Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-11-25
POLITICS..
Mr .Lea.rsouian Republican,

r, The Editor Of The Jefersoniaa Republican
am not IN the habit Of complaining Of the censufe
IS The nress. or of individuals AS u public man, !
acknowledge my responsibility 10 pubic opinion
,f am sometimes judged harshly, or condemned u,'
Justly, it is 4 misfortune which | have, IN common VIII"
I'll others connected With political life. 1t is the pnvi-
lege, and The duty Of the public, to Judge oil the men
and the measures connected with, or IN any WISE
affecting their Government. ltis due, however, 10 tue
public interests, as well as TO private feelings, that s"'s
,ndgment should be controlled By facts, if not tempered
by candor. 1t would be better, perhaps, Tor our puoi'c
interests, certainly better for our social relations, SINCE
we cannot all think alike scarcely on any SUBJECT !
those " tho profess to testify, or TO reason 'aifiF' "ou'u
either state the case as it is, or, If they must neeos ms
represent it, that they would abstain from Inc coarse
ribaldry and angry remuneration, which disgus's' with-
out convincing, exaspera,es, without ehiishleh'hg III
public mind.
These reflections have been suggested By the very
uncandid, mot to use q stronger terml editorial com
ments, in the last Advocate, on my character ana course
The Editor was in The Courthouse on last Court day,
and heard the discussion between Mr.. Irving ana my
self, and an, therefore, at n loss to conceive why he
has SO entirely misconceived or mIsrepresented almost
every thing which did occur. appeal TO those who
were there likewise, without regard to their political
opinions, if they would recognize the events oil thas
day from the fancy sketch of the Advocate. DOCS Tue
Editor OF the Advocate avail himself of his position to
crafty q personal resentment towards me, or, does he
really expect 10 convict me Of the charges he prefers
without %proofo or argument, and, By an impoteh' spieea'
which exci,es in o:hers, a 1t does IN ME, n ieeilhg' inucn
more nearly allied 70 pity, than resentment. ii le
Editor Of the Advocate has any private grievance Il"
urge against me, he sees me daily, and should make II
known, without attempting TO enlist against me 'he
personal hostility OF his readers, orr VI q roweriu! pom.
teal party. merely 10 cover his revenge. Since the lasl
io,arview between the Editor and myself now more
than a yea. past, | have forborne 10 speak OF HIM or ms
paper, though there hape heeti occasions when nhght
have retalaled some Of the abuse he has heaped On me,
if his example could have so lar warranted inc III TOT
-. .-n oal raenDnt
have endeavored al all times TO MAINTAIN by such
reasons as | could give any opinion | may have enter
tanned SIS 10 measures or men. Wherever was per
United was ambitious 10 do 30 win due REGARD 10 Tue
feelings Of those who did not think with me. Thus IS
the only way in which conviction can result IRON DIS
cussion, or in which mutual respect may exist where
opinions conflict. The editor OF the Advocate cannot
forge, that l asked permission TO discuss IN has own
columns, the political topico on which we differed,
believe, for the first time, after the extra session OF
isu. This reoues, vas denied. lha,e avowed 4 Will
inraess 10 discuss them at all tunes and places, yet Tue
editor oi the Advocate, who 10 frequently III the habit
of public speaking, has preferred taking refuge under
tie ~ribaldry oc his columns and exhibiting repeated ana
unfonnded charges, some specimens Of which VIII now
proceed 10 notice, that the public may see with what
fairness | am treated.
The frs, charge against me in the last Advocate rs
one of"apos,acy. "A postacy from whom or from what,
The editor does not vouchsafe 20 inform his readers
He SAYS, | was elected 10 Congress "eve1y inch a
Whip"-ye, | declared IN 4 circular addressed TO the
district, aud published by the editor OF the Advocate
with commentator before The election, The opinions
which. as o Representative, ! have maintained on ali
the leading political questions since. Does my apes.
rocv consist in adleling 10 these opinions, or in moi
apcstatizinp from them; The editor OF the Advocate
approved me then as "cveTy inch a Wing, though
/ was opposc, 10 the authority or eXPed'ency oil
the Federal Government creating any sort Oh Bank,
10 a Protective Tariff, or 10 any measure OF Co
yernmen, which unnecessarily increased The bur.
dens of taxation on The people. The editor oil lie
Advocate has recently inscribed at his mast head an
,nyoice Of principles which he did not then profess,
and which he knew repudia,ed IN common with thou
sando Of others, who like me are now likewise aPos-
tates. The catalogue concludes, 'and az the best means
Of securing all these great objects, the elevation OF Hen
nv Clay, of Kentucky, TO the Presidency. 1t MIR.
Claws "elevation to the Presidency was not Tie test
of orthodoxy in 1910 or in 1911, who has apos,atzed,
he who adleres to the opinions lac then expressed, or
,eose who have since avowed doctrines which were mol
then entertained, or If entertained, were studlons-
~ denied and concealed: lfa refusal to support MIR.
Clay is apostaey, then the whole Wing Convention
ut Harrisburg IN $50, we're aposta.cs-a large majo.
rity of the American pe.p,e al three different elections
have been aposta;es; and las', though not leas, The Al
vocnte itself IS an apos'aie, tor iselieve it has never
ADVOCATED his election until recently. Suppose The Ad-
vocate shoald next choose TO take MIR. 5 q. Adams
'sas the best means OF securing great objects -hich il
never before avowed, such as abolition, Insurrec3on,
dissolution Of the Union, The a%brogalion of the veto
power, or the insertion by construction OF some other
power not granted, would il, esteem every man an apos.
tate who did no, go with it, Mr.. Clay certainly was
not the Wing candidate for the Presidency in 1910.
Why was he not; Does the Advocate affect not
TO believe that Mr.. Clay's opinions and political prin.
eiples had any thing TO do with his rejection by the
Harrisburg Conventions Why then was he rejected?
WY has he been so often rejected by the people' Is
il commended now that Gen. llarrison's opinions were
the same, 1t was declared by the Wing Convention of
Virginia, probably by the Advocate itself, in 1870, that
Gen. Harrison was not a Bank man. These measures
Il would not say printipies, If did not fear TO offend
the Pontifex maxims Of present orthodoxy these inca
snres were then again and again declared not to be in
issue. They are proclaimed now as tie issues, andevcry
who does not 20 for them is an apostate.
| am next charged with "belraying the confidence Of
my constituency" Though had declared my senti-
nen,s before my election, on most of the important
which have so far arisen in the 21th Con.
,ress, yet I had no opportunity Of canvassing the dis,
rict, and was aware that my election was not caused by
party vote-l, therefore, stated publicly my intention
. resign my seat after my return from The Extra SEES
ion, il, after visiting the counties, | had The least doubt
a concurrence OF a majority Of my constituents IN
he course which | had iuken. did visit every county
E the district, and | declared in this county, the last
here / addressed the people, that had no doubt OF the
Of c decided majority Of The district, 10
"a leading political 0Fia4oas, !, 6 'hsr Representatives.