Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-01
toR rHE kICnMoND MIG.
NO. I'LL.
Nrr. Thomas Richie:

cd TO YOU because you have aborei to taconio con
sPicuous IN the tragedy getting up.
write without having your files before nc but
shall avoid all statements of doubtful character:
from your lips shall you stand condemned. For :
years the Enquirer was tho only poPer published in
tho metropolis of Va which assumed an active par
hznn tone. Tho Argus was conducted in a shirt
too mid to oppose any thing which YOU stated; it's
amiablc and cstimable editor had 10 fondncss for
bitter dsputaton: The federal print of tho city had
very limited circulation, and in this state Of
things, your paper acquired a confidence and sun
port which 1t never mertcd. You could not well
piunder IN state of peace and when we assumed
begerent attitude, there was no time TO discuss
measures at home. These things caused tho I'm
quiTcr to obtain Il circulation, which was entirely
adventurous and which never would have Ia ppcnei
had an honest and bold press been ALONGSIDE Of Won
which would have followed the poison with tho an
tidotc.-Having obtained almost universal
reading; your subscribers hccarlo UNWILLING 10 zur
render the confidence they had reposod in you but
tho days OF dclusion have passed ayyay and reason
has resumed her proper dominion You have G.,
tshed me perfectly, that in your editorial career
you have neither been wise nor candid and that
your columns are not to be relied upon in times oe
danger
Sir, am not done with Your proposed conven.
ton, which in connection with your reason for wish
ing 1t, makes you little better than traitor to the
constitution and the union. The South Carolinia.s
nave some claim to merit, because they arc open
and undisgusod in dec airing their objects; but YOU
who use Janus faced language endslvor TO cor
oea inc motive, by arriving at the same objects in
oiterent way. L must repeat tho question, do
you really think Sir that the twenty states, known
to be in favor OF manufactures, and so speak thro
their representatives in Congress, would elect Nom.
hcrs to 4 convention of different views ? Do you
believe that district which elects 4 mcmbpr of
Congress, who will support the tariff would elect
member of Convention who would repeal i'll
What chance is there of compromise whom YOU say
that nothing shert of reduction of Duties to tho
standard OF revenue, will be accepted by the south}
1 ask you emphaticully what will be the chances
Tor compromise IN Convention, with this object dc
hNy thn 81
batcd, under the influence of rererrcfui faciirp,7
GU are brought Sir, to Il narrow point. and your
own language satisfactorily demo nstrates that Won
desire convention, only for the purpose of max
ing disunion more certain. You ina 20 akpoyIeIg
ed that you desire to "a long pull, strong
pull, and pull altogether" and this triple figure
OF strength must necessarily he directed AGAINST
the Union. on may disguise it as YOU rlelec
you may mystify your language in all The rariou.
forms which belong to the Van Buren, school but
you stand condemned by ever impartial mind
we nave rarely known 4 prophet, who did not re-
1olce TO see his Propheses verified; in 1924, YOU
ProPhesied that the election of Gen. jackson
would prove ga curse to the country" and soon
after you labored TO make HIM tho President -
What are we to think of this? What are we to
think of your motives? WHY either that Won are
purchased up by some concealed considerations or
that you Ted and Toasted upon the dcc Gus rosDect
OF seeing your country cursed with all tho evils of
desPouc government. But l will not dwell upon
this part OF your conduct here it will be reviewed in
the sequel, nor shall stop to notice your late ar
rogant dictaton to the People Of Virginia as to
whom they shall shall not elect Mt tho ensuin n
election; leaving these things for their rroper MA
ees, proceed TO hold you up 10 public view dressed
IN COLOURS which you yourself have chosen from
the year le2i, when your apostacy from sound
principles, II you ever had any, first Showed itself
All your readers may remember that in S23
when tho candidates for the Presidency were known
to bo, Mr.. Crawford, Mr.. CLAY, Mr.. Adams and
Gen. Jackson; you hcsitated between them loDr
after other editors, in every part OF the Union had
taken sides: this was considered not little strange
and no body could account for your hesitation
fubllc opinion in rgina, astounded at your
unacc"untabe and incXplicsble course, but there
was Key to it, which was we'll know TO me. You
were Pausing for the purpose of ascertaining what
chance there might be for Judge IoGre, who was
then alive, but in then declining health; Won voe
deslrous first of seeing whether his health would
improve, and should it be restored: then you would
have caused the public pulse to be fel, bv gentle
paragraphs, beginning with great coyncss but grad
daily becoming bolder, advanced to vour
obJect.-Ihis is thing very little known even in
virginia, and is perhaps almost confined TO few
choice spirits about Richmond-Elr. BiDb Of Ken
lucky whilst in Richmond winter or two before
had SAID that II Virginia would bring out Judge
Noane, Kentucky would support him. j sneak from,
knowledge, Sir, and therefore | speak frcely-Ir
Blbo was known 70 he hostile to Mr.. Clay, ho said
80 upon many occasions whilst ne was in Rich
mond. He said so, both to you and me, though not
at the same time Such, Sir, was the state Of your
mind and feelings in S22 and 1929 you stood nm
committed when Mr.. Clay attended the Virginia
Jects were carefully concealed, and ali depended
upon the improvement Of Judge Roancs health;
In the mean time, whilst Mr. Clay was in Richmond
you visited him regularly almost oyery morning at
his lodgings, at the E7ge; you walked with him,
arm ana arm, more than thousand times. a~ross
che floor Of the supper room, above stairs What
passed will never bc known; the floor c7.,rol sneak
and Mr.. Clay ,r:U not.
But that you gave Mr.. Clay good roasoa to be-
iieye that you were not his enoiry, may venture
TO assert-all your schemes however, were broken
up by tho unfortunate death OF Jsdgc Polne; and
Fzhcn this event occurred, Won cast OF your sierce
and came out for mr. Crawford, not D, cause vot,
were pointed to him b. your Judgment, but because
Jou had clearly ascCrtdined, every BODY erc had
that he would be supported By Firginia-this choice
made By you, not complained Of; though il
looked little odd, after Tho high oulofY which
you had so often iavishcd upon MIR. Adams, br.
short time beforc-S5r, hazard little in saving that
praise of MIR. Adams YOU had. ] regret that
have not access to your files Of 1913, 10 30 tFnt
might give your language in ccicnsO hut as have
notI must be contentto refer your readers TO the En-
qurer OF that day, where amongst other things ccual
IN praise OF him. vow sly that 'y1u (cLl proud Of
being 1orn in Tire iaRd trh;ch hGd gr. Birth 10 such
6tdze NJ tdlcnfS;" and you said h-rc things toe ut
timo, when you know very vol, that Mr. s Jams
would DO run for the Presidency, sftcr sir. Mon
Toes time should pre You had used no such Ian.
guage Mt that time, in favor Of Mr. Cra7 for tho
1t was equally certain that he also would be held
up for the Presidency; say ills upon the authori-
~ OF the fact that when the republican Conrrcs.
sional caucus Of 1915, 'I6, assembled 10 Donirate
a president; though MIR. Crawford refused in an
unqualified manner, 10 allow himself TO be put in