Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-24
Richmond, Va. Saturday, Dec. "a
THE "ANTIJACKsONn ADDRESS.

pond with the time which was given to its prepa-
ration. Its composition is scarcely above mcdocri-
ty-Its sentiments very little more than the
swccpings of the newspapers.
The authors draw fiattcring picture of the hap
pincss which said to have enjoyed under the
last administration. Every thing prospered-Ayr-
culture, Manufactures, Commerce Commerce
notwithstanding IL contrivcd tn close the West In
dia market, and the Tariff preying upon our
merchants) ain word, the best friends of the
country had little more To wish or hope i'm regard
to our political situation" And yet tho great ma
jority of the people were too blind to- all these
blessings, and too ungrateu to reward the authors
of them. They ungraciously set their faces against
those "Amcrican Principles" which said to have
"bccome the common creed of the high- minded and
patriotic adherents of all the partes"-They saw
in these principles nothing but the seeds of ruin to
the Constitution, and of discord among the States.
The Address kindly forbears "cnlarge on the
means" by which the change i'm the administration
complishcd--"the reckless and persevering
caunny, which were. constantly poured forth on the
best and purest mcn"-It forgets the odious expo
dents which were employed by tho friends of the
Coalition--thc reckless caumnies, the forged let
ters and cofn-handbills, and the coarse attacks
upon female character
But "thc change was effected" Gin form, at least,
lit sccms) in legal and constitutional way, how
ever justly offensive the circumstances that brought
it about" These gentlemen forget to say, that Gen.
Jackson was elected by the Electors and not by an
intrigue in Congress, which "justly offensive"
To the People
position in any portion of the people to commence u
premature iactious opposition his meas,ires."-
"Under this combination of circumstances il is be-
licvcd that had the public affairs been managed with
tolcrablc prudence and discretion, General Jackson
might have gone through his term of official life
without a show of opposition, and have been re-
elected had nc been so inconsistent to desire it,
| by very unanimous votc."-These Addressers
count too much upon the public credulity. They
must suppose that its readers forgetful of the
memorable transactions of those times. The peo-
pie have not yet forgotten the which Mr. Clay
himself proclaimed the very threshhold But
two days after the Inauguration, he delivered n
speech at the public dinner of Washington, in which
he holds this hostile language:
deprecated the election of the present President of
the United States, because believed he had neither the
temper the experience, the attainmens requisite
discharge the complicated and aruoas duties Chief
Magistrate. deprecated it still MORE because his eleva
ton, believed, would be the result exclusively
miration and gratitude for military services, without
gard TO indispensable civil qualifications can neither
rerdcf, nor alter modify any opinion which, these
subjects, have at any time heretofore expressed.-I
thought bched in his election awful foreboding of
the fate which at future pray to God, if it
arrive, it may be futuro day, TO bca this in
fant RepublcIt is true, and in this respect hap
pier than of the American Sates that his election
has not been brought about by military violence The
forms of the Constitution have yet remained nvioate-
ngaln " whist am prompted by an ardent devotion to
the welfare OF my country sincerely TO express this hope,
make no pledges, no promises, threats, and must
add, hare cOnfdencc.'-Ths spirit of denunciaon
mas been Kept up by Mr. Clay from that moment TO this
at successive public dinners, and set speeches. down
his most ungracious and offensive letter Mr. Barbour
of the other day at Washington.
eve should regret (say these charitable gentlemen
TO visit with too the last days of who
in another line of duty, has done the State much service
and whom nothing but the imprudencc of injudicious
friends, rather the efforts of political partsans who
found convenient TO make of his and popula
y Tor their own selfish purposes has prevented from going
down TO postcy with high military reputation, and fill
ing an honorable place in hsory.'-Wc may Judge
how very deep must have been their regret, when
see scattered through this address the offensive ex
pressons They tell us, that the youth of our
Government should not be sulled by the foul stains
OF immortality, that disiigure the antiquated and
rupt institutions of other countries, and that our ci-
zcns and the world large should be able look up
The high places of this Union for examples of public and
private vitueThe meaning of this aniiihess is obvious
enoughAgain: The political history of the Union, for
the last three years, exhibits series of plainly
dictated in all their principal features, by blind cudity
DndiCpe party SpuH, marked throughout by disregard
for good policy justice and erey high and generous
sentiment, and terminating in dissolution of the Cabinet
under circumstances more scandaous, than any of the
kind TO be met with in the annals of the civilized world
But 1t is unnecessary to Gull out such outrageous express
sions; which seem TO have been accumulated together
without stint the smallest regret Indeed the picture
which sdawn of Cen Jacksons Administration is charg
ed with the darkest colours Every act which il sscen-
be of perry cron has been caricatured beyond measure
and not bright colour is thrown upon the canvass
not single good is allowed TO him Even in our TO-
rcgnrelaions, the slightest Credits given to him. They
seek TO wither every Leaf which decorates his
There has been, they say, appearance of success -
but II was " in consequence Of the fact that several ar
engagements with foreign Powers, which had been
ed and in some instances concluded, under the preceding
Administration, have been made public under this"
They strip him, without the slightest reeyef of the
honor of the Danish and Turkish Treaties They
deny him all sort of credit for obtaining the settle
ment of our claims with France, (which they had
attempted iii vain and the opening of the West
India ports (which lost by their own follvO is
discrcdied and dshonorcd by the ncessons which
they affirm were made to the British Governments
There is not spark of gcncrosity-not a CLEAN
| OF hbcrality, through this elaborate address-Witb
all their regret i'll visiting him with too severe GEN.
sure, there was scarcely censIre so severe and
so INTERCHANGEABLE shall not .criticise the truth
OF their stacments--wc content ourselves with
exposing the spirit i'm which they arc made-I.ut the
moment they touch the other side of the medal and
give us the characters of bIessrs. Clay g. Sergeant
the prospect is changed at once To show the full
soneness of their panegric, Mr. Clay is not merely
cried up as one of the principal founders and sun
Porters of the American Systcm" flor which he il
said to be- "cntitled to the support of all who
desire the prosperity of the great cause of domestic
industry and internal imprOycmcnt "F-hit there is
another species of merit allowed to Mr. CLAW. which
we had supposed their own modcsty or SENSE of ms
tlcc would have forborne to press =" The siu01,Ioy
success ciM schich he conducted The affairs Of he de-
pertinent Of Ste eUinces his capacity for the actual
business Of administration; while tIc pencrous
irankness and captivating warmth of his manners
cinineny fit linn for station, where i'm order 10 he
useful IT is necessary TO conciiaie the public G,vor
as well as transact with ability the public bsiuesso M
Mr.. Clay can furnish no better evidence ofhis copoci
~ Tor civil affairs than his Signal success i'm thc So,c