Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-09-01

n,sneIed: bv relaxation in the respect author.
inv due 10 the law and Constitution; oy widespread ana
alarming demoral,za,ion by fearful growth and COT
uo use of the power Of the Executive branch OF The
Government; and, finally, by degree per6dy in the
head Of that branch of which no equal example can
he found in this or any ether county, in this or any
other age.
sent acting Chief Magistrate, the leaders of our poi
,ical uts with few honorable exceptions, ASST
duousiy cour,ed and caressed hlm-fa,,eriDg ana
ora,snp him for his violation Of the just expectations
of coniding people. They marched up in solid CO
lumn, arm in arm, along fenhsyiVah'a avenue 10 tne
Presidential mansion, 10 thank and congratulate him
far exercising royal prrrogatve TO defeat the wishes
and booes of the people Men, under the abused name
of Democrats loudly exuied IN the failure OF mea-
sure demanded by the urgent wants ana voice. and es
senta TO the promotion of the interests OF the people
pxulted in the perverss and corrupt VIII Of one man
oyerrulinp the will Of large maj ority of the nation
In the of All-wise Providence, relrIou
tive Justice to come, sooner or iaer The ac'
ing President, much wooed oy pontical leaders u,
the bppInung of his administration, now, as its enc
.noroacbes in his turn and very much 10 their annoy
once exercises all his Establishments upon their party
Nor is their danger regrets diminished by the iac''
that whilst their instruments oil seduction were honey
ed words his are the lucrative Offices OF Government
The great political event OF c4U had an object lar
more elevated and important than that Of mere change
in the high functionaries of the nation. 1t was 10
bring about radical improvement IN public policy
And what after TINT event. was The manly, liberal ana
patriotic course which the defeated party should have
pursued II was, TO have cheer'uy acquesced IN 'hs
will of The People, proclaimed by an unexampled and
overwhelming maiorty. They should have said: "lhs
people d,sapprove of our system They require
sound currency of uniform value. They opposed
to the Sub Treasury. They demand distribution OF
The proceeds of the sales Of the public lands among
all the States They insist upon an honest aud eco
nomica administration Of their public affairs. Iney
are opposed TO the pucronr h"e"s OF the Executive
Department, and require salutary restraints upon '.s
power We shall continue by free discussion and far
argunents to recommend our measures and 10 expose
those of our political opponents; but they entitled
10 a fair trial Of their system oil policy, and we Will
make factous opposition, nor throw any unreasona
BILE obstacles in their way. Above ALI We scorn to EN-
ploy any arts to seduce from the path OF his duty the
man who has reached his elevated station IN spite OF
our strenuous exertons against him, by the confidence
which they generously reposed IN his honor and hde
IT," How far the leaders of the other party have
cunfor,ned this upright and traghtorward course,
pas, and daily passing events sufhcienty testify -
They prove that the acting President and The party
which has assumed the name Democratic, without the
least color Of title it, completely identified,
closely united one and indvisble II, in the sequel,
they should find him an announcement associate, they
have nobody but themselves TO reproach.
1.-THE last war with Great Britain taught the patriotic
lesson that during u contest with Foreign power, il
IS the duty of all parties cordially to unite and TO give
our arms the greatest possible effect and vigor, aud
that any party hch violates that principle, is TO
lose the public confidence. Our perence, in season
of peace WILL trust inculcate another important les
son. that treachery and perhdy alike deesiabe, nj
all times and will demonstrate still more clearly that
invaluable, but often neglected truth in public af
fairs, that honesty is the best policy.
|, is paint: even to gaze on the picture OF the ad
ministrslion OF the General Government which have
faithfully sketched II would have been happy for the
people of the United States, if it fancy
piece 10 survey But their long, general and intense
| embarrassmens have unfortunately too severely
sured them of its actual reality 1t would have been
much more agreeable task TO 10 portray the purity,
disn,eres,edness honor probiy, and fidelity of all IN
the charre of our public concerns the wisdom Of their
and the consequent general prosperity OF the
| country But know The nature, extent, and
causes of the public disorders, and, what no less i'm
portant their remedy That remedy in the hands Of
The people Under other forms ot Government, where
public spirit entirely crushed by arbitrary power,
the peope would long have sought redress by VIC
lent and convulsve means. 1t is otr peculiar good
fortune to have in the ballot box remedy which su-
oersedes necessity of resortng TO then, and which is
quite as efcacous, and more CERTAIN as we'll as more
peaceful than the Of the bayonet And IT affords me
inc pleasure TO say TO yon thalt Is my hrm
belief from all the signs of the times, from Ill the
now in operation and from all the information which
derive from every quarter of the Union tbs great and
glorious deversnce awaits and that the people will
~ 1874 nob!y vndicate their rights, and manifest anew
their capacity for self-government by triumph more
brilliant more decisive and hope more nus'icous than
that of 1910. That Accomplished most oil ne views Of
public P-;oy ."h'oh you suggeet, WILL rust, be en-
forced, and we shall once more behold our country no
and respected abroad beloved and posperous al
home, and steadily advancing in the path which leads
to greatness and grandeur.
am, with high respect, your friend AM obedient
servant, h. CLAY.
Messrs Samuel seiber,, Thomas J. Early Jas. Col.
houn and George A MADEIRA.