Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-04-30
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
EXCESS OF PARTY ZEAL

deliberation.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
EXCESS OF PARTY ZEAL.
IT we may judge of the state Of public sentiment and
morals in the United States by the spirit which char
actcHsed the late Presidential Election and Is still
shown by the opposition to the Administration the con-
elusion must be any thing but favorable. II is impos-
ible to disguise the truth from own eyes, while the
whole world it, and reproaches us with it, Is not
shameful that should degrade ourselves in our own
estimation, and permit odium to be upon RepubIi.
canism-by toeratng the ruthless spirit manifested bv
so many OF the periodical presses, well as by rest
less aspiring, or disappointed politicians II is surely
the tarest feature in our Government that
are its esprng, and constitute its animanc principle
that their WILL is the all-pervadng influence and
the groundwork OF revolution itself To influence or
control that will is the aspiration of every dcmagoguc
Hence, the artifce, the fasehood TO which the people
and the administrators Of their affairs ALWAYS expos
cd Ii Is an old adage that every good has its attend
dant evil No man condemn the reest enquiry III
to, or the boldes structures on, the principles or mca
sures OF public men. But the rules of honorable war
fare-thc suggestions of dccency and decorim ought
never TO be lost sight Of Unless checked by saluta
ry watchfuness, our free institutions might soon run
into the calm OF despotsm-our servants might become
our masters God forbid that should complain either
OF the greatest freedom Of speech the widest range
to the liberty OF the press They both dearly valu-
cd constitutional rights without which our boosted free
dom would be justly scorned idle mockery. In a
Tree government would have been idle nav pernicious
to have attempted TO restrain limits 10 these rights
But there surely is check upon the wanton or cen
tious exercise of them Independent of any general law
on the statute book and that check is be found i'm the
taste intelligence, morals and patriotism of the people
These Safeguards were confidently relied upon by the
wise fathers OF our country. That they have not, as
yet proved altogether sufficient to restrain the evil
must be acknowledged by all candid men, But such
an unqualified result perhaps, so soon expect
cd For let be borne in mind, that hitherto VIC have
been only pioneers in subduing the forests of and
variegated COMMENSURATE with unexampcd industry
and enterprise we have been reclaming the wilderness
building hab'tations, and putting civilized and chris
tim face upon New World. Our people have s'muI
upiied and increased beyond all former examples
Thus engaged in planting and rearing up among the
great family of nations, constellation of glorious Re
pubics, II was not TO be expected that should
De early pre-eminent i'm the renements of polished life
or the cultivation Of letters But even in these
our progress has been fatterng to ourselves as Il
has been astonishing to Europe. Have we not ever v
motive that animate Young and favored nation TO
press forward with and Increasing zeal to the HIGH
dosinies which await us! We live i'm an age of i'm
Provement, in which the improvements of human intel
iect have outtrpped the widest reveries of other times
and the U. States have honorably shared in these
splendid achievements But, is it not worthy of remark
tnat Whist the genius OF discovery and iprov is
abroad upon the earth nnnhilang distance in its pro-
converting the very elements TO new purposes
aud relieving man almost from labor there should be
live no where but in America the spirit of HbertW In
all other regions, il not extinct, il is subdued-and one
universal sway OF depotsm lords it over that very in
felect which cobquers and makes subservient TO IFS
will, all animate and iHanmate things save only Kings
and potenates, their presumpuous tyranny. These
dsccnuant Sli Is not wonderful that
should be so' But why wherefore is not the object Of
my present enquiry.
In republic the interest which every citizen ought
to feel in the public veal and the consequent right he
has 20 interfere in all public matters must unavoidable
create contests, and. sometimes, factions A brawnr
spirit of faction has been the standing rcproach of de-
nocracy But the extent Of the Justice or Injustice of
ms reProach Is TO be measured by the virtue and intel
llgence OF the community Have we not a right 10 be-
eve that viruous and intelligent people wifi dscoun
tenance and irown ownprofgate deractors and cen-
ous political gossps? Heaven knows that our fair coun-
try and Tree institutions have been long enough scandaz
cd by designing, corrupt and facous men But may we
not indulge the hope that have arrived al that point of
cviizauon and improvement, at which the moral sense
oil th' community would revolt at the rendition of
scenes that have passed uBder our own ol,servaoni
retrospect of the past presents humilisng picture TO
every honorable and patriotic citizen who feels himself
in any way identified with the fair fame of bs countrv
Capt Halls illusions "the furious acrimonv of nari
spirif'-"the machinery OF newspaper abuse and
praise, &c &c. during the late presidential canvass
are thus commented upon in that talented Journal the
Southern Review:
"Let il he remembered too that he Capt HaID visit
ed us at juncture az nauspcious for the country az Il
was well suited to the supposed purpose of the tourist He
mere IN the very torrent and may say wbir wind
OF our passions" tie was an eye and car witness
OF many OF those disgusting and disgracefl abomina-
tons which have made The late presidential election for
over nemorable-msy II be forever unparalleIed-in
our history. He heard Of nothing else wherever he
went The rancorous hostility, the atrocious calum.
Mes the systematic the violation NJ
every deccncy OF life, that distinguished the party war
re OF the day. upon his observation on ali sides
He saw the daily press teemng with rbadry and false.
hood, until the very sight Of newspaper became Ieafb
some to every body that had any Of shame left He
heard eayesdroppers reporting of friends
publishing the letters of their cOrrespondens-or quests
violating the rights Of hospitality and the sanctitv Of
the re-sde and of the festive board He saw this ruth
less and unPrincpled warfare carried into the very boz
500 OF domestic lfe and even female sensbity and hon
or assacd by rcmorscless ruff ans apparently with the
conntcnance Of men who ought TO have bushcd al The
bare idea Of such alliance. This baIefu sprit per
vadcd every thing, disturbed every thing, corr,jpted
every thing. II is impossible for any COOL citizen 10
contemplate this subject without anxiety and alarm
What is to become Of the country, If IL is 10 he efer
nay distracted by the most slavish and Degrading of
all sorts Of political party, that, namely in which 1.
fundamental maxim Of republican government is re-
versed, and all principles sacrificed 10 mem
Captain Hall has given any thing but an exspgcrat.
ed account OF this mighty evil in passage which we
are about TO cite. PUdet hoe opprobrid nobisl We
know that there are and those, probably the bust
est and basest actors in such scenes who would az little
scruplc TO deny their existence 10 get them TN a
gain whenever their ends could be answered bv IL
But protestatons Of this sort however vehcmcntly nat
rioc they may sound, cannot restore fe peace the dig
nifty and the morals Of people thus excited and miscd
We see no remedy for these things while the dailv
press IS conducted II s-and while rood citizens