Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-06-16
To THE EpITons or TuE WuIc.

in late number of your paper have seen an art-
Gle Under the editorial head, exposing in manner
and unprincipled attempt made by the Editor of GER
tain paper which bears the title of being Religious to
spread the most pernicious opinions and feelings
throughout the community under the garb of religious
zeal and DEVOTION Coming to the public in the manner
did, no one who not perfectly independent would
have ventured upon the manly, and think, patriotic,
certainly phanthropic, you have taken. think
the public is indebted to you for benefit which your
cautious contemporary of the Enquirer has srunk las
might have expected) from bestowing The service
certainly dsineresed and less independent man
would have thought hazardous. 1t deserves be re-
warded by liberal and hearty support of your paper:
perform my part of this obligation by enclosing the
yearly subscription to paper and requesting that it
may be forwarded to ut Abbyvie, in this county.
shall urge of my friends to do the like; but the
difficulty of succeeding in that attempt is greatly aug
mented by belief that your labors devoted to the
advancement of Mr. Clay to the Presidency: who is, of
all the asprants who seeking to stride the rainbow
the most obnoxious to the good people of Meckenbure
The few who ION political subjects unpreudiced
and unprepossessed are magnanimous enough to
mend you for honest and conscientious support of
even Lucifer himself, you to support him; but
OF this description OF persons your observation
must have convinced you that few to be found
Very respectfully, your ob't serv't.
The above letter has afforded us much qualification
and induced to publish it, for the sake of offer
ing few observations upon certain parts of it, which.
should have done but for short absence TO
the country
We are too well aware of the small number of the
''magnanimous." we have evidence upon this
Va
per is regularly read by hundreds, who afraid
take itafraid of being put under the BAN These per-
precede subscribers the Post Office take the
liberty OF Carrying the paper hoe and sometimes for
get return it. In repeated instances subscribers have
discontinued declaring that they could get the
sight of the paper which they paid for. Others more
frank than independent, have informed that they
wished to subscriber that they preferred the Wing any
other paper; but that they lived in Jackson neghbor
hoods, and could not follow their inclinations with
safety to their interests and popularity! In cases.
candidates have been eeconeered against because
subscribers the Wing, and road both sides of
the question, and this too in the enlightened coun
ties of the Commonwealth We mention these facts
not in vanity, but in sorrow and vexation at the
thraldorn in which the public mind held at the de-
plorabe want Of Independence which they argue
at tho soryiy TO which frcemen submit Il
is therefore, no news to US, that the ''magnan-
imous" among opponents few and far
between. But, in despite Of this want Of libe-
rality and Independence, circulation has pro.
grcssvcy and increasingly increased, until exceeds
that of any paper south Of the Potomac,
tomporary's only.
We are devoted as tho author of the letter justly re-
narks the advancement OF Mr. Clay to the Presiden-
CIV; but not us n primary object That primary object
distinguished from the motive Of making bread Tor
selves and those dependent upon u.s. is the public honor
and prosperity, far understand them. Our sup
port Of Mr. Clay is subsidiary TO this object not indie
pcndcnt of it. We know very well, that other repre-
sensations have been made TO prejudice, that it hes
been indstrioisly stated, that had private expcCa-
tons and views in supporting Mr. Clay. Such howe
yer is not the fact. We want Office. We would
have no Office that We could nationally hope TO obtain
We arc scarcely qualified for any Office Why should
am mans motive be questioned in yielding his support
to the Advancement Of Henry Clay2 she so unknown
70 famc-s ne so inferior in comparison with his COM
peritors-has he reflected little honor upon himself
little glory upon his country, in his political
reer Of twenty years. that to support him Tor tho most
elevated station, argues necessarily dcPrayy oil TASTE
corruption of motive Ask the patriots OFFS America
and Greeceask the Liberals Of France & Bngland,what
living American most honor upon oiT ccun-