Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-06

the State Governments, nor TO discourage them non
making proper cnis IL! their own relief; on the con
rary duty to encourage them, To the extent o.
our constitutional authority 10 apply their best
and chccruy TO make all necessary sacrifices and sub
NIT 10 all necessary burdens TO fulfil their engagements
and maintain their credit for the character and credit
of The several States form part of the character and
credit of the whole country. The resources of the
country are abundant, the enterprise and activity Of
people provcrbal and may well hope that wise
legislation and prudent administration, BY the respec
tive Governments, each acting within It's own sphere
VIII restore former prosperity
Unpleasant and dangerous collisions may
sometimes be, between the constituted authorities OF
the citizens OF our country, in relation to the lines
which separate their respective jurisdictions, the re-
suits can be OF vital injury institutions, If that
ardent patriotism, that devoted attachment to liberty
that spirit OF moderation ard nrbearance for which our
counrymen once distinguished, continue TO be
cherished If this continues 10 be the ruling passion
of souls the weaker feelings of the mistaken enthu-
siast will be corrected, the Utopan dreams of the
scheming politician dsspaled, and the complicated in
trlgues of the demagngus rendered harmless. The
spirit Of liberty is the sovereign balm for every injury
which institutions may receive On the contrary,
that can be used in the construction of Go
vernment, division Of powers, no distribution of
checks in its several departments, will prove eectua 10
keep us free People, if this spirit is suffered to decay
and decay it will without constant nurture To Le ne
elect of this Duty the best historians arce in a,trbut-
ing The ruin of all the Republics with whose existence
and all their writings have made acquainted. The
same causes will produce the effects and as
long az The love OF power dominant passion OF the
human BOSOM, and as long the understandings o
men can be warped and their affections changed by
operations upon their passions and preudces, long
VIII the liberty OF people depend on their own con-
slant attention to ts preservation. The danger to
ell-establshcd free governments arises from the
willingness OF the People 10 hseve in its existence
or from the influence Of designing men, dverting Their
attention from The quarter whence it approaches TO
source from which It can come This is the ole
trick of those no would usnrp the Government oil then
country. In the name OF Democracy they speak warn
ing the people against the influence of wealth and the
danger of arstucracy History, ancient md MODERN is
full Of such examples CTsar became the master 81
the Roman people and the Senate, under the prctence
Of supporting the Democratic claims Of the former
against the Aristocrucy OF the latter; Cromwell
in the character of protector of the Liberties Of
the People, became the dictator of England; ant
Bolivar possessed himself Of unlimited power, with
the title OF his countrys Liberator. There is, the
contrary no single instance record Of extensive
and welI.eslabshcd republic being changed into an
arstocracy The tendencies Of all such Governments
in their decline is 10 monarchy; and the antagonist
principle to liberty there the spirit of factIon-a
spirit which assumes the character, and in times Of
great excitement imposes itself upon the People the
genuine spirit Of freedom and like the false Chrsts
whose coming oretod by the Saviour, seeksto, and
were il possible would, impose upon The true and mos,
faithful disciples Of liberty. 1t is in periods like this
that brhonvcs the People to be watchu Of those
To whom they have intrmsed power. And although
there is at times much difficulty in distinguishing the
false from the true spirit calm and dispassionate nvcs
tgation will detect the counterfeit well by the cha
Of lis operations the results that produced
The true spirit of liberty although devoted, persever
ing, bold, aud Incorporating in principle, that Sc
cured is mild, and tolerant, and scrupulous as to the
means it employs whilst the spirit of party, assuming
to be that Of liberty is hars yndlc;ive, and ntoleant
and totally reckless TO the character Of the allies
which II brings to the aid Of its cause. When the
genuine spirit of liberty anima,es the body OF people
10 thorough examination Of their affars, it leads to
the cxcsion OF every which may have fast
ened itself upon any Of the Departments Of the Co
vsrnment and resorea The system 10 It's pristine health
and beauty. But The reign Of m inioerant spirit Of
party amongst free people, seldom fails TO result in 4
dangerous accession 10 the Executive power introduced
and established amidst unusual professions Of devotion
TO democracy.
The foregoing remarks relate almost exclusively TO
matters connected with domestic concerns. II may
bel proper, however, that should give some indca-
tons my ellowcitizens of my proposed course Of
conduct in the management of our foreign relations
| assure them, therefore, that it is my intention to
use every means in my power to preserve the
friendly intercourse which now go happily sub
ssts with every foreign nation; and that, although,
Of course, not well informed to the state of any
pending negotiations with any of them, see in the
personal characters Of The Soyereigns, well in
the mutual interest Of our own and of the Govern
ments with which relations most intimate, u
pleasing guaranty that the harmony important to
the interests Of their Subjects as well as our citizens
will not be interrupted by the advancement Of any
claim, prclension upon their part TO which our honor
would not permit US to yield. Long the defender Of
my countrys rights in the field, trust that my fellow
citizens will not in my earnest desire to preserve
peace with foreign Powers any indication that their
rights viii be sacrificed the honor of the nation
furnished, BIZ any admission on the part Of their Chief
Magistrate unworthy Of their former glory.
In our intercourse with our Aboriginal neIghbors,
the same iberanty and justice, which marked the
course prescribed 10 BY two of my llusrious pre-
deccssors when acting under their direction IN the
discharge of duties of Superintendent and CON-
missioner, shall be strictly observed. ! can conceive
Of no more sublime spectncle-none more likely to pro-
oitiate an impartial and common Creator, than rigid
difference to the princp of justice the part Of
powerful nation in its transactions with weaker and
people, whom circumstances have placed al
Is disposal.
Before concluding, fellow citizens, must say some
hing 10 you the subject OF the parties at this time
existing in our country. To il appears perfectly
,lenr that the interest OF that country requires that the
violence Of the spirit by which those parties at this
lime governed, must be greatly mt'g'ted, if not en-
rely extinguished, consequences will ensue which
Ire appalling TO be thought OIL lfp-res in Rcpub-
&c are necessary 10 secure degree 81 vigilance SUM-
mt 10 keep the public unctionares within the bounds
If law and duty, Mt that point their usefulness ends
Beyond that they become destructive Of public
virtue, the parents Of spirit antagonist TO that Of
liberty, and, eventually, lis inevitable conqueror We
examples Of Republics, where the love Of coun.
ny and of liberty, al time, were the dominant pas
,ons of the whole mass of citizens. And yet, with
he continuance of the and forms ot free Govern
nj not vesge of these qualities remaining in the
Iosom Of any of lis citizens. 1t was the beautiful
emark ola distinguished English writer, that " in the
Roman Senate Octavius had party, and Anthony a
,ar;y but the Commonwealth had none Yet the ST.
,a,e continued to meet in The Temple of Liberty, to
ak of the sacredncss and beauty of the Common
wealth and paze at The statues the elder Bruus and Of
he Cur,ii and Dec And the people assembled in the
Drum, not as in the days Of Camns ard the Scipios,
cast their free votes for annual Magistrates pass
mon The acts of the Senate, but 10 receive from the
lands of The leaders of the respective parties their
hare of the spois, and to shout for one, or the Other
IS those collected in Gaul, or Egypt and the Lesser
,sia, would furnish the larger dividend. The spirit Of
ibery had led, and, avoiding the abodes Of civilized