Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-09-10
o THE ENQUIRER
INA. not Tor fame, but virtues better end,

"o, ou' N."ue soetef end,
Tho ns.,10a .e ,u''Ou, foe, the timed fiend.'
~ present ar"cie VIII he devoted, TO the ~considera.
o me merits AMI qualifications of Mr.. BENJAMIN Wat.
Etns Leigh, to fill the Office OF President of the United
states a large and highly respectable portion of the peo.
his favour; and to judge from present appearance. those
sentiments are likely TO become general. Placed by his
fellow. citizens In this attitude before the American peo
p'e' let AS test him by the standard oil MI. Jefferson. and
siitution." ' No"'
The character Of Mr.. Leigh, and his conduct through
'ie, both public and private. are before his countrymen.
and l am sure, that he will never de scend to a yiDdication
Of either, Tor the sake OF obtaining any office under Hea.
ven IL say, that he is iDsensible 10 the good opinion of his
ieHow' citizens, would be 10 deny to him the ordinary
feelings Of our nature w are all of u.s." saws an ami.
nen' statesman and orator, "made to shun disgrace, as we
are made 10 shrink from pain, and poverty, and disease"
put mistake him greatly, il he does not value that good
opinion from higher motives, and draw from it greater con.
s % .hsn all that office can besiow. The friends of
VI i,eigh clam Tor him honesty and int gity; in proof
OF winch, they appeal TO a life hitherto without bIemjsb
or reproach. His moral character will challenge the STRICT.
e' inves'gation. He is not less distinguished for the
virtues winch sdorn private life, than for the manly.
,i''n'ui ana conscientious discharge of every duty which
ms country required at his hands. He is a man OF
hrInness, independence and decision of character. Inca,a.
BILE OF a dishonest action himself, he would not tolerate 4,
I'D others. IL elected, he would bring to the administrator
men 10 whom the country can confide, of we'll known
aoih'y and tried integrity; he would purge the Offices of
government OF all incompetent and " orthies, incunbeu,s
ana rebuke that spirit Of ofic &c seeking which has displav.
e a { 70 such an extent Tor a few years past, and which
; % oi me worst symptoms Of the decay of epubIc an
'eehngs' me virtue and morality Of The nation. He would
consider the Offices of government as public proner,v IN
DE disposed OF Tor the public good, not as the spoiis of vic.
o.y, 70 reward ms or that minion, or sycophsnt, or prosti.
tuled newspaper editor.
win regard to bis capacity, /, cannot be questioned by
any man who is at all acquainted with the Constitution
and lave OF Virginia. There is certainly no man living
VINO mas contributed more TO perfect our system of iuris.
prudence Than MIR. Leigh. To his superior Judgment, indie.
ia"gsb'e industry and extensive research, we are inhabited
Ior a code OF laws, which is not less creditabIe 10 himself
,bsn useful 10 the Common W. saith. But. IL further .yi.
dence OF his ability were waning, I would refer 10 IN,
Deoates OF the virginia Convention Co,pposed a. ,ba
oooy was, OF some OF the most able and DISTINGUISHED mo
oil our country, he stood foremost in debate on ali IN. grea
questions, which came before it-uuestions. which inyolv
ed principles the most absiruse in the wbols r,nas ~ ~
hucal science, and which required for their CRASH In,
most vigorous understanding. MIR. Leigh's weigh, o
character, and the confidence reposed in him bv the peo
pie oil Virginia, induced her legislature 10 depute him n
South Carolina, 10 restore harmony between that Stat,
and the General Government . The satisfactory manner il
winch he discharged this highly responsible and delicat
duty, Is already known to the country.
Mr.. Legh's political principles have ever hsrmopiz,,
WIZ tnose OF the republican party. His enlightened am
eonPrehensiVe mind, must ever view The union of tn
o,"'es, a. me only means OF making our country respect
GU ""rodo, anu OF securing to The States Individually, hap
pness wv safety But, al the same time, he will neve
wEv,' W" ~ understands TOO well the character Of III,
= Pe"p'e o ''s country, not TO know, that the weakest cor
TO bind these States together, is Thai Of a violated Consti
tuuon' fbe CONSTITUTION Of the United States was IN
. result OF = spirit OF compromise, OF a mu,ual sacrifice ,
: many diversified and discordaDt interests, for the GOOD
z The whole: The powers granted by the State. arc nlainl
. enumerated, ana were principally designed TO guard IN
I, external relations and interests Of the country Tn
$ management Of our internal concerns was wiseiv l.o
the respective States, who are better ausIi6ed. and e.
y Os'ter opportunities OF knowing what is essential N N
. welfare OF each. Whep, therefore, Congress shall s.som
powers not 'u'horized BY the grant, when they shall bold