Richmond Enquirer

*In Tuesday's Enquirer, the Editor here alluded to, did not state the whole of the conversation, and so carefully expressed himself. He did not do it because the letter of D. seemed to call on him for nothing more than a statement of what he heard as to the expression, "Mr. Clay has betrayed me," and the fact of a certificate having been given. He now scarcely sees the necessity of his adding any thing more on the subject. Nor does he pretend to any extraordinary accuracy. As well as he recollects, Gov. Tyler, remarked, that he had written to Mr. Clay soon after the Presidential Election, the precise contents of the letter he said he did not recollect; but he had a copy and would refer to it. Though if he had written such a letter as is described in the Winchester article & Mr. C. had spoken of it as is there represented, he had broken the seal of private correspondence & friendly intercourse. Whether Gov. T. added, & if he thereby expects to drive me over to the Administration, he deceives himself; or used the more general phrase that he was not to be drawn over to the administration by such, or any other means, is not distinctly recollected. The idea of Mr. Clay's having broken the seal of private correspondence, and that Governor Tyler was not to be driven over to the administration, was certainly expressed, as well as the substance of what is further stated above, as having been said. Gov. T. seemed to be desirous to remove the impression that he stood committed to the Administration. Gov. T. acknowledges his impression at that time of Mr. Clay's motive, and now "retracts" it (retracts, it is presumed, what "was said.)—The Editor could not on any occasion have conveyed a different idea of this conversation, than this statement furnishes, without having been misunderstood. He claims no acuteness of memory; but if his recollection on this occasion, as to particular words, is better than that of another, it is probably owing to his exemption from any cause of excitement at the moment.— [Ed.

MR. TYLER.

We cannot lay the preceding Communication before our Readers, without expressing the regret which we feel at Governor Tyler's still declining to publish his letter to Mr. Clay. The abstract which he has published of its contents cannot adequately supply the place of the original. It is not the mere "appetite of newspaper Editors," but the opinion of the people, which he is to consult. We are satisfied that misrepresentations are already afloat which nothing but the letter itself is calculated to arrest. What misplaced delicacy can there be in this business? Why should he object to its publication? If there be any other person named in that letter, which Mr. T. is unwilling to characterize as he may have done, why not strike out the name, or the sentence in which it is introduced—assigning the reason for the hiatus thus produced? It is by freely giving this letter to the world, that Mr. T. at once defies all Mr. Clay's manoeuvres, and that he best proves to Mr. C. that now, or at all future times, all his efforts "to cause him to side with the Administration" through the instrumentality of this very letter, are as idle as the wind.—We regret, therefore, that Mr. T. has not seen fit to publish the letter himself, or obtained Mr. C's assent to its publication; without throwing the responsibility of "gratifying the appetites of newspaper Editors," upon Mr. C. himself.

We regret, too, that at these portentous times of our political history; when a mad and mischievous Coalition have thrust themselves into the seats of power; when the constitution, and the interests of our country, demand their expulsion; that Mr. Tyler has not come out more explicitly against them.—We conceive that he might have expressed his opposition to them, not because they "may oppose all (his) convictions of proper policy;" but because they have opposed such convictions, because they are violating the Constitution, & have forfeited the support of an enlightened & virtuous people. We can scarcely think that Mr. T. has done justice to himself on this occasion; because we understand him to have declared elsewhere, in positive terms, that he is strongly opposed to their acts. In our humble judgment, no misplaced sensibility, either in regard to his late opponents or his supporters, should have caused him to withhold his sentiments at this perilous period of our affairs.—We admit the force of his appeal to the general principles which have hitherto governed his political course. They have hitherto been right—we trust he will still be right—we believe that they will be right.—But his appeal to those general principles is not sufficient under the peculiar circumstances in which he and his country are placed. —Nothing but the boldest and most decided bearing towards the Coalition at Washington, can suit these times, or can save the nation. The people demand it at the hands of their agents—and no services, however long, no principles, however pure, can atone for the want of it. —We say it, then, in the frank spirit of a Free Press; we say it "without prejudice and without passion; without the slightest desire to wound the feelings", or censure the conduct, of a man whom we had esteemed for years; that in our opinion he has mistaken the course which it became him to pursue. In truth, those who serve the people in these times, must repair to their posts with pure hands, and with firm hearts. They should be prepared to defy all the authority and all the acts of the men in power. No "propitiatory offering," either to their personal opponents or to the members of the Administration, no reserve of their principles or their feelings on any occasion; but a spirit, that will stand fearlessly before the people or their "rulers"—a spirit that will prompt them to declare all their opinions past or present—such a spirit which will enable them, like Randolph, in the Senate, or Hamilton in the H. of R. to hurl the thunders of their eloquence into the darkest recesses of corruption. We trust, that when Mr. Tyler appears in the Senate Chamber of the Union, such a spirit will be found to direct all his footsteps and animate all his measures. We hope it, for the sakes of his own fame, and for the honor of the Old Dominion.