The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-29
NJ e M o X,
IN JUS ICATION OF
GENER Ill MORE Al.

TrunRated from the French, BY G. L. Gray.
On the firf knowledge of the arreit of Gene
raj Moreau, and of the motives of that arref,
every mind was truck with profound confterna-
ton.
They had caufe for being 70. He was either
guilty, or he was innocent.
Was he guilty? What Moreau! the mo-
def folder, who never afpired but at the head
of armies, never feemed forward but in the field
of battle in all other circumstances diftingufh-
ed from his fellow citizens only by the fimplici-
ty of his manners Moreau who had never
been thought to poflefs with for perfonaI ele-
walton J who never even defred TO imagine that
his iuccelfes could open for him road to pow
err; not even at thofe epochs when France, har-
rallied by the Oscillations of weak governments,
would have regarded the ambition of Moreau
as its sreatet bleihng! This man, who, i'll the
midit of his Victories, was heard only to utter
one with, that by fpeedily occurring the indepen-
dence of his country, he might be reftored to
that privacy, whole delights, with thofe of glo-
ry, divided his heart, and were his only pafiions!
What! could that man TO remarked for his
moderation, who was a hero even amongft he
roeS, could he defend to become a traitor to
that cauie, and confpirer againft that govern.
ment, which he had 70 long Imported, 70 often
defended? The mott brilliant and beft eta
bliihed virtue is then become no more than
long and daitardy hypocrify, if Moreau can be
perfidious.
Was he innocent What then mutt we think
of that government, till then 70 worthy of our
confidence and love, which, departing at once
from the refped which it profefied for indivdu-
al liberty, threw ignominious chains upon one
of its greatcft warriors accompanied by cYiini-
nal accufations, general, rendered facred by
the many eminent fervices which he has per-
formed, by the many Victories which he has
gained, by the many civic crowns due to him
for the prefervation of entire armies, and for the
valt territories which he has annexed to the
French empire. What guarantee will vulgar
citizens have againft oppreiIion, if one of the
motl luxurious ............ but we top
= Such an idea would be too alarming -
We mutt endeavour to repe it - but, with
it, let alto banih the affecting idea, that Ce-
neral Moreau could ever itain his laurels
Moreau has not betrayed his glory-IIe is in
nocent.
Nor has the government bclied its jutice-
there was cauie of alarm.
Moreau, in his prlfon, was the fame as in the
midi of armies, the true friend of his country !;
feeling only her, and always incapable of facrifi-
cling his refpe6t for the public order, to any re-
gard for his perfonal fafety.
Juft towards himfelf, he has not neg le6ted his
own defence. Juh towards the government
that rrafecuted him. he has openly acknow-
lodged, that the meafureS of which he had be-
come the object, were acca6oned by fufpicions
which it was necenary fhoud be defroyed.
They either are, or ought to be, already diff
pa.ed. The circumstances connected with his
cafe, are now to be given, with implicity, to
the public. We demand no indulgence for him {;
we ak for ourfelves, only that attention which
we can lay claim TO by 70 many titles.
For four months General MORGAN has been
! denounced, by the public reports of the Grand
Judge, by placard5 printed and affixed TO public
places, by the orders of generals to their ar
mics, and by addreiIes from all the public au-
tborities, and.from great number of military
corps.
Doubtless all thefe productions of zeal,
| though perhaps little irregular, atteh a great
and laudlble attachment TO the government.
But they do not prove, and cannot be admitted
TO prove any thing more. Above all they
prove nothing aganf the acculed. A perfon
accuied is not TO be Judged by generals : their
condition itielf declares againt the idea that
/ they are to.dreGt criminal proceedings He is
not to be judged by the miniGers, nor by the
pacards, of the government there would then
! no longer be sn independent Judiciary. Nor is
he to be Judged by addreGes vain echoes of pa
role charges Of guilt, and whole fingers, nv their
diftance from the fcene, and by their abfolute
defect of the quality of judging, are incapable
of invefigating the circumstances or Of exam
lining the evidences, Of the fact thefe addrec
fes eyince the natural horrour which their au-
thors, IN common with all others, have con-
ceivsi for I'LL crimes 6milar TO that alleged 4;
but they do NOT announce m the indiv;J,at