Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-20
FOR THE ENQUIRER
MR. GIIMER-SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

IL.
| was one of the STATE Rights men, who voted for
General Harrison, and who afterwards elected Mr..
GlLMER TO Congress- ! OF the mutt tudes who,
in his canvass for the seat heard him declare himself to
be las he always had been opposed TO National Bank,
Ia Protective Tariff and systematic distribution OF the
Public Land money | voted for him, and urged his
claims Others mainly account OF his holding those
opinions, and Of the irmness with which thought he
would adhere 10 them, and TO principles which .
Virginia Representative ought to maintain. am one OF
those who have with pride how he has there chung
to his principles unmoved by the obl,quy which his f.
deity drew down from men, whose only principles are
the commands Of purity. saw him. in the first session
after his election, toll almost aone with sincerity and
vgor, to effect those retrenchments, and bring about
that economy in the GoVernm n which had lately tesn
Wing watchwords, but which large Wing majority
could not then, with all his efforts, be induced to aid
him in accomplishing.
| / was among those too, who believed nay, and
wished that Mr. GIlmer would accept office from
Mr.. Tyler. Such, am confident, Mr.. Gs own,
fixed resolve The personal friendship between him
and the Presdent-the support given by Mr.. G to Mr.
Tylers prominen mt public acts,-the yidious cpl
tibet besto upon the few in Congress who stood by
him in those acts the ascripon to them Of unworthy
motives for that stand land my own belief that as TO
two of them al least that inscription was ust,-made
me fear thnt the keen optics of
ready "to what not to be seen, would nial
libby discern corruption in Mr. c. acceptance of any
Executive favor Ii has been generally known, that he
could have, by word, any Office in the President S
gift and preferred for him the proud consciousness of
that power 10 the glitter, and to The chances of
| useful ness, that OFFICE holds forth.
| But mr. Tylers administration, by strange con-
junction of circumstances, seemed brought to a dead
stand BY the violence OF some presses the Demo.
cratic, and of nearly all the Wing side it appea red
that the eblest Of either party could be induced
sit in The Cabinet or 60 upon foreign missions. Those
who did So in most instances traduced by covert
insinuaon or open assault as OF easy virtue,
as downright traitors 10 principle The reusals Of some
OF others through high spirit of and
independence reduced Mr.. Tyler to the apparent
cessty of nominating srme whom the Senate and the
| public deemed unworihy-and they were rejected =
What was he to do? What was the country to do !.
He was bound by tho most sacred lies, to carry on the
public business Mr.. Clay prescription, -"Rssgn"
would plunge the Union into troubles unlocked for,
unse asouable, and nolerable.
MIR. Tyler at such crisis did, what good senae and
patriotism alike dictated He invoked the aid of men
| in whom he, and The country, had confidence men,
whose opinions Certainly Mr.. Gmer's) upon leading
points Of public policy, agreed With his own; whose s.
positions towards him were personally kind that he
could count upon their hearty and whose
administrative talents would insure able discharge of
their duties. To such an appeal, Mr. GIlmer could
not pardonaLy have said nay leave fhe question,
any thought Of his personal regard for Mr. Tyler
The honor, the dignity, and the CooD of his country,
imperously required that be SHIT nd shrink from her
service in such an hou. of need The Administration
except in its course with regard to ofices had acted
out ongcherished principles. In the Department
offered him. reforms were wanted, which his keen eye
would see, and his rapid mind ready hand and unnch
ing heart would unfailIngy effsctuate. His CONVEX
sancy with affairs had been varied and the versatile
~ Of his talents was such tina, he could find no diff