Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-06-21
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FACTS AND CONCIUSIONs

Thu opponents OF tho present naturalization, point |
to the resignation Of tho late members Of the estins,,
WIN great apparent, or rather, pretended, xultatioD, |
and talk OF tho diseordaut maieri,ls Of which IL wa, |
composed, with a degree Of boldoe.s and a,.vr. pee
which might induce a man unscquaiuted with the
recent history oil our country TO suppose that their ia.
The members Of the Adams aud Clay CAtinet.
were q seso men WHO never IN ell their lives differed
upon any political question. But what are the facts as
Known TO every man who possesses even a very mode
ratio share OF koow ledge respecting our history fer the
las, ten yearsl The truth Il, hat there rouid ,csreeIy
cordsnt band Of ,he sans number, than the men who
composed that cabinet. Mr.. Adams had bsen q eandi-
date Tor the Pfesidency, and MIR. Clay had been the
same. In this capacity they had displayed towards
each other the most iEvet.rate hostility. Mr.. Clay
had refused to 81, ia the Same cabinet with Mr.. Adams.
because, as he ~a'ledysd. he was an Aposta.e Ftdsralist.
sure OF the West for the Goldfish of the East. He had
repr~ss o,ed him 40 a man destitute Of all political hon.
ss'y, and entirely unworthy OF the confidence of the
country. He had, moreover, represented thai, there
was great danger to DO apprshsnded from containing
the succession TO the Presidency 10 the line Of the Sc
cre,ary oil State, and warned the public in strong terms
Mr.. Clay, representing him TO be au unprincipled de-
masogue, who sought popularity al the sasri6ce Of truth
or principle. MIR. Rush had been in favour Of tho O.
lection OF MIR. Crawford, as had alec Mr.. Barbour. and
were consequently opposed to both Adams and Clay.
DIR. Southland had been a Calhoun man, and was con-
'squeo,ly opposed to tho viswsof all the other men with
whom he was associated In Cabinet Council.
Oh these di.eo,dsu, and hstsro snious materials was
he cAoineto f Mr.. Adams composed. Could any thing
be pos,ibIy more III assorted, Or less likely, under otdt-
nary circumstances, TO work harmoDiously, and alvsn-
tsseously for the country Surely IL was a machine
az strangely costrived as could well have been invented
or imagined. But discofdant ~ were The material, II
did nearly hang together for four years, and we may be
asked TO explain BY what kind Of cohesion a result 30
unlikely, with such materials. was produced. Thi, We
sha1 aitemp', aud ne think il will not be a very difficult
matter 10 accomplish.
We all kuow tina nothing has a greater tendency Of
binding men TO each other Than a common Interest, a
sense OF a common danger, aud a conviction that they
are tho common objects of The distika Of o,h.p. Al
ans had been elected by a base intrigue, in opposition
to the voice OF o majority Of the nation. OF this Clay
was well sonvioeet; but supposed tia, by the use Of The
patronage OF the government, mrn who had violated,
in the most outrss eous msnuer, The rig hts OF tho pee
pie, could render themselves popular. All The men
who were called into the cabinet, knew perfectly we'll.
that Adams was not the choice Of The nation. and had
not been The choice Of any one OF them, but b,ins in
husneed mors by consideration, of private gain or per
consented 10 accept OF Office, under circumstances, We
nust say, OF great disgrace TO high minded men, boz
leving that they could buy the people with their own
money 70, support men who were not Of their choice,
aod had done the gsossesi vioIt nee 10 their rights 10 ac-
somplish thsir ends, ADD endeavoured TO secure the
asssndeocy 10 the eoupuy. BY the very eirsum-
elected TO tho Presidency as Adams was, they were
Placed Ia q htua'lon 10 which thsy porsessed q common
f,a,efe,,. which they were equally .uxi0u' to support,
fel' a '.n's OF common danger, which they were e.
quhhy ae'rous 10 avoic, and saw Zach q display Of pop
uiar iesiipE so~ ards them, as tho resuil Of the outrage
which had been con mi',ed against popular rights. tina,
they feh ,hsn se!ves opposed by the people, found
thsmsslves bound, ~ The only possible mean. OF escape
rom The 10" Of office aud power, 10 opposs the popu.
lar ',In.', and use svery e1er.ion in their power to
tnro every hing to their joint advantage. They had,
therefore, no tine 10 express differences, Of opinion upon
any subject. Tue interest and the safety Of one wal
the interest and safety of all. Ii mas neck or nothing
with them; and they csnsequentIy sIuns 10 s..h o,b.t
Of sueeour. P
undsr which The cabiue, Of Mr.. Adam, wa, pl,csa'
and with which they acted. They could no, afford 10
amer WIN each other upon any subject, for they had
no strength to spare, aud II might DO di,niui,h.d bv
divisions Of epinion: and besides, ,hsy had NO lin. N
spare 10 that manner, ss il required all their leisure 20
ny plan. by whish 10 endesyour 10 defsa, the popnl,,
VIII, and retain themselves 10 office in DESPITE OF thai
will. IL 10. therefore, very easy 10 sse how /, -
mat a cabinet, discordant as were Tho ma,eris,s W.,
kept tegs'her With the exception Of Mr.. Barbour, who
was shipped on 10 England 10 make room f- Nj, pa,
ter. Had General JacksonSaud the ssn,lgmen yho
compo'ed Al hrst his cabinet. been plssed in The SANE
,I'uaion, and been as,us'ed by the same feelings, they
"ouia douohess have hung together 40 long az the pub.
TIC would have permitted il. There would hay, b.sn
no resignatioDs, because they would have b,sn in6,'
snsed by a fellow feeling TO support each other az this
Only means OF supporting thems lives; or, IL the oppo.
shon choose IL, there would have been no Dismissal,
because the President would have b.en nm vijIin. a.
ssctihee tho support OF any one by giving him offence.
but ne II under 30 approximations Of losing his fiji e
by performing his duty, aod dees not desire 10 retain
u in opposition 10 the popular will; aod lbe,,f,,e does
Dol he'i,sie' when bo thinks the publis eood require,
a remoddsling OF his cabinet, 10 inform hose who are
10 aeats, that such ate his views; aud as thew do no, de.
sire offlse more Than honor and the Iublic interest.
'hey DO not choose to employ The patronage of ofIi. 10
corrupt the people, bu, rather than iLcur the su.pision
o. desiring 10 pursue q cour'e so DAD er6us 10 the poo.
pie, and so disreputabIe to those who pr.e,is, il. ,bsx
choose to retire TO pfivats life.
herein consists the great difference between tho
cabinet oil MIR. Adams aud the late Cabinet of General
Jackson. Such are the causes which, on the one hand
Kept the former together, and which, on the other, led TO
the late resignation; and herein we NAV clearly perceive
mat II was their ful conviction of their own weakness
and the extreme difficulty under which thew laboured
TO sustain themselves, which kept the former together:
whlie a consciousness of the business aud strength Of
their course led the latter TO openness OF opinion and
candour OF conduct, which being, in some instances di.
verse from each other, and hence was calculated IN le al
to difficulty where there should be unity of views fool.
ings and action, made ii proper that a change should be
madc, by the Introductons Of others into their Mace.
among whom the same diversities of opinion wot,h mo,
be likely TO exist, in order that the public interest might
be advanced by such unity, founded upon public. and
not upon private considerations. Thus. 10 every rom
siderste mind, II will appear clear that the very circum-
stances to which the opposition point 10 show their own
strength and our weakness, serves TO prove the q
reveise; and that while the cabinet of Adams attended
entirely to private considerations, and continued united
from the mere necessity OF the case, General Jackson
and his friends feel themselves shielded bv the nsnc
ply OF truth, and strengthened by n consciousness Of
OF purpose, which enables them 10 calcuIate
win uDdoubted confidence upon the support of an i'm
telligent and patriotic people.
Wilmington Wafchrnon.
II CONVENTION.
We might have been expected 10 have added 10 The
heading OF this article, words wsieb .,oulI have given
a p ibical character to the political ConveDtioo which
the lille Of a State Cor vsndon We nigh, h,v.
been e, pecied TO call tia " Clay G. nven on or. in
the ,nore modern phrase OF certain worn-ou, politie,sns
q +" national republican Conyen lou" but, really, 10