The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-24
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
C<([
TO THE AUTHORS OF THE RAfNBep."
Gentlemen,

Gentlemen,
AS | highly applaud the Objects of your IN
ftitnt;c'i, and anticipate from your labors aiu-
tary effect on the tafte and morals of our coun-
try, you will pardon me for requefting your at
tention to a fibjeSt which is entitled to your
confederation. 1t cannot have efcaped your OBJ
iefvaiion, that our public gaZettes are polluted
by the mott bitter, and often the MOI unnierit-
sd reflections, upon private characters, by which
a podoned daggeris planted in the bofoms of
model worth, unofiending innocence, and Of
ten OF female deicacy itfelf. 1t is undoubtedly
the prcrogative OF the prefs, to remark with fe-
we're Jnfice, every obliquity of morals, and eve
ry indecorum of manners, which may have in
uuded themfelves into the focal habits OF our
countrymen. But in the difcharge of this high
junction, 1t ihorld net be forgotten, that every
individual character is encirclcd with an invio-
liable an6tity, which it is .reafonable to pro-
phane. Ifindeed the object of public anma6-
vernon be, TO reform the errors which it cXpotes,
(and what other legitimate object can L have ,
1t is fiurly the fummit of abiiirdity, to Jingle
out one criminal from the throng, while the ref
arc permitted to believe, from that very ftleSti-
ON, that they are exempted from the cenfure.
The unhappy Object of this mot cruel diftin6ii-
on wuthes IN hlent agony .undcr the barbarous
attack, aud trembles in every focal circle, at the
reflection that he is pointed at as the culprit who
has been fiiloried OH the fcandalous tage of a
public newfpaper. Il ia ludicrous to obferve
with what triumph and exultation, Il thouiaRd
others far more guilty than the one who has
been diisraced with this public cont,nueIy, in
fuit this unfortunate object, when the next pa
per IN all probability, transfers them from the
Jndgment-iea to the bar of juftice. This is in
deed that "hish-fghted tyranny" where % each
man falls by lottery tits tribunal far more
terrible than the inqui!itiop, bccaufe it poGeEes
neither form, nor fer!iblc fhape, nor vulnerable
part, and tcatters its irreveribie DEGREES into G.
very Quarter Of the globe. Its breath is more
balefil than the peitilcntial Gyoe bliyhting and
whitening III its progrefs every germ of reputati
on and every fair plant of honor. And to whom
IS this awful cenforihip entrufted? Is it to the
grave, difpaiiicnate, and well-approved elders
in the great fynod of fociety? Is it to thofe
who, having nearly pat,ed the agitated food Of
life, and " founded all the depths and fhoals of
honor" employ their tranquil and dignifcd
hours, IN framing chart TO guide their inexpe-
riencet followers, through the tempcRuous bill
lows and the hidden 6rtes which every where
furrounded them? On no! This high court of
ear-chanbcr, is often filed by the refufe of ioci-
ETY., the pert and fippant coxcombs of coffee
houie politics, and the whole meagrc tribe of
profeilional icribbicrs fubiea to the ue.o of
fome editor rs enlightened and as virtuous as
hrs Importers. This is the ausuft tribunal,
which pofelies more than the power OF life and
death which ftabs the heart, but ilfers the VIC
tim to linger out a wretched exifence. Thus
qualified, thcfe moral critics ai1une an elevat- :
co tone they make nicr determinations of cha |
ralfrr; they" regret the necetlity which COM
pels them to ipeak 10 harihiy, but rigid truth re-
quirts it they would difgrace the high ftation !
which they hold, ifthey iupprened word from !.
ehildith tenderness" Such is the language
which thefe felf-created monitors affect to ufe, /
& iuch is the ainiy veil by which they attempt to
conceal the malignity of their defigns. They
flew too the tenderness and delicacy of their
feelings by concealing the Object of their caum-
ny under the myferious appeilation of al
Mr. ------ or a Mfs *&*, taking care how
ever to accompany it with fuch DESCRIPTION, as
to turn the public attention immediately to the
real perfoa. Armed with theie formidable
weapons, concealed behind the maik of f6ti- |
t;ohs hgnature, and more than all, protected by
their nlsnihcance, thefe maraiders upon pri-
Vate character, plumber where they can derive
10 benefit, and aiiail where they can feel no re-
fentment. 1t fumctimes happens indeed that I,
their flanders hurled at character, which
bas truck too deep root in the affections of the
people, and acquired too robua a growth, to
be ihaken by their impotent attacks. He hands
like Ill ax in the field OF battle, and finiles at
the hottie efforts ofthe cowardly ignoble null
tItude or like Guiliver walks unconcerned a.
h,tut mowers OF LtliIputIon arrows. But their Z
triumph is mott complete, when A tender, deli
cate and amiabe female, is the ol1ie6 of their
malice. The manly oak feels not the bowling
bISlt OF winter; or ifhe mods his exalted head,
be Is Tetored IN moment to his native maielty
But the trnhtive plan - female character fhrinhs
from glance and witiers at touch. In vain
.ihau innocence implore, or reafon refute; in
vain iiiali Indignant eloQuence denouhce the ca
lnmniaor and his abettors in vain il,aIi Offend
ed Juice drag him forth, and brand his ihane-
LET'S front with ndelible characters uf inf.my Il
the execrabe blow has left a ling behind,
which all the confidence of integrity or the con-,
folatlons OF philofophy cannot ahuaee. Is it
poiiible 20 contemplate without heartfelt an
suiih, what is fometinies feeD, fair arnabe 9,
accomplished woman, Whole heart vibrates TO
tine tenderef chords Of fyinpathy, who no Iefs
employs her active benevOIence in difpenling
the doicof charity to her INDECENT feilow-crsa-
lures, than ihe difplays with unaffected grace,
inthe gay and feitiye circle, the vivacity of her
wit, the attractive aftabity Of her manner, the
richnefs of her fancy, and the incaimabe tfea-
tnres OF her reading and reflection! Is Il pofIi-
Ole, fay, to behold iuch rare qualities as thofe
tortured aud traduced, bv the vulgar hand OF,
lone Ignorant pedant, whole understanding is
too dim, and whole heart is too callons, to per-
cSiVe or To feel fuch excellence, without biufh-
ing for the proftitutioD TO which the prefs is
reduced! Hfuch an occalion mould ever oc-
CIR, " only remains for the admirers of cerit,s