Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-16

addition. These gentlemen eeeln 10 talk Of the
evidences OF talents ii they were something
tahSioie'-sonethng that might be physically
seen, and tracked, and handled. 1 am aware that
II has become somewhat fashionable TO consider
every one man OF talents who writss NJ A. al
ter MS name, and can exhibit piece OF parch-
ment, with large seal and blue ribbon appenlanO
whereon the patent OF his gcniu, is inscribed nv
| some learned college OF philosophers But Gen
j. can refer 10 more substantial evidences of his
capacity TO be useful TO you. They ore found in
the whole tenor of his past he. Unlike some
modern itinerant, 4" Minister OF State" no has MI
ways been found at the post assigned him by the
laws and Constitution,-and he has firmly, faith
fully, and correctly discharged tho varied duties
oil the high aud difficult Offices to which he has
been called, either by the people, the Chief
| lunctionary oil our national Government. The
fruitful resources of a strong and virtuous mind
have always rendered him equal 60 every emcr-
| gency (and they have not been few nor triyian
IN winch he has been placed That he gave en-
TIRE satisfaction to those who elevated him 20 of.
| ice, and who Were most Immediately interested
IN the correctness. of his course, and had every
opportunity of witnessing his official conduct YOU
nave the strongest of all earthly evidence TO wit :
! MS repeated Predictions by the people his an
pointrnent as Judge, in his own State after having
| served them in their Convention, and in Congress-
after they had had ample opportunities of dis
covering, (9 II had been so) his total unfitness for
S,vii employment'-his subsequent election as
Senator of the United States,-his appointment as
Governor Of Florida,-the embassy which was
offered him TO the Court Of the Imperial Iturbide
-ahd the strong, the lasting, the unalienable at
'achment oil the people OF Tennessee How man
50 utterly devoid OF all civil qualifications as the
convention have represented him to be, could by
any possibility, have discharged in ana manner
hdtSoeceT the various and appropriate functions of
SO many, anu such important Offices, to me appears
| strange, most passing strange" How by any
wonderful coincidence OF good fortune he could
have done it, and preserved his character is still
more strange But that he should have performed
them to the perfect satisfaction of all, and with
such constantly increasing reputation as TO place
him conspicuously before the American Peopie. a.
candidate for the first Office in their gift exceeds
| all human credulity. But these gentlemen are
constrained 10 award TO Gen. J. the need of mega
tive praise in the discharge of his civil official du
ueS. According to their account, if he has done
no good, lie has done no harm. | sspeak not In
Wantonhess when declare that truth forbds me
I TO return the compliment TO the favorite whom
| they so earnestly recommend" SIN sadness of
heart" | am ''compeel to DECLARE" that altho'
Tor years, he has been the favcrite pensioner of
the public treasury, yet we can call to mind 10
great and important public services, which const-
tute any thing like an equivalent return. He has
oeen draining the vital principle of the body poll
/ tic, but unlike that physician Which cures bv
suction, he has been exhaustng the patient with
| out afiorcinS any correspondent relief. Though
unhappily for his country, 'the history of his pub
lie me may not be ''told in few brief lines, on
single page of his biography yet what "act,
what trace has he left behind to mark his trans.
cendant quail iticationS He has been placed bv
the government Oor the people even Of his otor
Ssote 1couie not trust him NTH seat in Con-
! gTeSS) IN situations where he might have been
| eininently serviceabe to his country and his
countrymen. He might have been found like
the truly philosophc Franklin, wearing the pure
and simple manners OF his native country, amidst
the hollow pomp, and ariStocratic splendor of an
European Court, claiming and receiving respect
ana attention even from the jewerd Courtier by
tn originality of his mind, his practical knowledge
| Oh men and OF governments, the Simplicity of his
manners, and above all, that strong and invioIabIe
attachment TO the popular institutions of his own
/ country, whichhe never failed to defend and took
every proper occasion TO recommend. He mipht
| like freedoms great Apostle, by his correspon.
dence with learned and influential Europeans
ihave disseminated and explained the harmony and
strength OF our federal and state governments AMI
thereby aided in removing that feeling of preiu-
dice which their novelty had excited Or he
! might, like Madison and Taylor of Caroline and
host OF other distinguished patriots have enliOb,-
ened the minds OF his own countrymeu by de-
yelopement OF the principles of that constitution
which is emphaticay T. pitsri5tts ua1ssl and yvss
perfectly novel experiment in the science of po-
vernment. 1t would have been more grateful 10
ms countrynien, If, IN his confidential correspon-
dence, he had represented US, Gas he trulv might
as young, but powerful and growing peope hon
est OF heart, simple of manners, and tremblineIy
tenacious OF liberty, instead Of branding the militia
as c0IcGTds, and sandering the government az
''weak and penurious.' If his friends can shev
that in all his political writings he has ever con-
ferred the least benefit upon his country or shed
| one ray OF light upon her governmental institu-
lions, you will doubtless thank them for the infor
| NATION, and award to Mr. A. the credit due for
| services hitherto unknown to the American Peo-
pie But his inordinate vanity and that of his IA
Their, have deprived his friends of this ground OF
commentator; for they were perfectly aware that
his strong and offensive preudices and predilec-
| ions exhibited under the signature Of g Pu6Hcola"
ami IN the Birmingham Correspondence" could
never be reBdefed palatabe TO the citizens of Vir-
| ginia. Toprocced. Did Mr.. A. leave any sstrace,
behind him of these friendly and necessary atten-
tons, public and private, which resident minis
ter at foreign Court usually considers It his duty
| TO extend 10 the citizens subjects of his own
| country! Did he ever advance, in the smallest
degree, either by precept example, the national
reputation OF our country, i'll his residence abroad
IN All ms negotiations, has he obtained for us
! any commercial advantages, even of the most
triiling description, made any or the least ac-
QUESTION TO our rights as nation Great in d.
Plo"acy as he - represented to be, has he ever
added an inch TO our territory, or even defended
that which our citizens claim? Did he firmly ard
tenaciousIy defend our exclusive and all.inportant
right to the navigation Of the Mississippi or was
he willing 10 abandon it for patry fishing inter-
est on the Coast of New Foundland2 MIR CLAW
has said that he was, and has promised to tell US
all about it, at some more Convenient tiale-I sup.
pose at the expiration Of the Coalition Bargain =
What g Traces" then, l ask, for the Convention
have observed studied silence upon the subject
has Mr.. a. - left behind him" of benefit to his
country, or which sc stamp his qualifications above
medioeIity| Although our " jtlGgmepf Nigh.
not " SET it OF" yet our "Idncl' might " suo-
gest, that considering the thousands he had re-
ceived from the public Golfers, il were not ainiss
II nc could point to some temple OF charity as the