with all its boosted philosophv wa
md, could not. 1T France produce sufficient uranium
there TO maintain republic. With want OF virtues
with defiance OF the e,eIgn of the universe and prof
legacy of manners, England may not be as chareea-
BILE as France But, dense a nomination Ivb.>
seeds of every kind of moral ev NAV exist and in =,
revolution so very great what evil spirit might spring
up the writer apprehends, that MIR Giles cannot be
prepared to determine.
II Mr. Giles has deceived himself in one case he NAV
have done SO IN others. II does not appear to tina
writer that IN his commentary the Presidents firss
message Rr Giles is much more successful than he s
IN his philosophy on the state of European nations
AS II seems to the writer, Mr.. Giles has failed 10
prove what he supposes to be the mpor, of the phrase
"pased by the will Of constituens.n In substance
at least, Mr. Adams tells Congress- in respect to the
Things winch he recommends that, upon due deibera-
ton by hem he wishes them To be be Governed hv to.
own Judgment OF the constitution. In general terms
ne states what he conceves TO be included among the
ooccts' ior which civil governments instituted
0nth orc hne
had IN view, by the individuals who framed and tha
states which ratified the constitution He is so conf
dent OF that fact that he afrms that he cannot imagine
that the trainers and the were so neabIv stnnd
as to deprive the country through all generations of
advantages so great which might spring from the rem
era government. The writer himself, would ratber
that MIR. Adams bad used milder phraseology. But
the sentiment ITSELF right wrong will soon poyevn bo
nation WITH almost universal southern and western an.
Piause As the cider Adams abused out of Office
and then all his main measures were adopted bv hia
souSeFs' So VI his opponents succeed, it will happen
IN respect TO the present incumbent But this by
tue way. The sentiment just alluded to- is decsiva
proof. that Mr. Adams under the full conviction
that the measures which he recommended vera ner
tecly consistent with the constitution. Hence hs
IS not cbargeable with recommending 10 Coprress 10
violate that instrument,
In intention, therefore, he is perfectly free from
violating it himself. This is as much as can he said
oil any man: unless we suppose, that individual has
certain and nfailbe knowledge ofthe whole and eve
~ part of the constitution, and would as president,
perfectly conform to it, 1t has been strongly con-
tended that in this station, of the trainers were
not mus perfect. ne choice of the peopie,n is
not likely surpass them in knowledge. wisdom mr.
virtue. "a
MIR. Adams draws contrast between several 90
yeTnments of Europe and that of our country. In
tins OF ours, as strongly any words in orr IanOnaoa
can do il, he expresses his preference He. then
forms an argument, which logiciaus call rninore adj
maJus lie aftirms, cacteris paribus that the nation
which possesses the largest share of civil liberty con-
. with ~rolo rsln-
ter us own condition. This ne SAYS is the condt ION
IN which heaven has placed Then, in substance,
ms argument runs thus: IF, with the DISADVANTAGES
"mch attend them, from deficiency of freedom in the
people, the European governments have in some res.
poets, outstrPped us, in the general march of human
Improvement 10 our age, we, with all our advantages
OF freedom, ought 10 be aroused TO exert ourselves
towards the same, if not greater advancement
In Tins connection in the phrase which has RE
ven so much offence 10 Mr.. Giles and Others Tie
import OF 1t is simply this: The language of our fall