Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-22
COlCNU.NTcgTED.

AGIS
COMMUNICATED
From Washington, Jan. I7th, 1928.
re have just received here the final proceed
ings OF the Adams Convention at Richmond. Their
electoral ticket betrays the policy which has ac-
uated them throughout, of endeavouring to CON
troll the people OF Virginia in the free exercise of
their own Judgments by the influence of imposing
names The Nat Intelligencer procaims it to be
the most splendid array Of names that has ever
been exhibited, and the -, in the same shirt
puts it forth the most 'potUertid ticket that
was ever formed. This il the first instance in
which the recommendation of our electoral ticket
In this country, has been put upon the ground OF
me merits Of the persons CchO compose a. instead
OF the merits Of the candidate iCi0 as TO be sup
ported Gy II. Of what concern is il to the peo-
pie, that the Individuals whose names are put upon
an electoral ticket of high station and rcspec-
table character, If they will not vote for the man
Whom the people prefer and intend TO elect?
p" This new eXpedient has grown out of the ne
ceSStties OF the case. The Administration having
no merits of their own to inpart popularity 10 a
ticket, ticket, if possible, must be contrived
which VIII confer reflected and adventurous no
pular1ty upon them. Hence the attempt 10 holster
them up, IN Pennsylvania by the name of Gov'or
Shuttle as candidate for the Vice Presdency; in
Kentucky, by the association of MIR. Crawford
name, and in Virginia, that of Gov. Peasants in
the same capacity; and when successfully foiled in
these endeavours TO md popular yOhefeIi0ic for
the President, TO PAIL him along, they are driven
at last to the shit of hunting up influential names
for electors
g Neither Mr. Madison nor Mr. Monroe will.
take 1t for granted, lend their names TO purpose
OF this sort. But if they were it would avail no
thing. As highly and as Justly as their opinions
are respected, and as gratefully their public SER
vices are remembered, the people consider the G.
lection of their Chief Magistrate whether regard
ed in the aspect Of right or duty, as matter
~ rIN and III
an affair in which discretion was TO be exercised
by the electors there certainly none of her eli
uZens TO whose hands Virginia would with more
confidence, entrust such discretion, than the
venerable men, the influence of whose names has
been invoked Oh this occasion. But IL is NOT tho
hd61t OF the people OF Virginia to delegate 10 anv
person or set OF persons the right of thinking for
them, IN the choice Of their public servants. The
usage5 oil their ancestors and the PRINCIPLES of
ther institutions have taught them to believe
that they are competent to decide this mat
ter for themselves; and having decided Il. their
only object in the choice of electors is TO select
organs through which that decision is 10 b, nro
nounced In this estimate Of their capacity for
sel-goVernment," they will, no doubt, be sorry to
perceive that they have not the concurrence of the
enlightened Convention at Richmond who die.
uhctiy " avow' their disrust of it, under the pre-
sent indications of public sentiment
Indeed, must frankly own to you that, as
mighty respectable as the individuals who compos-
4
and proceedings essentially Gati-reBitbEoan
am among the last men, hope, who would DENY
10 any portion OF my fellow citizens, however
small, the right OF free expression of their o.
pmions, and the use of all proper means for pro-
ducing concert among themselves and rnotin,r
proselytes of others, II they can, by the force Of
argument and TeGa0H. But there is somstbinr
more than this IN the Richmond Convention Thew
nave brought new element into their system Of
oPerauonS-that OF mere names. The friends Of
the Administration universally admit that AT This
moment, a large majority Of The people of Writ
MIA are against Mr.. Adams and in favour of Gene
raj gacksonj but they say she will chdnec-tbe
RICHMOND Convention will change herl How Is
this change to be effected? The question has nov,
been before the people nearly three vears-thc
controversy has been conducted with great zeal
and industry by both paries-eyery arenmentlas
been uTged-cyery appeal has been essayed-and
the people have deliberately made Vi their minds
upon Jul hearing OF both sides. How then Is
TINS deiberate public decision to be reversed? Not
surely Dy argument and reasoning, for thew have
beea exhausted, and do not perceive in the Adj
dress an attempt, oven, at any thing new, upou
the subject. The magic Of names Is TO vork The
mighty revolutionl The people Of Virginia are
70 renOunce the exercise Of their own honest ar,d
pest judgments, benghted though they be, for the
Satisfaction oil voting according 10 the opinions of
Judges and Lawyers, EX-Presidenfs and Ex- Com
gresslnen, Instead Of their own After This II re-
CURED no a0otcm from the Convention to iniormus
e'iSii N'uu9t oI the capacity Of the people for
self government"
nave been very much surprised at the tone
and language Of the Address, in relation TO Gen.
jackson. II IS by far the most violent attach
upon him, which the present bitter struggle has
produced could not help admiring the 3 al,c-
rity with which they multiply charges against
MN, Tor the purpose Of swelling the Catalogue"
OF his crimes, at which they profess nevertbeless
to have .. sckoned, though they seem not to have
tHed. For example, the charge of having estab-
lished martial law at New Orleans is elaborated
INTO Sir distinct offences, all of which are pIainlv
resaiyae into the general fact the arrest of Lou
alllier, the confinement Of Judge Hall. the denial
o. the authority Of IN G writ ofHabeas Corpus. e.
BENG, all, Effects Of the existence Of martial law
But what must be said Of that candour which fo
hash oil ITS Horrible picture of Gen. JacEoon's
atrocities with the darkest possible shades iustiss
W9tHy aud desfrti0a in tie soldier, (scc what Il
sad Of the six militia mem -pleldsthe cause Of
the mcrcHcss, c0Hnib0i s0uCge. (sce what h s,i1
oi Zen. Us Indian campaigns -and becomes n,e
aPoogisi Of aforcigH HicCpdiory the iusfi04for
a'dcc and obcftW Of Indian cTueIij,s rco ,,.t.3
O. said Of the injured Ablthong'D
Can The Richmond Convention serio,,s1y no
hcye thai the people Of Virginia ore 10 be frigbfcn.
ca by ihis appmiuon OF r0iD htad and bJooJy
DoHcs, Which their excited imaeinatons have com,
iwcd up. Have they forgotten ihat all the CHARGES
Fhirh they ucT bring .o-w4r.is.i,h go much IA