The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-07


have been induced by a contagious enthuG-
ATM, or by IN unconfcious ambition, to purfue
tcme meaiurcs of oppo6tion which a v,tuous
mpartiaiity ihoud have obtained to purf;le &
it is equally obvious that Virginia was the great
refource, the great " hot-bed" Gfthe fedcialiits
like the term bet:cr) of this ant-fedcral party
But what kind of ju.ticc is that which makes
the great body of thOie men con..t Of cournn-
atorS Are they not able to diicover in the facts
already mentioned, and many others which
might be added, fu:ficieut excufes for non of
the oppolition which GcIerll Waihinrton met
with ! AT ali events viii they not be candid e.
nough to admit, that this oppoGtion has nothing
at all to do with that general char Gler OF grap-
ing ambition which they have attributed to Viz
gnia that from the very principles on which
the oppo!itioa was founded, and from the hi.to-
ry OF thote times, 1t was derived from general
fyitems Of politics, and not from local inierefs
and that whatever reaions they may to reproach
the Vireinians for their ingratisude, they can
icarceiy collect materials to prove their love Of
dominion
FRENCH EEvOtUTioN.-Noe event was bet
ter calculated to intereit our feelings, than tie
early part OF this extraordinary revolution. 1t
happened IN nation which had AFFIXED us lii at
chlcying our own. From the temper which
feeIned TO nave attuated TIE conduct of its lead
ers, 1t appeared to us that this revolution was
the conteCuence and an imitation OF our own
Like our own, 1t appeared to embrace the happi-
NETS of the people, and to fwear an nexpiable
enm'ty aganft their oppreaors. Our bottoms
iwel!ed with Sympathetic emotions when we
perceived that thoie men were ike ourtclves the
friends of freedom, and that the titled govern
ments OF Europe were forming a combination
againit this ttrusgling and riiing Republic. An
aaoclatfon was thus immediately formed in cur
minds between the caufe OF America and the
caufe OF France (; and I've began TO believe that
nc nan could be the friend of freedom or of his
own country, who was III enemy to the French
revolution.
Two circumstances however occurred, which
contributed to give it new phais. 1t involved
the french nation in war with England, and il
began to deviate from its mild principles, into
icenes of Periecution, bloodihed, and almoft I'M
heard OF tcrocity. The party in this country,
who had Imported the Britiih Treaty, began to
expatiate upon the crueties of the revolution.
and to reprefent all its friends in this country as
| congenial in their fentiments and views with the
an2rchlttS, ians-culottes, and iacobins of France
But the means ofample retaliation were not want
ing. The men, who had feen the American re-
volution terminate with 70 much fucceG and
iuch diitinguiiled glory, did not fay to make
| allowances for the difference which fublifted be-
tween the fate OF fociety in Europe aud i'm A.
mcrica; between a nation, divided into two
itrongly dltcrminated clafes, that of the prvie-
ged orders and OF the people, and nation.
| which had no privileged orders to overthrow.
| They tondly imagined that thefe fcenes of un-
feeling contifcation and inhuman murder, were
but as evanefcent ipots on the dix of the fun
and that few rapid and inevitable changes
would rettore humanity to the bottom of indiv;-
duals, and would give to the nation an eftabliih-
ed and free contribution. They reproached the
! opPohtc party with a wilful ignorance of thefe
obvious truths. They attributed their Ciiiappro-
baton of the French revolution, and the conduit
OF our own administration, to cold Indifference
| about the freedom of nations, and 10 an impro-
per attachment for Britifh principles. They
called them monarchihs, tories, ariitocrats,-At
the cioie OF MIR. Adams's administration, new G.
vents occurred, which contributed to give addi-
! tional vigotr to thefe mutual preiudces, and TO
draw holder and wider line of determination
between the two parties. Our commerce had
been confideraby interrupted by the rapacity of
French privateers and their courts OF admiralty.
Negotiations had been inftituted to no pur
pole, for the a0juitment of differences. The
two parties viewing this ferries of events
through the medium of their feparate opi-
mons, continued to reproach each other,
one for anarchy and attachment to France,
the ether for monarchical opinions and affection
to England. 1t was at this period, and not I'M
| al then, that fyitem of meafures was purified
| by the federafts of this country, which turned
| the polling fcale againft them, and by weaving
the people from their caufe, RATED the oppo-
lite party to the administration of affairs. As
tar as Virginia has acquired ficcefs in the pro-
iecution of her views, ihe owes it not to the
French revolution but to thisfyRem of meafires
which the federalifts purified. 1t was not on
the murders of Roberfpiere" that &C Virginia has
| exerted her column of trength;' but on that
| ridiculous fyftem OF defenfve meafures, which
Mr.. Adams and federal Congrefs adopted,
from the FLY fear of a French invaiion. II was
not Robefpiere who afIiited her TO conquer her
opponents. To their own fuicidal excrtions
NUT they afcribe the deftiny which has be-
fallen them. They NUT feek it in Sc.
ditlon law, which violated the mott exprsfs
proviiions of the Contribution, aud attempted to
arreit the progrefs of enquiry. They will difco-
YER it in an Alien law, which the contribution
1eemed to have forbidden, and which drove the
freDdleis alien from our flores. In the long
Init ofinternal taxes in the fiIly pageantry or
authoritative air of their armies; in their in
creating navy, they NUT feek the miniRers of
their own dcftru6tioD. To fuch meifures, and
not to anyof the events Oft the French revolution,
or to the immediate fchifns which it produ
ceti, mutt the federalifS of the north attribute
the trlumphs of democratic principles, and as
tar as 1T is connected with them, of the Virginia
ipfev