Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-19
CDs & constitutional gCsDte.
THOMAS RlTCtIE \ QUALIFICATION.
Vi, \ Inn n pi,JsyufS EsJ:


remarks which | address, d 10 you Il lew weeks
since, OF the subject OF his change of opinion con-
corning the Cirolma doctrines. Mr. r. asserts
that when lac published the prcjGt Of certain
distinguished Judge. to NuiiJy the Judgments of
the Supreme Court lie neither lLu led recon-
,ncndc the scheme to the Legislature. BE il SO.
] did not re.rg to the files OF The Enquirer, and
wrote from the powerful Impressions which the
whole affair had left upon my mcmory. NJ: Rs
denial, however, | consider puipube evasion.
No man understands better than he, nor practiscs
with more sScccss, that ingenious artifcc, by which
responsibility is either assumed, avoided cir
cumsunccs render tho the other cxpcdcnt
ii no did not dpprOoe the novel and dangerous
scheme of arrcs,ng forci6y the Federal authority,
emauating il did from source which, in ms
own opinion, Was 81 cminently wise and patriotic,
why did he not at the time, intimate his diSoppfo-
baton? Why did he not accompany the pubc;,-
ton of the Bin with single word OF dissent,-
with even feeble protest against its perncious
tendency Tie answer is perfectly obvious TO
those who are not at all familiar with the little tue
ties OF the enquirer Its Editor ventures
rashly or incautously upon untrcd ground. He
first throws out his Jceiers, and worry respectfully
and dcvoutly woOes that mistress OF his idoatry-
public opinion. When he throws base coin into
circulation which Inc wishes to pass current, no
gives it conspicuous place Ill his paper--culls
from all the polluted presses in the country, what
ever is said its praise, and excludes every thing
which brcathos condemnation of ccnsurc. With
out hazarding sentiment himself pro con, he
waits patiently until the popular gale is waited
back-and the wind sets North or
South. so sure does this skiltul mariner trim his
sails. He quotes an article from his paper in
which the Multiplying prCjet IN question was disaP-
proved But when was this article writtcnl Not
until the public Indignation had decisivcly frowncd
down the scheme. Then, indeed, Mr. Richie
thought ''thut no such Bill ought to be passed"
Does any man, not wilfuily blind, believe, that if
the voice of the people had responded aPprobation-
if the Legislature had taken up the scheme with
the fair prospect OF giving it effect, Mr.. Richie
wOul1 bet loudly "A 6
defence? That have not " ronged Mr.. K. in this
estimate of his tnc-serving, Jcsutical principles,
will select single case from hundred others
which ought TO DO familiar TO his readers If any,
or all OF them, were asked to declare from
memory, what course tho Enquirer pursued
in relation to the appointment of Gwnn by the
President atlcr the adjournment of Congress, will
venture to assert that ninc out OF ten would reply,
that the Presidents justified. This
opinion would be perfectly natural; for it cannot
be forgotten that all the apologies of the Globe,
and other Administration prints, in behalf of that
ligh-handed proceeding, wero crowded into the CO.
luuis OF the Enquirer, whilst not sentence which
condemned it, was permitted TO appear. Yet the
Edityr Of that pGper did not dare himself, to Just
in Gtciga's appointment! lie knew well that to
paliatc that enormous violation of the Gems tuton
would rise up in Judgment against him hereafter;
and the time 'oW prObat!y come, when he will re-
fer his to his files, and defy them TO pro.
ducc single cdiOriai paragraph eXcusing the Pre-
sidonrs Like the Countryman in the ia
bic, he points to the thicket which conccals the
hunted deer, but observes himself profound ST.
lcncc!
n say again, that the Richmond Enquirer is the
Fountain source and origin tho Notification doc
trinc. 1t is true that the Editor has not cspoused
the hcrcsy exactly by that But this is poor
evasion "a rose by any other name, will smell
Ms Sweet-and moral treason and disatiection, are
just rank and offensive when Dicknamed public
virtue and patriotism. Who OF all the readers of
the Enquirer, Will believe for moment, that the
wild fluctuations of Governor Gilcs-his Golden
shots and Pol
approved il heart aud soul by Thomas Ritchic?-
The contrary assertion, though coming from
the Editor himself, is too ridiculous for reutation
What are Rtchie's State Right Doctrines when pur-
sued to their Legitimate cOnscquences-but gross
and undiSguiSCd Notification! What is the mean
ing Of his late letter TO Georgian, in which ho
says-''We repeat TO you privately, what we have
often pUhlickly pronounced, that we will not
submit to the ;arilF law of 1928 or 1882" Not
submit! Does not resiStcncc-forc blc resistance
necessarily follow when we determine not TO sub
init? Can sophistry itself, escape this conclusion?
What more than this, is protested intended, by
the South Carolina leaders? If Richie will not
submit-what kind of resistance does he contem-
plate! Will he seccde from the Union, inter
pose the power of the State in order to protect
her sovereignty? VIII he go headiong out of the
Uhion, because the duty upon wooens is a little
too high viii he nulIiiy the Tariff, and remain
Sin and out of tie Union at the same timer" Or
does the venerable Editor mean by not Submiffing
that lie will go on longer, Ito his language)
'and exhaust every umIcablc topic of expostuaton
s. reform, that he will appeal to the Legislatures to
the people, and 10 the lCorid!-that lie will declare
in the most pcqceGbie Manner the unconstitutional
iy of these proceedings i'll the Federal Govern.
ment--communicate the declaration to other
States, aud invite their concurrence in like de-
claratIon?" If this be Mr. Ritchies meaning let
me put to him two plain questions. How
long will this process of remonstrance, decara
ton and petition continue? Win it be carried on
for ono, vo, ten years more and If for the lat
ter period, and without favorable result, what
course will then be recommended and finally adopt
cd! Let mo give to these nterrogatories another
form. Will the Editor Of the Enquirer agree TO
GrpoStulate until Andrew Jaeksons second term,
and Martin Van BIrcn's eight years in succession,
have expired; or if porchauce Henry Clay or Wan
Writ should be inaugurated in March, 1888, will,
he then say that tie time for action has arrired?
wish that the venerable gentleman would condo.
scend TO favor me with his answer TO these plain and
simple inquiries.
Ono word more for Mr.. Richie. lie has said
over and over again, the protecire poicy was odi>
Gus and abominab.c, and must be rcpealcd;-that
the Union could not endure, if that policy was per
sisted n-thlt he himself, wonld never slug,ber
until the principle was abandoned, and The system
rent into atoms; and M1t II GcneyGl Jacksoa toas
Fecected thc cdOte policy IcOUid be materially nsod
fed, i not dcsirCyed ! state the substance of his
editorial opinions, and CiIo them from memory. |
would not wifuly mist1C, but cannot be mis-
taken. Now is NJ r. Richie so ieHoraat as TO be.
love that the protective principle OF rolicy Will
ever be abandoned, or If he does not entertain
(he beliefs bo so designing as to profess it pub
licly for clcctioncorng and political purposcs7 II
is utterly impossible that Tie pr0iecfire princjpe
eUcr sh0ntd he yeLdcd GHd il is dle and ridicuI1us
TOR dng man IN ms ScHSss, Z, srPcct il. Mr.. Richie
himself, i he kpOrs dDy fiiug At the SiGfes noyfb
Of the Poiontac, does not, and cannot suppo-e il.
and l am reluctantly constrained 60 think that all
his bod assertions and confident predictions 70
that cllcct, neither nor less than so much