Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-11-24
TO TIE EDITORS OF TIE eve UIRER.
THE LIVING Ann THE DPaDt


The letter Of Henry Clay to the Clay Club OF Fay
cite county, Vrgnn, has but recently fallen under my
notice Tie letter is published in the Enquirer of The
3lst October have not the letter addressed To
MIR. Clay by the Committee of the Club but, from
the reply Of Mr., Clay, infer, that the Committee
have paid the President some rough compliments
This correspondence has engaged my attention, chiefly,
because | SEE The Of Alfred Beckcy at The head
Of the committee Mr. Beckley is large landhoder in
Western Virginia, md ls gentleman of fine education
aad excelen; undo rstanding He IS The only Of Mr.
John Beckley, the riend AID pntcl associat. Of Mr.
Jefferson, Mr. Madison, Wm b Giles, and host Of Re-
puOcnns, who figured OIL the stage o. $3.50 The ell
der Mr. Beckley was an eminent lawyer, and held n
and long friendly correspondence with the father oil Jno
Tyler, now Presiden, OF the U. States. There
in the possession of The writer Of these lines, of
the original letters o! that correspondence. They
show perfect agreement OF opinion between Mr.
Beckley and Mr.. Tyler, the great fundamental
questions which divided the Federal and Republican
parties in The olden time. have also, in my possess
sion, long letter written by Mr.. John Beckley to Mr.
Jefferson, and dated from Philadelphia, on the ooh
February, 1901. This letter s copy Of the sent,
and is IN Mr.. Beckey's hand II contains friendly
suggestions OF the writer in relation 10 the future
sures of Mr.. Jefferson administration. 1t contains
elaborate argument the subject of the moDarchica
tendencies of the Federal Party-he Bank power
The power TO enact prohhltory laws in favor Of
luctures-to encourage learning-to make roads and
canals-to enact alien laws, with many Others are all
stated by MIR. Beckley, as attempts The part CT
the Federal Party, to change the whole frame of the
Government, by breaking through the limits of the
Constitution, ard, a natural consequence, consoda-
ting the States into great national soveregnty-So
much for the facts OF antiquity The moral now
be drawn in modern history. | would, if it were
deemed necessary, point 10 the many critical essays
and other papers written by Mr. John Beckey against
the policy and measures of The Elder Adams and his
great Secretary, Hamilton, ard published in the pc
rioGcals of that daybut nv tsct in this communi-
cation is TO confront Colonel Alfred Beckley with the
Republicanism Of his father. If Colonel Beckey
chooses to be Federalis he has perfect right 10
think for himself and to act for himself regardless If
paterna opinion authority--but he cannot elude
the party Of Federalist, without treating lightly
the authority OF his fathersnce can produce the writ.
ten authority of his veneraed n,her who, whilst act
ing noble part in the reign of terror, has left
rial of prime Piles and parties, which Time cannot de-
slroy, nor human sophistry conound 1t is, indeed,
noble monument of the mind and the patriotism Of
Mr.. John Beckey, addressed 10 the sage Of Moni
cello-and man can read II, without feeling that he
is communing with one Of those pure and lofty spirlls
whose combined intellect and patriotism arrested the
downward career Of the Government in '93 and 90.
few remarks here suggested by the relative posi-
lion Of COL Beckley and the President There is moral
power vested in every thing Iherits The ftndum
antiquum endeared to vlrtnous mnd-his lands and
all he nherils from his ancestors, become part and par
eel OF the He relinquishes his ancient inheritance
not without pang. He leaves the home of his fathers
search of brighter fields, but it costs the vrtuous
mind powerful struggle to break the venerated tie
We have example of the force of early impressions,
made by parental authority and example, in the con-
duet of the President The violent undign>
fed unjust and liberal attacks of Henry Clay, make
treason renchery of that line Of public and
that perennial stream of Republican principles, which
flow from the pure fountain Jno Tylcrs honorable
cesra lineage aud TO which, The closer he adhorss, the
mare will he he honored by has counirymen and The
nj 81 he brv roll nj
fame. FlRGINlAN
KIyG WILLIAM, Nov. is IS43