The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-29

mated by Grecau iprt, achieved hole prodigies OF
va!or which we've deemed BY furroundng nations
miraculous There was, however this difference be-
tween them. While the tates Of Greece exhaufted
heir energies in invading the rg,,ts of others th.
owtis Cantons exerted theirs in defending their own.
The one therefore, is much TIE error as the o,hcr
was the admiration OF the world
lhs was the ichool in which Csilatu was bred. 1t
was here, that his earlet impreilions inlpred him
with love of liher.y inflrueed him in the i.bord;-
nate elimination in which vrtuous mind ihoul hold
wealth, and taught him the value otindun -iou habits
as the only guardians os independence and true great
neis heie were the in!tructons that prepared the
v'ab fnr uieiulleis AT early period, he was ami
mated By the feelings ard views OF rhe ran-'rhele
1T the age OF nineteen before he had formed any po-
teal or intereed aocstions, offered HIM the new
world nobler iphere for thor intellectual powers
of which he could have been entirely unconicious
Perhaps, with prophetic igacity he pierced the dark
clouds which hung over his country, and foEeiaw its
| hnerty and happiness prey to foreign violence
BE this, it may the rit act OF manhood was All cx-
change OF his native country for the United States
Here he was the plain, laborious, and mofenive CT
tizen. He iuccefiively, infruaed youth, bore arms
| and cultivated the foil. No mpea,hed the re-
guarity of his life, his houe(ty or his morals He
did not live ttranger anorg us. He immediately
became citizen, took the oath of allegiance, and
married American wife. AT this period Of his life
1t does not appear that any ambitious views agitated
his boiom Like thote around him, he enjoyed with
| contentment, peace, liberty and Happiness.
His talents, however, could not be concealed
His neighbours marked them andin the year 80, OF
90 he tent by his fellow citizens the Conve.-
tion that formed new Contribution for the fate OF
| Pennfylvania. 1t would appear, from his modeity
and iilence in this body, that public itaton had
been little in his thoughts ellie he would have courted
dtineton by more active participation of its duties
But neither in the records of that body or co-tempo-
rluPOSS RI he IT,
ticharge OF more than the ordinary duties of men,
her His advice may have enlightened its delbera-
tons, but If 10, it impaired in privacy and fl
lence and minaered fwell the fame Of fotne lels
uuotentatious leginator.
In the next and for ievera rrcceedng years. he oc-
cuPied a feat in the Legislature of Pennsylvania
The period troubled with forms of party; and
no man, not even himfelf had efcaped its rage He
entered the 'eature the predeftned victim of an in
tolerant majority. It was mpiouny fworn that if
he dared to difurb the views of the dominant fac
ton, he houd be BUNDLED; and fnch was the barba-
Tous Jury OF the times, that member no efs diff
tlrguhed for federal;fm than his private inmior-
altes and pugililtic powers doomed him to an early
| vengeance.
He took his feat, apparently Regardless Of the hof-
tiGty that fnrrounded him. His principles were not
| the offspring of temporiling or tirnid policy The
path OF duty lay plainly expofed his view and his
purPoe was to purdue it. Without therefore, making
any unnece'ary and oitenatious projections of his
iath or invdhous reflections upon the projections of
others, he delivered his opinions with mplictv and
candor that difarmed hofility while the itrength
OF MS arguments, and the variety and appofitenefs
OF his information infenibly and irreiilbly produ
ced general conviction. An empty treafury, and
dapidated fate of the finances, required reiearch
and labor. He applied himfelf TO their eucidation,
with vigor that foon diflpated the chaos in which
default'ng officer had involved them. Political at
tachment had united him TO this officer. But with a
virtue, not unworthy of the Roman fchool he i'm
neached, and elected him from Office. For this,
there were thole who called him cruel but friend
mp had no Claims on him thlt were not founded in
virtue.
After this bright iifplay of integrity and taleut.
h's enemies united with his feds to rafe him to the
senate oil the United States exhibiting in this at
d rare, and almoit and unprecedented triumph of
principle over prejudice. Here he found himfelf in
the itrong holds of federalilm. That body, at that
time concealed in darknefs, had Inferred daring ire
iponilbility to public opinion GaIlatn imprelTed
with the power OF truth and reafon did not abandon
hlmieif to an inglorious cafe. Here too, however
unpromiilng the fate of affairs, he did his dutv and
IN the hort time, during which he was member
carried dhmay into the ranks of his opponents He
did not hakc the leaders of party but he ook thofe
honeit' eay fouls, who had hitherto upheld their pow
err; and he iurprized efs his friends than his enc
mes by carrying tome important points. Ii was this
alarm that dictated his EXECUTION from the body. II
was pretended that he not qualified to hold a
Leaf majority declared the pretence valid and he
was excluded
Theie unworthy n,ealures of his opponents ONLY
ierved, by rendering his talents more conlpicuous,
to lncreaie his popularity and he was, at the infu
ing election choien a member of the Houfe of Re-
Preientatives ofthe United States. He here found
field for the dilpay Of all his powers and he dirplav
ed them in manner that placed their depth and va
Fiety beyond the reach Of quefon. He oppofed tbe
adoption OF the Brtfh treaty and upheld the Inemo
rabe call for papers he oppofed the alien and fedtion
bills he fupPorted the enquiry into the conduct of
Mr. Adams in the cafe of Jonathan Robbins: he on
Poed the Prodigal expenditures of the government
and above all he oppoied the rah meaures that point
ed to war. On thefe feveral occaions he was gene
rally uniucceful in fruratng the meafures propoCpd
by the administration. The mott fanpuine mind
could nos fatter iielf with this triumph But what
wasot infinitely greater consequence, he fucceededna-
Weakening the public mind in illuminating it. and in
eventually accomplishing the great revolution acbiev
cd IN public opinion Ills ipeeches the above ore,t
conititutional quefons read by the nation. In
deton they were periPicuous and eafy of aprrehenG
on IN lyle temperate and exempt from ali perlonal
aiuiIou in argument profound, fact various and IN
itructlve. Attacked with fury by violent partians
eager to cruih him, he, occaiion fufTered tbe
calnneis of his judgment and his reipea for the boJ
ne addreed to be dturbed by the fiery ebuitions of
the Daytons, the Harpers, and the Sedgweks Of the
day He did not content himlelf with oppoGno rho
the leading meaiures Of The administration Ike =
good citizen he gave a belpno hand ave,, 60 H.. .