Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-03-14

should exceed that judico,s limit. And il is very
probable that the president would have retired had Il
not been for the circumstances which resulted from this
correspondence and which compelled him, for the sake
of his country, 20 continue in Office contrary 10 his
private wishes All true friends of their country must
have persuaded tie president to this course. 1t was
carly crcseen, that If he retired the republican party
would be divided; dscord would be thrown among
them; such ieaousieS and rivalricS would be created
as to cnd1nger the success of the administration and
secure the final triumph of the opposition, and OF the
federal principles which they advocated These views
were presented to the mind of the president; he readily
the necessity of his continuance in Office in order
to secure the of those reiormatons which he
had begun, and the complete reesabishment of those
republican principles which had been banshcd from the
government during the preceding adminstraton-hc
therefore, consented TO be placed in nomination for the
second term.
This determination however, exceedingly un-
pleasant to the vice presidents and he determined To
seek the first occasion to break of from the admins
tratlon. He conceived that u correspondence then
going on between himself and the president in reference
To some bygone transaction originated and design
ed for his rum. The subject of this correspondence
was wholly of private nature, and neither concerned
the public interest, nor affected the measures of the
administration But finding himself placed i'm an en-
barrassng situation, dsgoced in the estimation of that
man whom he had deceived-whout influence in a
cabinet, where his friends had degraded themselves by
low intrigue for party purposes he resolved to make
the occasion for an explosion with the administration
and am appeal to the sympathies of the people.
After the correspondence to which VIC have alluded
had continued some time, nothing TRANSFERRED which MIGHT
not have been explained and satisfactorily adjusted with
amnd predlspoSed REORGANIZATION. Atleas here was
far opportunyfor the vice president obrng into exer
else that devotion the public service he had
so loudly protested Here occasion to sacrifice
with immortal honor to himself all personal consdera-
tons on the altar of the public good-to bury in
oblivion all private anmostes and adhere IN nm o,n;
nistraton which he had assisted in bringing into power
whose principles and actions he proiessed to approve
and on whose success he and all his partzans declared
the prosperity and the existence of our federal
union mainly depended now was the time to disnlav
that Roman virtue, that disinterestcd devotion to pr
ciple which so many profess and few practice But
dsinteresed patriotism had ceased be ruling passio
with the vice presidents ambition had banisbed that
virtue from his bosom. Possessing an active mind and
restless spirit political strife and stirring scenes of
mental excitement the very elements in which he
delights to move And here fair AN opportunity
to stir the elements of dscord let pass unmproyed
He cast off all Northumberland that himself and his
friends were doomed to proscription-that foul plots
had been conceived and dark assssnatons of character
planned and directed by that artfu rival who was
seeking his destruction; he appealed for protection to
a noble and generous people, who have ever shown a
disposition TO support the oppressed-to sustain the
persecued-and TO protect with violence if me-
cessary, the object of vindictve and tyrannca nro
scription The vice president knew well the character
of the people to whose sympathies he appealed: and
he was not disappointed in his expectations LARGE
and respectable party in the south deserted the adm
nstration to follow the fortunes of their own leader
whose guidance they had been accustomed to obev
Many who had never been political friends of the vice
president looking upon him prosecuted man. and
the obectof executive vengeance felt their sympahes
his cause not a statesman but as a man.
In every country there is large class of men so self
conceltedas to approve ofnohng in which they haveno,
the chief management disposed to cavil and TO
fault finding, they seek the first opportunity to become
opponents of government, which not administered
precisely according to their exalted notions proprety
and excellence. There are always many elected office
holders, and many disappointed Office hunters who of
course prae loudly on the corruption of the times the
unprncpled character of the government, and whose
piOs sodS feel IL solemn duty they 10 their co,tru 10
G ton. '''''' '' "' "'' "''S'"'' "e "'"'''si'a-
There are many whose scope of vision can only ex-
tend to the undcrstrappers and the menials of office
should these poor, degraded pelfseekng souls like
themselves, be unable discharge the duties of their
respective Offices with entire am
eye single to the public good forthwith these learned
whole administration is degraded and unprncipled-f
the chief Executive officer of the government has not
the hundred, sleepess eyes of Argus so MS TO dis
cover and to correct, the slightest disorder in the OBJ
scllrest post-ofce thousand miles off-immedatelv
our immaculate sons Of purity declare with significant
nod, that the whole government is i'm confusion and
Will soon come TO an end. IL to be expected that
all these descriptions of men would organize themselves
INTO party and array their forces against the govern
ment, under the first popular leader that might offer
himself. This is no new thing under the sun; the
pages of history abound with similar examples When
David fed to the cave of Adulam "eoery one That ,oas
IN Distress and every that tcas in debt and epey1 one
that disseminated gathered themselves ,fo him and
he became a captain them"
Catalina also became the ruling spirit around whom
n similar band assembled themselves These dsinter-
ested patriots discoursed nightly the corruption of
the times-amidst their own debaucheries mourned
over the degen9dcy Of Rome-and, whilst overwhelmed
with perdy, felt the necessity of cleansing the govern
ment from that pollution which time and vainy had
collected The first object of those ancient Jacobins
was to drive from the helm, nav to assassinate that
aoatch ran who thwarted all their patriotic de,;gns
Now, fellow citizens, who think you was that front
that cruel oppressor at the head of the Roman republic
Cicero, the orator. the patriot the statesmanCceo in
whose name thing that ennobes the
human character for virtue and wisdom. Yesl il was
Cicero who hunted out and brought speedy punish
ment those pretended sons Of bery-and hence the name
of Cicero was branded as twant-Cicero who himself
fell the last noble victim, the crumbng and pershn
altar of Roman liberty.