Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-09-23

The ude OF the national prosperity, a, that period
was so strong that even the im6eciii,y of john q
Adams which, in adverse 'lnss, might haze in
rolved the country Ia endless anu perous conf.
sion-could only produce some transiiory evils.
Buteven IN those times, the ncomprehensible in
capacity OF the administration maniiestly tended
ward the decay Of trade, the distress Of agriculture,
public embarrassment and private ruin When
these fruits OF his diplomats administration began
TO appear, the people began TO think tia; tey h sd
proceeded on false notions, and TO undsi stand IL
principle that cannot be quai.iei for pg .llc
station who il wholly unfit Tor privs,. 1,s;n., =.
And, accordingly, their old opinions fell into Il,
credit, The man who had risen by their prevalence
fell into Disgrace
1t was during this Administration that the IA
nous "Amercan System" walcarried 20 the great
est and most r,inous extent; and from the downfall
OF Adams and Clay we may date lis declirc.
dams before his election, had occupied doubtful
ground III regard 10 This system: but Clay had al
ways BEEN and still! continued, It's most efficient
advocate.
The acqui'ition OF all knowledge Is accompanied
with surprise and coi"miseratiou on OF the
Ignorance Shich previously prevailed: and in this
age. when every school boy assen,, TO The promo
ton, that II is better for 10 be employed IN the
production OF that hich. by CONNER cal eS change
VIII command the greatest portion OF human indus
try, than 10 b. forced, by law 10 pursuits which
confer upon them less power in the market of the
wor!:--we are i'exprcssib!y greved and amazed,
thata period ever should have existed in which tn.
contrary ePaion vas entertained and carried 10y
legal authority into execution. The politicians of
those days discovered that the principal produe
OF American industry were not consumed by the
American people, and did not. in themselves. con
tribute to supply their wants: which TO men who
could neither appreciate understand the benef-
cent operations OF circuitous commerce, (by
which an article in itself absolutely useless was
converted into others OF the greatest uty,) ex-
hibited degree OF stupidity which demanded the
.orcibie interPosiiion OF leSa. wisdom. The Amer
trlst ,i.,
sufficient materials for tic employment OF perhaps
three European manufacturers was forced, by
short-siShted OF iriquitous legislation TO abandon
his natural pursuit, al the loss OF thirds OF tn
prohts OF his labour Two thirds OF his time were
devoted, by law, 10 abour absolutely unprOlu ctive
alike To the government and IL himself. The ma
tonal wealth being dependent upon, and proper.
Tomato tothe productiveness OF iudi, duai industry,
was OF course diminished in n same proportion.
We can attribute this memorable American Sys-
TEN, only 70 the most deplorable igno. ance or the
most abomnabte iniquity. Out of charity have
preferred the former expanaIon; though the une-
quail and unjust operation OF those laws (Which en-
riched portion Of the country that was by nature
I bleak and sterile, and reduced 10 poverty and ruin
& another, which was naturally the richest upon the
face OF the giobe) afforded very powerful reasons
iorthe adoption OF the latter.
AS to the real political opinions of the younge
Adams, it is difficult to 10 any conclusion.
the principles he declared, and the m, assures he
IN MS Ilrst message to Cong
proved, beyond all dispute either that ne had re
Yer abandoned the doctrines of The Federal party
or that he had reiapsed into the ulterrnost rxtrcm
ity oi federalism 1t is better opinion, that mits,
all the changes OF doctrine which he piofcssed no
shadow OF change ever variegated ihs dark com
plexon OF his real politics. Bed in he high school
oil federalism, lie renounCed il when it fell into dis
feputc; pu. into power by the republicans he open
~ denied their opinions and trampled under
foot the polluted veil OF his aposacy. With COM
piicated ucachery, to which few men equal
and OF which still fewer situation will allow he
falsely accused lis Ole friends, in order cover his
own inSiorious Teireat, OF the crime OF medi,a'eG
treason, ana having gained adInittance into the
campoi his enemies, ny a solemn engagement 10
enlist III their service, he converted their generous
confidence Into the means OF their destruction
ms notorious betrayal OF every party whose con
Adence he acquired; coUbncd with the almost III =
cre'ioic mcaP.cIiy exhibited in every department
oi The government, arrayej against his Administra-
ton al opposition thar nothing could resist. the
! friends OF the country and the constitution eagerly
aehiIs'cu IN the sacred warfare and formed party,
(which added TO the iiimnes, OF the Grccian pla
flank the activity oil The Roman legion But tn
fvsctory which they achieved though glorious and
complete wac neither cheap bioodless; FOR the
4 administration supported themselves with a despe-
rate valour, and welded with no small effect the
terrible artillery OF official patronage" But the
experiment was fully and fairly tried and the grea,
political principle is settled that pIoiligate
icrs, armed with all the patronage of the govern
mcnt. cannot withstand the Indignation Of a wrong
ed and insulted people. 1t has been well under
stood in America, since the fatal experiment OF the
younger Adams, that political power cannot en-
6urc, conferred by election in which the forms OF
the Constitution we're observed, butthe will OF the
people scorDed and defiedi
Under the cloak OF grave department, and Sc
4 we're morality, John Quincy Adams concealed an
ambition that never slept. From his early youth,
q he gazed as with charmed eye upon tho Presi-
Gcncy OF the United States and the most practis-
ed politician could hardly have detected in his
conduct, solitary departure from the policy
OF man who had resolved TO attain it, per fds ouf
anGas. To profess the popular doctrine oftne day,
fwhatever IL might be, seems to have been through
Pile, the great principle which controlled his con-
&duct His adherence TO any party stfong
Eradication Of lis prosperity aud power; and his
abandonment, the ihailible Symptom OF is decline
4and the fatal presage of its desuucon Tor those
whom he had deserted, as theiFho, tiiity was Ger
tain, il was his policy to destroy
Cold, sordd, petulant and suspec;ing, there was
4Iot human being OIL tie face Of The wide earth,
whom he might truly have called his personal
friend. Those warm sympathies, and delicate SEN
abilities, which among social beings the to-
3kens of a willingness TO coniide, and the pledges of
<tidety 10 trust, he never knew himself, and never
4awakened in ano her Every human creature
who approached him, felt that he had been sudden
iy translated into bleak and ungenal region, in
which the sslut5ry growth Of a warm heart never
cuickcned into fife, or only started into reluctant
existence, to meet early and melancholy fate.
This eternal separation from his fellow linen left
them ia Ignorance OF his real character; and
sequenGy for the worst qualities, which he really
possessed. lie received adequate CONDEMNATION,
2 whilst for imagined excellence he acquired the
greatest reputation. His euogists land eul0gsts
even this InaA had) celebrated him an elegant
and accomplished scholar. This praise perhaps he