Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-10-23
CONaHzUNECATlONS.
FOR THE ENC IRER


odous llllrd nobility with all is train of evil presidents,
with all its denominations OF privileged vice, Is as yet
unknown, il is sautary effect cxeried by OFT pecu.
liar institutions TO make every member Of the cOninu
nifty sensible that his future happiness unhapPiness,
reputation infomy, must essentially depend on his
| virtues and abilities. Tins does simple and beau
ful Republican system, while it uPhods The cause OF
human virtue, duse al the lime the most benign
tendencies and encouragement towards the elevation OF
| the dignity and public character of the citizen Butt
it, NJ have remarked the confidence of the people be
sweet to faithful public srrvant nothing can be more
certain, than that any subsequent abuse betrayal oil
that confidence will later be visited with their
| just and lasting Indignation And youhn! rs our Re-
public in the chronicle OF Nations yet its annals
thus far, evidently and most concusyey corroborate
the truth "f this remark Lei the fate Of Burr. Of The
elder and the Younger Adams remind all who may feel
disposed either 10 bcray the people or 10 pervert and
abuse public trusts, how inevitable and ingorIous must
be their political death
And uou Mr. Clay, do you, Sir, ntrer recur 10 The
past; Does memory p!oy the traitor with -
Do you mrr find leisure 10 compare your present con-
ditUn with your earlier and more elevated standing on
the stage of public life: Have you never asked your.
self the question, elbow has come 10 pass that man
Of your eminent Abilities should have sought long
and increasingly 10 reach the Chef hlagslacy Of The
Republic only to find yourself at The close Of
long l!e uSt as far or farther removed from The object
OF your wishes than you wfro quarter Of century
ago:" And il you have asked The question, pray,
what has been the answer returned: What has your
conscience answered That be mystery.
answer that for you, if you 'eiH not. YOU BE1RAY.
ED THE POPULAR CAUSE-YOU BETRAYED
THE REPUBLICAN, PARrY-iOU BETRAYED
AND DESERTED THE PRINCIPLES WHICH
HAD ELEVATED YOU IN PUBLIC LIFE and
lrcm that moment the scorn and dlstrust Of every Re-
publican indelbly fixed on ynu from TINT moment
you were morally and politically undone Could you
have reasonably expected different result: DrIud.d,
ambitious mani Did you really believe that this people
were already far stepped in coTruPlion MS to over
look or not overlooking, to connive at, and approve
your own prcfgacy: Did you really believe that
the Decline and Fail OF The American R'pnOI'c,
had in tac,, already commenced; Fatal mistake -
You uiscalcu!alcd, Sir-you overshot the mark -
Methnks you were born Prrm"turcy; you came at
least by several centuries too soon tins bunt, h0-
nest age does all agree with the bent Of your
crnus and the admirable and d'Sintr1cst'd ou,pnuIngs
of your patriotic heart our great mind evidently sut
ers from The of ampler field for duly exercising
It's peculiar rr"pt nscs and cnnoIiiHg UrtUcS Uni"r.
luuaely too TIM and country dn not yet prof
fer such icIi Perhaps, (and say so with sorrow,
for aIn Of those whnsr jars outweigh their hOpcS
as the future preservation oi our measurable Insttu.
tons one or yo Thousand years hence, more when
this b, auiu irmple of lg, and freedom shall be- tot
tr,ing its base through the influence Of human vice
and The uuweIdy, ovcIgrown corruption al the times,
perhaps. Sir, such season Of national decay and oi
moral and political darkness, would afford you sphere
Ci action the suitable 10 Your talents and the most
conscnla +" your exalted IDEAS OF patriotism
Mr. Clay do ! cx2ggcralr, wrong. or mIsreprcsrnt
YOU when say, that had y"u never sold yourself To the
FrGPra!stS that had you been Secretary OF Stale
in the ,r1y gou w"uid IN all human probability,
have been elected President Of the u S before Thu;
l. ii doing you harsh usce Ia that your standing
the eloquent p"pu!ur (and I'll Mca) interrupted
Speaker Of Congress, 10y far nobier and preferable
10 the Secrelaryshp Ut State, under the most selfish,
conlemptihIc and unprncipcd of politicians; Is any
deviation fiom fact 10 stale, that your coalition with
,rh". go" had SCRUBBED 10 GeuounCe your
berest enemy nhom you had both evIlrd nnd dcsPised
from Is 10 down The time wien you did agree 10 make
PRESIDE
opened he eyes of men 10 the reacbery and worthless
mss Of your character; What man, ask, had
greater Inducements to his political honestly
And what ever sacrificed 1t more wantonly, more
basely or for paIiy object: Weak indeed must
be the virtue, and thrice weaker the patriotism. which
could Exchange eternal HONOR$ Cor eternal lNFAMY,
and the hearty confidence of nation OF ireemen Tor
their suspicious and rxcciaon! What public man IN
this country ever had brighter prospects before mm:-
You lad risen by your tacns tr"m obscurity to emf
ncacc You wcrc seitmugM and SELF mnde man
Your addrcSS gotntd gan a rcady admission to
he public councils eJ The You hcrc cnjOycd IN
hgh dcnrcc the prcOgatrc d g,"inS lonr coqucHce had
g0u j*t ami gi0riaEs &rong IN me c0n
dcncc u LOng,cSS strong IRE confidence Of the People,
what high office public honors were there 10 which
you might not reasonably and HONORABLl aspire?
Can man, Sir, thus advantageousiy situated, IN THIS
our Republican America where talent and merit, 1t ho
ncsy drcced last TO meet their just rewnrd
Suddenly forfeit The confidence OF his countrymen, with
out the commission his part OF some black act OF
political turPi'ude; know, and you, Sir, know Also
that such thing rs not even among possible contingent
cics. know, that whenever you do recur TO THIS
reriod of your life cren ppn hardened you are III
political sin must shed tear al the melancholy contrast,
at what You ,ctrc, and what you are! Regret, ITSELF
however, is now perfectly unavang; for It IS not IN
your power, in that o. any man, 10 restore your
lost reputation How this people again feel respect
for man who has self rcsrtr" How Gao they con
fde their Liberties and welfare IN the virtue or
who not proof against the most tring iemP'atio"
If confidence be plant OF slow growth it is also
uIap, that when you impair blight II, no art ana
after efforts tnSaie IN ITS prspc Vgot: MY
Sir will 90 farther and say, that were IL posi-
bic for YOU by the most corrupt and intrigue the
mast dtgraGing to compass the Presidency in le4O your
name and situation would still be any thing but enVia'
Bile. However unrrInciped, sui you are man a"u
will not suppose you devoid OF the very commones
FEELINGS of human II yon are incapable oil low
ing vrluous action for its sake frtn ga" perhaps
cannot altogether avoid the pangs OF conscious guilt
Can the Presidential office deprive constance OF It's sung
Can i, silence the still small voice Can 1t, noble
as i, is when is the we'll deserved NEED OF patriot
ism or unsullicd Abilities prnfer to you sale re-
rupe from your wors, enemy, YOURSELF: cum
q"en7"c jrnuS est su"s tIror m9TNe,t; su mn'ue1
qucmq"c Sec'"S cSLLeRdtt%quc ammi errcnt I0" stunt
eGsms"Gs sidue d0mCsticG turiG quo al6S n0recsqW
m nrnos sccicrib"S JcPct""t Can y"u' TOO al an
PI when existence 10 the vlr'uous, becomes Il"
lines wpaTsurnc and oppressive. ieel mnPP"rs' VI
your own which virtue cannot bestow: Hha' c"rm
can office have for that public man a, the close OF me-
vho must revert 10 the misspen past Win pain anu re-
morse view The present with feverlsh uneasihess, anu
the dark future with sludder: is II INC rove VI pa,
tronage: Is It the lust al powr: Ian II oe, eonu
Heavens the sordId desire after Fecuh'aty graz
Gc,,ion; Vain thought The grave is more po"et'u'
Than all these Or, it b. the wish TO iunu or re
deem name in The last period OF decay; "h'ch was
E,revrr blasted 10 the vg"r OF lis prime oy .he Suy
,;,rs of n, ambi,inn as selfish aud ing orious, ao
!, wns umchas,e Sill vaincr hope What is writ IS
writ, If virtue be lmnnrla vice also has an immortal
~ Of its own (surh asst is) TO boasto Benedict 1rnoIa,
himself will enjoy an tm"ortany ssa'Isy ;f ,hs
/ T,l,o ia In
Of CICERO has come down to us through the darkness I
ensr,ned in all the purity and prestige and excel
beautiful native genius has not nat o. 'ne coh
,,,ty Cn,iIne come down 10 u.s. also, snaicneo from
"mP; .,r,. nv the memory OF qualities that have