Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-09-12
POLITICAL.
from the .J.ssrsonian Republican,

kent continually before the minds of all the people
In this country, whose institutions notwithstanding
their general fitness and excellence, open way by
which demagogues may attain undue ard dangerous
influence Of vital Importance that this should De
done. Republican liberty only be preserved oy
close and constant scrutiny into the characters OF pup
lie 1t is pride TO know that the privilege OF
such scrutiny IS denied to no one IN our ianu rfse
dom of opinion freedom of Speech and freedom OF the
PRESS all guaranteed to every citizen, and the lat
Ter two suffer little restraint except what is imposed on
the individual by his notions OF prudence, decency,
and property In the exercise of these rights we
should look solely TO the public good.
When man is set up as candidate for The highest
and most responsible office IN our g its our bound-h
duty his character thoroughly, and TO view
ii all lights necessary to the full comprehension al
its main tendencies IL not only becomes us 10 watch
what party he has moved with, what measures he has
espoused bu, also watch the general beariOgo hts
conduct Circumstances may have operated 10 mpei
him the advocacy of good policy, in order that ne
might gam such popularity as would enable him The
more successfully pursue subsequent action, his
natural evil Vaccinations. 1t is, therefore, highly impor-
tant look beyond the dry detail of official acts,
and enquire into the spirit displayed, not overlooking
the slightest circumstance, which might serve 10 Illus
trate human motives Without going further let US
apply these observations to single manifestation OF
the temper of him whom the Wings wish to honor with
the Presidency-Mr. CLAY. We mean that manifes
tation which gwen his recent letter 10 the Cham
bersburg Clay Club
nan who is thus conspicuous IN the eyes OF the ma
ton to speak and write and with uncnmptoniising
dignity. His words Will be wa,chwords, and is con.
duct an example, 10 all those whom be heads What
he harshly abuses, his followers Will wantony curse
what he conempuously dsapproves, they will con
denim with violent rancor and when he so tar forgets
his position TO descend to the use Of words
and violent abuse, 1t will be that bounds can
limit their scurrilty and calumny. In this way, his
example will lend sanction to such party warfare as
fal al, lIu
giving permission to discard the charities of lfet is
direct and cupabe injury TO the na,on and all this
charge upon Mr.. Cays letter. Instead of stating in
dgn,hed and courteous language, his views of the past
and present policy OF the Government, that II III
Judged and unsound he pours forth the bitter hatred of
his heart by characeuznr those who have been at the
head of affairs Tor L. years past guilty of releness
prescriptions similar eifsc, {" those epctfa;ed By
Marius and Sylla; as making RECKLESS experiments
to "overthrow valuable inS;itutionsas destroying
the chest currency the world, being chargeab!e
with sscandaous pecuation' aud with 'corrupt use
of Executive power, and with various other mai prac
tees which will not repeat-all this too, ne writes
to those who If they have any knowledge of human
nature, he knows, will add To the picture eniod VI
witness, matter al what OF fairness and Jus
tice If it were all true, and reasonable could
question it, there might be for such Ian
guage; but there il absolutely when, whether 1t
is not kno" there large and respectable
portion of the community who not only question IT.,
but deny il, and hat are, at least, plausible argn
ments TO sustain them in such denial The dangerous
evil OF this sort of conduct Is too papatc I" be over
looked. 1t mast be reprobated aud put down. or the
sober thought Of the people will be supplanied by vi.
cious recklessness OF speech
There is another feature Of this letter which must
notice 1t evidences deep hatred opponents and set
tied spite.
Every specific charge which he enumerates is couch
ed in such language TO crimiDate the last three Ad
ministrations with cU}ul misconduct The mind of the
10 In he eft
the authors of them, by such words as "refcaiess,
erecktcss, ''SeandaiOus. 'eorTupt, showing that he
wished, by epithe;s imp yng odum, TO fix the atten
ton men, and thus artfully create preudlces like
his own against them. We could forgive strong Ian
guage against principles, that conceived TO be evil
but find 1t hard TO forgive hatred Which, while II
boils up sentence, grows maniacally eSult
ant, when 1t thinks II prospect OF revenge ahead
1t is Notifying Ia such spirit in great
But, besides his hatred, he shows his spe against MIR
Tyler because OF the check 10 his winch The
latter He accuses him of "rERFIDY. Is th:
the bearing of magnaDimity' Is this the talk that be
comes q great man when speaking of high officer o.
Government Who has done nothing but adhere to form
er principles? strange Babel would this land become
if the fret among deal with such weapons :
These things manifest lit,eness on the part of Mr.
Clay which sorry to see. This IS not our only
objection H. lf he shnuld be fortunate as TO be
elected, what have we expect the legitimate fruits
of such feelings, MOst certainly good. However
correct miga, be has principles, otherwise, he would
here meet with great obstacle 10 any thing approach
ing liberal adm,n;s, ration But IT. as believe would
be the case to these feelings 1" united and
dangerous primer pies, would ultimately have state
of things brought about " hch his VIVID ma ai:a
ton would find difficulty painting with sufficient
tensIty. Give Us soberness, and charity, and truth
forever!
The language Mr.. Clay holds in regard to the course
the Democrats ought to have pursued in Congress
after the election in $780, truly remarkable He says
they very properly exercised their right to discussion
hut after signal expression of popular opposition to
their measures, they should have done nothing more
nothing defeat the of the successful party
It their Duty not TO defeat, possible, Wing
This is strange Interpretation of the doctrine
that the will of the people should rule Why, il i,
carried out there never would be change OF 20
Icy 1t would have etfectualy secured tho eter-
nal ascendency of his pary-a excellent argument
in his favor no doubt. Msrule would never be cor.
rected, for the sautnry nuence exertod 10y two par
ties in checking either side would be taken
away. Mr.. Clay knows IT would not do. Why, then,
did he cay it would? The answer given by the tenor
of the letter The bghtcd hopes that too great
had raised to an undue height, vivid in his mind
and he naturally turned his burning thoughts TO those
who had he ped go to dampeD them. What he wished
they had done, he for the moment thought was hei,
duty to do This is the only solution give TO
this matter He had never acted when in a mno
ry, nor would he have acted if he had been placed
the Democrats were in Congress.
Upon the whole must speak opinion that this
letter displays spirit, not simply nnbecom,ag msn
who wants to be President, hu, dangerous to lhera!
Republican legislation. MARX il il merely a-ains;
his principles object but against the spirit OF the man
the hatred-tnc sptc--the revepge--ihe iron wall
which flames GU, so iurousy when checked the huge
naughty, indispensable Am, that stands on,
cingiy before you. Henry Clay as President, would
know no charity-hear advisers Beware
NJ A. Y.
At Fourth OF July celebration in Virginia, Mr..
Hughes, gave the follow ing toast:
"Mr. President want to let eyery one know. that
] am for Henry Clay against the world lie and |
were born close 10 the slashes OF old Hanover lie
worked barefoo;ed and did /. lie was good boy
10 his nanny, and SO was |. know bin like book
and love him like brother.