Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-10-03

DC exercised With kind. nDerai aud accommodate
my spi,it: ct this jticious counsc, was scarce
~ given, when you presented your address, con.
tanning this assertion
- We are constrained TO say, and we say il with
reluctance, that, II his (Sien. Jackson conduct in
Office should correspond with any known part OF
ms conduct IN lie, public OF private there i no
ground 10 lopc. that he would be governed by any
respect ior The constitution, the laws or the rights
OF his fellow citizens"
Is this, in kind, liberal, or accommodating spi-
lit! could maiigni,y itself ciote abuse any terms
so well calculated, "a these arc, To engcnder ha-
tired and suspcion'-You say, you reluctantly N.
ter tins prescription, and seem to think that your
r. iuctance qualities OF excuses its ndecency; but
the very reverse is the case; much that is sad dur
I; ,ing the excitement OF popular assembly, should
be forgotten and forgiven al its dissolution; but C.
,uc'ance shows that you dcliberated, and therefore
no railiation exists.
That you ought 10 have been reluctant, who can
doubt! Tor. you aver, that Gen. Jackson had. in his
private life and public career violated the Copst.
tuition. the law, and The rights OF his citizens SO
oten that even hope of reformation is extinct,to
MAKE such a charge as this, every man ought in
ueeu 10 be reluctant, because he may be required
TO il; and because such chatge cannot but
oe regarded as an insult TO whole peope--for,
vi whom IS this picture giveiR person old e.
nough to be the father OF auy of his traducers-a
man honoured with the confidence Of our pres-
dents--a man, whom public body, court, or ju-
hned but once. and then. like Aiisdes, for being
hue to his country--a man who encountered ''war,
pesuience and famine" TO guard our naked from
tiers whilst the mass of his slanderers were rest
ms on beds oil down--a man, who without patron
age or family, has raised himself from obscurity
The highest place in the hearts OF his countryinen
Such is the ndis idua, whom you denounce with
bitterness, that no criminal judge would indulge
IN, when sentencing the most hardened offender!
" What must the world think of people, who have
not only permitted yiOlatDr of all
sacred, TO 20 unpublished. but have conferred upon
hiin the highest trusts. for nearly forty years.
Or what must they think of you, hoy prefer the
testimony OF the country to your impu,aions!
Upon that contrastaone, We might rest the ques-
tlon--whcther your representation is true or not:
out, we prefer an open exposition; desire that
no DOUBT may exist Of our ability, inclination TO
prove, that the estimate OF Gen. Jackson's charac-
ter, formed by his country is correct, and that your
description OF il is baselcss-that his country has
been just and generous, but that you cruel and
ungrateful.
Here, at the threshold, however, we are stop
pea by your own default: you have made one Of
the most serious charges ever preferred, and vet
you have not stated a single instance in the pri-
Vdte HE oil Gen Jackson, OF any want OF integrity
or oil any outrage OIL constitution, law, or the
rights OF his fellow citizens. You content your
serves with series OF assertions, cued from a ca
talogue o.purchased calu,nnies, and in your zeal
10 preserve the grossness OF the original forget
what was due to your country and yourselves.
Ia the absence of all speciicat a. 10 his pri-
Vate lie, what are your charges against his public
conduct! Has he ever neglected or betrayed his
counrys interests! has he ever given a vote al
variance with republican principles! has he ever
deiamed the country, from which he was at the
ume deriving honour and emolumenG has he ever
been an apostate for offce-a common informer
Tor promotion? Let us see :. what are his OIL
ences! nobody will doubt your zeal in exposing
them what, then, they, you refer TO three
periods only IN his political career: lin 1896,
as a member Of congress: lin 1915, at New
orleans: 3-& subsequently in the Seminole war
4. As b the first. &c Americans" you say,
" glory in the name oil Washington. Gen Jack.
son has recorded his hostility to that veneratcd
name
The design of this assertion is Notwithstanding
Is more natural than that Americans should vene-
rate the man who fought their battles, and mate
rally contributed TO the happiness of their country
nothing Is more natural, than that they should
consider MS enemy, as i'll some measure their own:
o operate upon the feelings OF the people, there
lore, you have made the above assertion, and the
enquiry, that FIRST presents itself, is-cheter this
assertion as true? We cannot hesitate, one mo-
ment, In asserting, that it IS MOTT is not only
uniounded in itself, but there is suppression OF
truths, which, if presented to the public, would
have shown its impo5ture.
III, tor Instance, you had charged Gen. Wash
ington with shedding American blood in several
instances, and had SAID no more, you would hav,
treated him exactly as you have treated General
Jackson-it would have been true, that General
asiIington had caused American blood TO be
shed, but the further truth should have been told
that the blood shed that of traitors mutineers
ana deserters. and thus all odium would have been
prevented. So that, even the fame of Washington
might thus be blasted, by the suppression OF the
iacts material TO AN honest exposition
Is such a course this - kind" or liberal," Is
1t consistent with the habits OF our community
Is II honourable TO yourselves or to the cause
which you espouse!
Americans glory in the names of John Hancock
Samuel Adams, aud Edmund Pendeton-the two
st were prescribed by the British ministry at the
uaWh Oh the revolution. and the latter was one of
the most distinguished wings OF Virginia What
would you nave said, II, on the death OF such emi
nent men, Andrew Jackson had voted against nav
my TO their memories 1.-The cheap tribute of Grape
Tor thirty days. Might you not, then have some
apology Tor asserting, that he recorded his hostility
TO ther venerated naIness Ii such a vote ought 10
degrade him in The eyes OF his countrynen, what
10 you think oil your own candidate? 1t was not
Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee, but T. O. Adams
of Massachusetts,, who thus recorded his hostility
TO Samuel Adams and Edmund Pendleton!
HAD the vote OF Andrew Jackson, 10 which vol,
dliude, the least siniIitude to such a raucorous
vote as this? Had that vote the smallest refer
ehce 10 " asington personally or po1lticoHR Far
from lit would, indeed, have been publicly base
and personally ungrdtetul, If Andrew Jackson had
entertained hostility TO Washington, who was not
merely his counry's s!.ield, bat his own earliest
beneidctoTl
What, thea, is the foundation of your charge.
Gen. Washington having delivered all adire IS
10 congress, reply OH the part of the house OF;
representatives, was prepared by Mr.. Fisher Aines
This reply, instead vi being liberal and patriotic
was i'ctious and insulting TO many of the mem
bers OF tie house-upon the question whether
such reply should be adopted, Andrew jackson
Washington IL it was, then the wings Of Penn.
sylYania were hostile 20 lin, and ,6ev incIn.