Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-17

acknowledged right, by uniting with others in The
exercise oil il nor why this mere change of form
should authorize Mr.. Adams to disregard ou.
claim. But there are two objections TO the course
which he has condcscended to point out, az the
only one IN which he could be approached ON thi.
occasion. Any individual who should have an.
pied to him In that mode might have been chars,.
cd WIN arrogance; and 70 each OF them in turn he
might have tauniug'y replied, that the spplic. N,
was In no danger OF suffering "a one of the
" leaders" in Massachusetts, and had no occasion
70 exculpate himself from a charge conveyed in
The terms used by MIR. Adams The other OBJ
lection is still more decisive. After allowing to
this denuncaton all the weight that It can be sim
posed 10 derive from the personal official cha
racier Of the accuser, trust there are few cit
iZens oil Massachusetts who would be content
to owe their political reputation to his estimation
oil 1t, and condescend TO solicit his certificate
10 acguit them OF the s,,spicion or trs,sonahIa
practices.
MIR Adams next objects, that we make our ap-
pllca'on as the representatives off great and pow
eriui party, which, at the time referred to- COM
named, as he says, a devoted majority in the le-
slsiatnre OF the Commonwealth; and he denies
our right to represent that party. We have airea-
dy stated the objections 10 Joint appljc, .)n by
all, who might be included in this ienunciation,
and 10 separate inquiry by each individuals a nd
some oil the reasons which we thought, justified
me course which we have pursued We GER
taihiy did not arrogate 10 ourselves the title of
: leaders, and Mr.. Adams may enjoy, undisturb-
ed, all the advantage which that circumstance
can give him III this controversy. But we freely
avowed such close politica! come Xion with all
who could probably have been included under
mat appe lation, as 10 render us responsible for all
their political measures that were known to us;
and we, therefore, must have been either their
dupes, or the associates in their guilt. In either
case, we were interested, and, we apprehend,
entitled, to make this demand of Mr.. Adams
Asto the suggestion, that he smoke only of GER
leaders 81 ,I,
party itself; we certainly intended TO deny our
knowledge and belief that any such po, had been
conrived by any party whatever in this State; and
u Is explicitly so stated in our letter. This Ian
guage would include any number, whether large
or small, who might be supposed to have leagued
together, Tor the purpose suggested by Mr. Ad-
ans. here seems, therefore, to be but little
ground for this technical objection, til at we do not
take The issue rendered by his charge.
But we wish to examine little further this
distinction which Mr.. Adams relies upor. between
political party and its leaders. From the nature
oil representative government, it results, that in
conducting the business of their Legislative and
popular assemblies, some individuals will be found
70 '"Se more active ana conspicuous part than
the rest and will he regarded as essentially infu-
enclng public opinion, whilst they are generally
themselves merely impclled by its force But this
influence, in whatever degree it may exist, is
temporary, and is possessed by constant success
sion OF different persons. Those who possess it
y,
course OF ten years, they must amount TO a MI
inerous class. Their measures and political OBJ
Jects must necessarily be identified with those OF
their whole party. Todeny this, is 10 pronounce
sentence oil condemnation upon popuIar govern
ment. For, admitting il 10 be true that the peo-
pie may be occasionally surprised and misicd by
those who abuse their confidence into measures
repuSnant to their interests and duty still if the
majority OF them can, for ten wears together be
duped ami led hoodwinked to the very precipice
hzyf haEr sr.l..
participating in their secret designs, or being privy
to their existence, they show themselves unfit for
sef-government. 1t is not conceivable that the
federal party, which, at that time, constituted
the great majority of Massachusetts, will feel
themselves Indebted to the President of the Uni
ted States for a compliment paid 10 their LOYALTY
at the expense OF their character for intelligence
and independence.
1t is in the above sense only that free people
can recognize any individuals a. leaders, AMI in
this sense, Every man, who is conscious of having
enjoyed influence and consideration with his par
ty may well deem himself included in every op-
Probrio,is and indiscrimnate impeachment of the
motives oil the leaders OF that party But il would
ne arrogance 10 suppose himself alone intended
when the terms OF the accusation imply a confe-
deracy OF many. And while, on the orc hand j,
would betray both selfshness and egotistn to CON
line his demand of eXculpation to himself; so, on
the other hand, II Is impossible 10 unite in one ap.
piication all who might justly be considered as his
associates III follows then that any persons, who
froig0ha relations they sustained TO their party
may aPprehend that the public will apply TO them
charges oil this vague description, may join in such
numbers as they shall think III, to demand an ex-
plantation OF charges, which will probably afFect
some OF them all The right, upon the iminuta-
Die principle OF justice, is commensurate with
the injury, and should be adapted to its character
Again, who can doubt tina, the public reputation
OF bigh-nuded men who have embarked in tlic
same cause and maintained communion of prin.
clp'es, - common property, which all who arc
Interested are bound to yndicatc ascension NAV
require--the present for the abseut--thc III ing loI
the dcadthe son for the father
Ii any responsible individual at Wssbirolo,
should declare himself to he in possession Of uns.
quIVocai EVIDENCE, that the leaders Of certain
States III our cOnfederacy, were now maturing z
plot Tor the separation OF the States might not The
members OF Congress, now there from the State.
mus accused, insist upon disclosure Of evidence
and names! Would they be diverted from their
purpose Ivy an evasion of the question, on the
ground, that, as the HbeileT bad not named any
individuals, so there WIS orc entitled 10 mai q
this demand? or wonld they he satsficd with q
misty exculpation of themselves This cannot be
imagined. They would contend for the honor Of
their absent friends, of their party, and OF their
States. These were among our rno;iv for making
this call We feel an interest in all these pariicu
ars, and Z -peciIlly in the uusulied good name o.
friends and assO is'es who venerable for the emi
nent talents, virtues and public services have gone
down TO the grave unconscious Of any inputatior
Oh their characters.
Mr.. Adams admits our right 10 make scversIiy
The inquiries which have been m1Ge jointly though
IN passage eminent Tor its equvocation he cx-
presses doubt whether we can come within The
terms oi his charges On DIS remarkable pas.
sage we submit one more obscrvsiion As Mr.
Adams declares that he rel knetO from upcgIGcO.
caf cUicnce the existence Of such trcaeopabls &c.
signs, ne must have known whether the PARTIES
who addressed hin were engaged I use de signs