Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-05-14

estimate the honor his virtues aud character had con,
ferred on the nation. | had seen him in tho hour o.
peril, when the contest was doubtful, aud when hi.
life and reputation, az we'll "a the liberties Of the coun
try, ~depsnded on the issue. I had seen him in the mo.
NETT 81 triumph, when the surrender OF a hostile army
mad secured that indie enicnce. My admiration FOL.
lowed him in his FIRST retreat, and was not lessened by
his quitting Il TO give the aid Of h. name and influence
to the union OF the States under an efficient govern
ment. In addition 10 this, he had received me with
kindness in my youthful visits 10 his camp; and, with
out having il in my power 10 boast Of any particular i-
umacy,~ circumstances had thrown me frequently in the
way OF receiving from him such attentions as indicated
some degree Of regard. With these motives for join
ing in the most energetic expressions Of gratitude, with
a heart hlied with sentiments Of veneration, and DESTROYS
OF recording them, my concern can scarcely be express-
ed, when l found that 1 must he debarred from joining
my voice with those Of my feilow-citizens in express
ing those feelings, unless, in the same breath, ]
should pronounce a recantaion Of principles which l
then thought, and still think, were well-founded, and
declare that 1 approved measures which l had just so.
lemnly declared thought injurious to the country.
Thus, Sir, II was conrived. at that period, the Pre-
sident opened the session by a speech, Ohe more con-
venient mode of sending a message having been intro
dnced i've years afterwards by Mr.. Jeff.rson,) and the
House made an answer, which they presented in a bo.
by. The answer on this occasion was most artfully
and most ably drawn. 1t was the work Of a federal
committee, and was supported by a federal majority.
Ii contained, as IL ought to have contained, every ex.
preston that gratitude, veneration, an aff-ctionate re-
sret, could suggest; and to the adoption Of these Their
would not have been a dissenting voice; il would have
oeen carried, not only unanimously, but by acclama-
ton. But the dominant party had 9th sr views; it was
to be made the instrument Of degrading their oppo-
nents, il they could VOC for IL, or of holding them up
to all posterity as opposers of the Saviour Of his Coun-
Try, III they refused TO pronounce their own condemna.
ton. They preferred a palTy party triumph to the glo.
ny oil the man they professed to honor, and deprived
him OF the expression Of an unanimous vote, that they
might have some pretsnce TO stigmatize their opponents
with ingratiiude. The press, sir, the omnipoten Mt press,
and the publicity OF our debates, have enabled me, even
at this distant day, TO defeat this unworthy end-un.
worthy OF the honorable men who contrived and exc.
euted IL, and, which nothing but the excitement OF par.
ty could have sug gested 10 them.
To understand this fully, Sir, | should read TO YOU
the whole Of the address. Its general character I have
stated. But l will confine myself TO one or two pas
sages, which show what was endeavored TO be forced
upon as, and the amendment offered will show what we
were willing to gay; and | will then ask who i, was that
refused a unanimous expression Of gratitude, respect,
and merit!
The debates Of that period were very concisely t..
ken down; but Tin Carpenter's debates, p. 62) we fnd
eaou gh for our purpose. 1t is there stated that Mr..
Livingston expressed his sorrow " that the answer was
not so drawn as to avoid this debate, and his sincere
hope that parties would so unite as 10 make il agreea-
ole 10 all. He moved some amendments, first, to cor
rect an error in the pbraseology, which were a lopt-
ed; and, in the course of his remarks, used these ex-
pressions: lie hoped, Notwithstanding the tenscity of
adherence to words, that all might agree in the address;
ne would be extremely hurt, he said, could he con-
ceive that we differed in sentiments of gratitude and
admiration for that great man; but, while he was de-
sirous TO express This, he could not do it at the expense
oil his feelings and principles. The former he might sac.
rIlce, but the latter he could not TO any man"
1 invite the particular attention of the Senate 10 the
passage winch Il proposed 10 al or, as II Stood IN the adj
dress; it was in these words:
And while we entertain a grateful conviction that
your ,otse, firm, and patriotic administration has been
mgnaily conducive to the success of the present form
oi government, we cannot forbear TO expires IS the deep
sensations OF REGRET with which we contemplate your
Intended retif ement from Office"
Now. sir, mark what were the words objected to in
mis- sentence, bear in mind the distinctions that have
heen drawn between the character Of the President, and
that OF his administration remember what was the
sense IN which that word was universally used at that
uay. reCOllect- ton what I hava ,nst sail If IA. o.-.:
ton TO one OF the leading measures of that administers.
ton, and you will then be enabled TO Judge whether I
and those with when l acted, could give our assent 10
this passage as 1t stood. To show, however, that, while
we could not, with consistency or truth, say, that the
measures OF the cabinet were wise and patriotic, but
that we were perfectly willing to use these epiihets
as applied to the President, / move ed TO strike out the
words 90 wise, firm, and patriotic administration, - and
insert "your wisdom, frmncss, and patri~tsm;" the
sentence then would have read thus: While we en-
tertain a grateful conviction, that your tDisdom, firm
ness, and patriotism, have been signally conducive to
the success Of the present form Of government, we
cannot forbear TO express the DEEP sensations Of RE.
GRET, win which We contemplate your intended re-
tirement from Office" Novsxir, compare this clause,
which we were all ready &c vote for, and did vote for,
with that which was supported by the majority; and
say which ofthem expresses the greatest veneration for
the person, and the personal character Of Washington
that which ascribes wisdom, hrmness, and patriot
ism, to the measure, of his cabinet, or that which at.
taches them 10 himself. Say, whether we refu,ed to
express regret at his retirement when that word, ac-
companied by an epithet most expressive of its inten.
sity, Is readily adopted. Say who were the re NJ friends
te the glory Of our great leader in war, and director in
peace-those who, Tor a paltry party triumph, deprived
him of an unanimous expression of thanks and admira.
ton; who forced him TO appear rather as the chief of
a party, than in his true character, OF The man uniting
all affections, regretted, beloved, venerated by all his
fellow ci,iZens-or those who intre ated that, on this oc-
casion at least, party considerations should be laid a.
side, and that they might be permitted 10 join their
voice 10 that OF their country, and OF the world, in ex.
pressing the sentiments with which their hearts were
filed. Say, finally, sir, whether the Senator from Mas.
sachusetis is justified in the allegation, that we refus.
ed 10 express respect, gratitude, and regret, on the re-
tirement of Washing on; or, what is more than insiDu
ated, that we sligh,ed his services and viiied his char.
acter. Sir, the register ! have quoted shows, that I
supported my amendnent by expressing the very sen.
timents you have just heard; and I must add, that, short
Iy after this Transaction, while my votes, speeches, and
conduct, were fresh in the recollection Of my constitu-
ents, my term OF service expired, and ] was reelected
by an Increased majority. Would a man, entertaining
the sentiments OF Washington that have been ascribed
to me, have received the woes Of a city where his
name was adored' Nay, more sir, one of the most
Of The Senator from Massachusetts,, and for whose sole
use il was perhaps designed-the PRESIDENT OF the Unit.
ed Siates-was not long since selected, by the veteran
reliques Of the revolutionary war, the chosen compan.
ions in arms Of their venerated commlDder, the New
York Society Of Cincinnati-as one OF the very few
honorary members,i 10 whom that distinciio has beenhe.-
lowed. They have since thai, done me The same hon
or. Would The venerable remnant Of the friends and
companions of Washington, associated under his aus.
pieces for tho purpose OF cherishing the friendships con-
lracted during the contest he so gloriousIy conducted,
and watching over his fame, so inseparsbly connected
with their own-would they have conferred this die
tinction on two men, who had, at any period Of their
lives, shown themselves his enemies or detractors' Me,
sir, they knew from my childbood-my whole life
wa Ne fore them. At the time these votes were giv-