Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-25

cerel Y trust, that the bill will not be decided in the Sc.
nate, until the other side is heard.-Editor.
FOR THE RICHMOND ENG UIRER.
Mr.. CLAY-MR. C~ALHouNm"A FRIEND OF STATE
Some two years ago, | remember to have seen, in the
Richmond Wing, a series of Letters addressed to
"Hcnry Clay," by one who signed himself "a Friend
of State Rights" at first supposed that they were in.
tended as grave homilies to that gentleman, whose po-
litical course had been so fatal to the principles of which
the letter. writer protested to be friend. A few mum.
bers, however, convinced me OF the error of my i'm
pressions. The letters spoke for themselves; and, SO
far from being condemnatory Of MIR. Clay, they seemed
designed to set him up as the especial champion of State
Rights, worthy Of all praise, and above all ordinary dis.
tinctions!-The next development they contained,
was an unwearied bitterness of hate towards Mr.. Cal.
houn. By the time the series reached the fourth num-
Der, Mr.. Clay seems to have vanished from before the
vision Of the writer, and no object remained within the
limits of his horizon but MIR. Calhoun alone; and never
did statesman have TO Withstand such a tempest OF
wrath! The letters ran up to eiereR numbers-fast
fierce and furious. Each out-did its predecessor ir pc.
tulant TRADE and clamorous invective.
Well, the fretful torrent, meeting with no impcdi-
ment, soon exhausted itself, and the channel of reck-
less vituperation became dry. The Wing emptied into
the current its oozy tributaries Of defamation, but in
vain. The Senator from South Carolina, looked on
this petty hurricane with perfect unconcern, or silent
contemplate him, it was no more than the ''crackilng
of faggots under a pot" and Mr.. Clay's letter-writer,
baffied in his Vaccinations, shrunk back into obscurity
and silence, mnttering curses as he went.
Thus ended the first "Fytte' of this assailant's pro-
sale petulancies.-But two years of reflection have not
sweetened his temper, nor lessened his hate. The 0dium
in I0ngum jaccns gathers vigor by time and asperity by
indifference; and he again appears in the arena, whip
ped into madness by his own wild passions, and laying
about him with the recklessness of an idiot, and the
fury of a maniac.-Truly, the ~Sutjcctof such dstemp.
cred feelings is more to be pitied than the Otject-as |
b,,,rd nothip1 IN sovinn ha will in thn nrasant coSc
at least, be the greatest sufferer. But why all this
display of malice towards Mr.. Calhoun for the let
tiers contain nothing else. The name of Henry Cluy
at their head, is only placed there to attract that notice,
which the letters themselves would never otherwise
secure. They have little or nothing to say to him, or
of him; save now and then, a fnlsome pancgyric, suit
ed to the supercilious spirit of Federalism. The bur.
den of the song is Mr.. Calhoun; and he confesscs that
his Indignation is so great, he finds it almost impossible
to guide his pen from him!
Mr.. Calhoun, it seems, has offended this doughty
writer, because he would not sell himself to Mr.. Clay
and the Federal party in the ensuing contest for the
Presidency. He has, too, united with the " advocates
Of the Proclamation and Force Biz! Can it be be-
lieved by any one, that this charge would have been
brought against him from this quarter, had he united
with Harrison, Clay and Webster? We're they not, and
are then not the "advocates of the Proclamation and
Force BILE" Does not this reckless assailant knowit i:
He ocs-And is it for him to charge others with SIMS
ter motives, and shameless regeneration, when he
himself stands banded with Webster, Clay, Tappan,
Garrison & Co. in their crusade against the principles
of the State Rights party, and the property of the
South? And where is his ".7bdislof ratification and
his ttLrsa .Hajor;" these Wanted men of spirit and pu-
rity above their fellows? Are they not part and parcel
of the same unholy league' What are they contcnding
for' Principles What principles? Those that lie at
the foundation of a Bank of the u. S.-a Protective
Tariff-Internal improvements, Abolition, &C.? Those
that constitute the bone and sinew of Federalism
Either this, or something worse.-Ift they are faithful
to their allies, it must be Mis-if not, it must be for
Porer-for the "loares and .fSheS."-Let this writer,
and those who act with him, decide as they please; the
country will render its judgment against them.
| repeat the question, what are these pseudo State
Rights men contending for, For State Rights princi.
ples' When were Clay, Webster, Harrison & Co.,
formally installed as High Priests of the State Rights
Party? BY whom were they SO installed? How long
has It been since this Letter writer himself denounced
them as Federalists? Let hin read a certain Address
TO the people Of a certain district in a Western State,
and his memory will be refreshed. To give the inter-
rogatory a negative character, What are these pseudo
State Rights men opposed to: Is it to the principles OF
the Proclamation ? Why are they then banded with
Clay, Webster g. Co., who, notwithstanding their vio-
lent opposition to Jackson, grounded their arms and
went over into his camp, and gave IN their support,
without even the ceremony OF an invitation-nay,
when they were scoffed at and spurned? Is it TO the
Force Bill? The same stern inquiry meets them in the
face. Is it to the Expunge? Why are they then
leagueQ Win MeSSrS. NiVeS, ldIlIIduge So.-thc
very men they denounced for that act, more than all
others?-oue of them, (Rives,) the identical individual
who turned out Tyler and Leigh, their Senators, by
means of this very Expunge! Is it to Abolition .
Why are they then found, side by side, with that party
in the North which, not two years ago, voted nnant-
mousiy against the Wings of the South, and ntm Slade,
Adams & Co, on the question of Abolition: IS 1t to
the usurpations of the Federal Government Let their
associates, Messrs. Clay, Webster 81 Co., the advocates
of every act heretofore deemed an u%surpation on the
part Of Congress, answer the interrogatory: is II 70
E1ecutire usurpations' Messrs. Rives, Tallmadge ~
Co, their neU bcLoued cousins and cOnnSetorS, stand
ready to defend each and every act which made zen.
Jackson's administration obnoxious to these pure, pa
triotic and disinterestedf friends Of State Rights. Is II
to a wasteful expenditure of the public treasure! RAM
the skull of Yorick did not stir the "gorse more SEN
siblv A Federal Wing voting against expenditures
The marty that reported and roted for appropriations to
the amount of SIXTY-SEVEN MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS. in one year, ADORE the actual appropria-
tons, to talk of their regard for economy" Why, these
men must consider the country in a state OF idiocy, that
they thus attempt TO play oil upon 1t such miserable
stuff. And these are the men who undertake to read
lectures to Mr.. Calhoun on consistency! Surrounded
on all sides-hemmed in by tergiversations the most
plarinp and reckless, it is impossible for charity herself
to cover their delinquencies. They are going for poac-
er, regardless of consequences. To turn out, and to
turn in, is all they care for. Principles may take care
of themselves, and they will do likewise. They are
hungry, and the "spols Of office" are to them better
than an Egyptian banquet.
But I will not extend these remarks. Had the writer OF
these letters to Mr.. Clay, confined himself SIMPLY 10 Inc
adulation Of his new leader, or to a defence OF ms own
most glaring inconsistencies, he had passed unnoticed
by me. His last letter is the weakest attempt at argu-
ment | have met with from the numerous s%crlbolers
against the constitutional Treasury Bill. Russia II
seehs, funded her public debt; and the conclusion u.s.
thas the bill is worse than any thing which has appear
ed from the time of Cesar to Napoleon! Against such