Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-03-18
Tie Scene oflte Ia d. I,asAingtou

aeen none on whose brow there did not sit as II
appeared To our perception, wesriness disappointment
and, ia SOME Eases, disgust ~
Eaaltaiion for the defeat of Dr. Clay had spent itself
VS., ann rar'otm We dnre avouch, whispered in
.he car OF many one Of them The question what
nave y"s, what has Your country gained by d.cardn,
.hat experienced statesman, that Old public servant
WA. eaIht spirit who, IN her darkest hours was ever
that cnuntrys safest councillor end ATTEST defender 10
elevate one who las rendered no service bryond tho,
SUM o'it ~. Tell us frankly, visrrs the naugu
Ia'", ola hot such thoughts your minds some
liioer ana dii not e0nscpn the Tagging Of party
spirii, eve an Enswer which yuu VIII not avo,y,n
Thus speaks the r. Whis The leading Federal
organ III Virginia. II were amusing 10 have
seen lhis sapIcnt Editor, and modern pupil of La
! water, cranlng his graceful neck and peering
with critics eye into the coun,enances OF ali
who had returned from the Inauguration With
his keen "percep,ion," doubtless The wo-be-pone
faces of the numbers who attended the Inaucu-
ration" must have inspire,, his looks with The
beams OF pleasure and Of pride Ii were sweet
revenge Tor this pllcons mourner over the pros
irate fortunes OF Mr.. Henry Clay, 10 witness the
! WEAKNESS, disappointment and disgust" BETRAYED
! in The very LOOKS ot those who had contributed 10
I bring about The overthrow uf lie ''counlrys ablcst
/ defender" 10 use the language o. Wing adula-
ton! This clearly explains The distorted vision
with which The Wing regards every thing con-
recled with The solemn installation OF :; Ecpuhli-
! can President, ana arrives 1t such remarkable
conclusions. We (al least one CT us) have
Just returned from a visit 10 Washington and We
! have neither felt nor Witnessed such effects, as
The piercing eyes OF this wa,chilI Editor have
detected and portrayed to his gaping readers
we, too, appeal 10 The cunsciences ui those who
have recently visited Washington, for an at,ig-
nanl response 10 The question propoundett 10 them
| by ne Wr.S organ. is there Il single Republican
who has lcil The CITY Of Washington with re-
Il on, N tho honorable ;.k H., A..
ing aloit The Banner OF the Constitution The
ceremonies OF the Inauguration were simple. but
imposing. There was a moral beauty in the srcc-
t.clc, which should have touched the heart even of
Tie most Iabid Wing. A private citizen had been
summoned from the bosom of retirement and
after an unprecedented struggle, had been raised
10 the highest honor in The world. Many thou
SANDS, from all portions o! The country as
scmbed 10 see their victorious champion
invested with the robes OF Office. and solcmnly
entrusted with the power TO administer the affairs
OF twenty millions OF People In spite OF the in
clement weather, every avenue was filled with
gay and happy crowds, and the moving mass Of
umbrellas brought 10 mind Burnam wood come
10 Dunsinane." The immense multitude was
not inspired by gaudy banners nor martial mu-
sic, nor bcisliing amour. L. was 4 deeper and
pner feeling. They ielt that the Constitution had
been saved, the Union preserved and the de.-
TIMES oil The nation pushed onward. How no.
bis DOGS th!s simple installation of a Rerub-
J ican President contrast with the romp and
pride Of a similar ceremony in the old world =
Iacrc VIC see cohorts OF armed men, arraycd
around tie titled iyrant to guard his person against
popular outbreaks. All is glitter and form, and
fear; and happy is the nation that escapes from
apnrehended violence from Tie oppressed and
grumhins masses. In our own free and happy
land, one President goes out Of office and his sue
cessor is invested with power. The transition is
! calm, and smooth, and secure. Our institutions
are firmly stamped on the hearts of the people,
ami the true pa,ro, who has received this free
gift OF Il great nation, enters upon his high du-
ties with cnniiiinc Trust in the affections of the
people, and with virtuous resolution 10 do all he
can 10 guard the Constitution, and 10 push on the
, !eslnes OF The country 10 the highest point
Such man we take Jas. X. Polk 10 be-and we
have an abiding trust tha; ne will not disappont
the hopes OF the nation. We look confidently 10
lis honesty OF purpose, lis public and private
virtues, and lis devotion 10 Ike couniry's good
and 10 his OWN fame, 10 carry oat those great con-
sliiuiional principle, OF which he is The selected
and responsible agent. Let him but be lruc 10
his principles and 10 himself, and the difficulties
that hcse! his path will vanish before him, and his
name will be enrolled high on Tie list ol his coun-
lrv's henptacors.
Butth '.Whig" arrogantly asks, what we or the
country have gained BIZ iiscardin= Mr.. Clay ard
clcvaiirs Mr. Polk? The answer is easily made,
and cannot bnl be conclusive The moral til
umph in November has already achieved a mo-
lnenlous result. We an!c 10 the annexation Of
Texas. with all lis benefits 10 he South ami 10
the Union. Had MIR Clay been elected, who
will DENY Thai Il deahbow would have been
given 10 that great measure, and The safety Of The
Union seriously peli!led! Il was the Republican
victory in November, and the election OF Mr..
Polk the consistent friend OF The Lone Star, that
secured the annexation OF Texas al the present
lime. and difiused joy through every portion Of
The Union. By this great measure, the fell spirit
!, of Ahoionisin has been slined, and the Union
saved. Where is the threatened dissolution OF
the Union, in case Texas should be annexed
| The great deed is done, and no friend OF the
Union feels the least anxiety for lis fate Palri-
otism has triumphcd over faction, and the
! braggart threats oil Massachusetts and Vermont
have fallen dead before The popular feeling.
Is not this OF itself, sufficient cause of selfcon
| graduation with every Republican? But there
I is prospect OF still more good 10 re gained by
! the defeat Of MIR. Clay y National Monster
! Bank is thoroughly killed; and, from Mr.. Folks
/ avowcd opinions, and steady votes, we may COR
fenIly expect 10 see The heavy Tariff of 1872 re-
duccd 10 proper limit, and The burdens and be-
nefs Of the Government equally and imnarially
I
| Ifhis result be accomplished, and We confident
/ " look 10 Mr.. Polk not 10 disappoinl the earnest
wishes OF the Dalion-he will receive the cordial
+ thanks OF Virginia for settling Il difficult and
I yeyed problem
/ While in the District, We seized an opporiuni-
| II 10 quit the hustle and excitement Of Washing
ion and pay a rapid visit 10 Alexandria, in whose
prosperity an interesting portion OF oar own
| STATE i, interested We arrived a! an anspicious
moment By one OF those energetic moves.
which often secure the fortunes ofnations. rs well
as individuals, Alexandria has achieved an OBJ
ecl peculiarly calculated Ia promote her Interests.
in the opinion Of her most intelligent citiZcns.-
This was Ia obtain from he State OF Maryland
bill 10 relieve the lien on the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal. The lower House had passed The
bill rs single vote, and The Senalc's action
wouli wake il a law At once, the enicrprizing
AlcXandrian's despatched boat for The Senator
OF ST. Marys, who reached Annapolis Just in
time, on The MA day of The session, 10 complete
the law, as il passed the Senate b. one roie o-iy.
The JOYOUS rews reached Alexandria durin.
cur visit, and tl.- whole town openly demonstrated
their cordial satisfaction Ii secures the compile
ton of The Canal 10 Cumberland, and will pour,
as is confidently believed, rich treasures into
the lap Of Alexandria.
This fine canal seems To be well constructed.
The basin and four locks, forming The ontel al
Alexandria. are admirably built and afford room
for vast business The aQueduct across the
Potomac al Georgetown, is one of The fines:
structures in the country. It's supported by four
broad ard solid Stone piers extending sixty feet
through The water and resting on foundation
OF rock The snpers;ructure is OF wood, lyan-
,.ea by a solution OF corrosive sn5lmae, so as
protect il from decay. This noble canal WILL i
is thought. soon he completed, and that result
will restore this old town. once so thriving and con-
uec,ed with SO many agreeable associations ofthe
past. 10 it> pristine commercial prosperity
Il is sill the seat of elegant hospitality; the man.
ners Of lis citizens are of the true Virginia
stamp, and we hope, ere long, 10 see il enjoying
the commercial advantages OF "the most tarofed"
civ. Ia some Of the mechanic arts, she vies with
the larses. towns The Epicure still looks TO her
famous wne-cears for his choicest lihaions;
aud ,rhr shonld not She regain her former high