Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-30
THE RETORT COURTEOUS.

The Charleston Mercury appears to cbuckle nj
the attitude in which we stand. We have, forsooth,
been put upon our defence-and it is pleased to au-
CUR this as favourable sign of the progress of Null
LITIGATION in the Old Dominion. We assure the wor
thy Editor that the sign to which it attaches so
much importance is as deceptive as il is insippifi-
cant-and that is not the first tine that we have
been induced to make such an exposition of orr
principles, IN courtesy to waning minorty AS we
have repeatedly said, we cannot expect to please
every body, as the poor fool attempted who was car
rying his ass to market-and we were therefore de-
termlned to please ourselves, if we pleased no one
else Our political institutions upon two great
pillars-the Rights and the Union of the Sides
and 1t has been our great object to preserve them
botb against the attacks of the consolidatonsts and
the Vaccinations oftbe nullifiers We have attempt
ed to preserve the due equipoise between BOTH so
as to prevent the General Government from IRISH
ing into consolidation and the States into dissou-
ton of the Union. The first extreme would infalli
bly, conduct us to great oppression, and probably TO
monarchy: the last would subject us to insults and
injuries from abroad, to contentious and bloodshed
at home" (Preface to John Tator's Construction
Construed" penned in .Nor. 1S20.)
How TAR we have succeeded in convincing others
OF the consistency of our views and the integrity of
our course, 1t is not for to pronounce But this
we can safely say with good conscience that never
have we witnessed such varieties of scbsms spring
ing up and such excitement of the passions through
out the land-but never have we been more com
petely satisfied with the propriety Of our own course
80 much for ourselves! And now we have to adj
dress few words, by way Of returning the compli-
ment, TO the Mercuries of the South.
We put them upon their defence. We ask them
IN the first place TO read with attention the luminous
Exposition, which we have this day copied from the
winchester Virginian, of the extraordinary terpver
sa'Ion OF their late Editor Mr. Pnckney, and now the
for the Ii. Of R.-Will they be good enoupb n
say whether they have ever witnessed more ex
raordinary revolution Of principles, i'm the opinons
OF any private gentleman" II is true thut thew
nave Deen accustomed to such wonderful bo,Iepersc
e"s ~, .'e sentiments OF their leaders-and, there
iore ey may not be astoDshed ut the article which
Immediately follows, from the "Flag of the Union y
IN which Nlessrs May and Prioleau figure in such
brilliant contrast. ~
but we have much greater politician than either
PiDckney and Prioleau-whose astonishing Revo
iutons are even more remarkable than those of the
other gentiemen-and almost equal to those of Mr.
Calhoun himself-We happen to have i'm orr hands
John Iaylors "New Views Of the Constitution ne
the U. Sand we see the 18th Section is dedico
tea to most mastery refuaton of Mr.. McDufie's
zone of the Peope"-Never have we seen 40 com.
plete an excoration performed upon the "Fpider-
mics ofany politician whatsoever We shall NOT CO.
Ply the article immediatey-but we content onr
serves with copying some "Select Extracts of Mr.
mcD's pamphlet Hear him!
r ~ ne General Government is struly the Government
o. we Whofe people, the State Government is of part
OF 'ne people The Constitution in the language of lie
pe"oe, was ordained and established by the people Of
wy. " o,ales; The moment The people met in Conven.
noo ~ .ne elements Of political power returned 10 them
o,eoe s ne" mohhcation and distribution, by their
sovereign "h what security then did the Convention
or 10 o'her words "the People OF The IT, States provide
70 restrain 'he,r iunconsries from usurpiog powers moi
ue'egseo ano from abusing those with which they are
resly invested! Was II by the dscordant csmous. snd
awess resistance Of the State rulers that ey intended
70 insure domestic tranquility and form more perCec,
Omon' No; the Constitution will tell You what !. ,he
e security provided II Is the responsibility Of the Off
S's 0, me General Government 10 themselves the peo
inherentyighfsg ~ s"'"''
Agofn--" Ambitious men of inferior talents. 6od;oo