The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-07
COMMUNICATED FOR THIS Enquirer.
Vmtlication Of Virginia.
NO. =.

NO. =.
IN the important period of twelve wears,
which extended from the adoption os the federal
contribution TO the e~erion of Mr.. JefIerfon, the
fcderaliifs OF the north have attempted to diico-
yer new fourcesof complaint and diiiatisfaction.
They have declared that &c Virginia was the hot
bed" of all thofe faetious fchcmes and eXertions
which terminated the triumphs OF the federal
party. & elevated MIR. JeHerfon tothe prelidenti-
al chair. Among the various fchemes and ex-
ertions, to the influence OF which they have
principally afcribed thcfe melancholy events,
they have dwelt with peculiar energy, upon the
centuries which were formerly expre!ied againft
. the administration of Gen. Warrington, and a.
Sa,nit the opponents of the French revolution
Il violent party-writer, who has aiIumed the re-
fpectable iignatue Of a NEwENGLAND-MAN,
has infatuated that " thofe who can now hed
crocodile tears over the sihes of Warrington,
employed hirclings to calumniate the father of
his country" He has repreientedit as &c itrange
but true, that Virginia has erected column of
ffTength on the murders of Robefpicrre, which
threatens to cruih US: and that ihc proited by
Our difference ofopinion at that era"
Thefe complaints tho frequently repeated
and as often refuted, are thus made to aGume
new forrn. Formerly they were levelle,l againlt
the democratic interefts but now fince plan
has been adpted by the fedcraliits of the north,
OF dlitinguiihng parties Typographical bounda-
ries this hue and cry has been principally raft
cd againit the fate of Virginia. A few general
remarks Oil each of thofe petitions, will thus
conltEute part of the Vindication of Virgil
MA.
PRESIDENT WAsHINGToN.-It is not pro-
oabe that the Virginians would have oppofed
the administration of Wilmington without foIne
satisfactory reafon. AS he was native of their
own fate, it is more probable that they would
have attempted to cultvatehis particular regard
and erect their own greatness upon his early and
continued attachment. They might have ex-
peGted the fame fucceis from cooperating in all
bis meafures as they are fuppofed to derive from
their combination with Mr.. Jetterfon' sfchemes.
Their oppoGtion to fome parts of general
Waihingtons administration, mutt therefore
have ariten mott probably from fome general and
impartial views.
1t was the warm gratitude of his countrymen
for the great fervices which he had performed
during the war, and not any exalted reputation
which he had acquired from hispolitical know
ledge that had RATED him TO the fift Office under
the Americangovernnient Gen. Waihingtonhad
talents, he had acquired experience in military
afairs but 1t is mott probable that he had not
collected the neceiiary attainments of fatef-
nan. War and peace have their feparate prn-
clpies. The Cabinet and the Camp requiredif-
ferent faculties and a proficiency in the one fel-
dom advances and often retards an adequate
fuccefs in the other. Gen. Warrington who had
fhone with fuch difinguifhsd luiEre in the army,
had not probably fuppled the defects of his edu-
cation by retired fudy, by profound mediate
on, or actual experience in thenature of govern
raent. The man who had found himfelf with
out a rival in " theteEted field" fhrunk incom-
parative indgnihcance on the floor of the con-
vention and if ftranger were to enquire for
the founder Of the prefent contribution, we
thou,d not feek him nthe hero of Princeton or
Trenton, hut in the perfons of Hamilton, Madi-
Ton, Jay, King, and other wcll-taught politici-
ans. General Wilmington could not then and
was not expected to adminifter the government
by his osv1 ngaFRedcounfeI. His cabinet was
known to contain two ninifter9, whole reputa.
tons were highly exalted, but whofs political
opinions were in fome refpects different. One
or theie had unaffected in his own fate, noble
and enlightened foul In the different characters
of member Of the Virginia AnembIy, Governor
otthe State and Minlterto France, he had mani
feted love for his country and forts Liberties,
winch had acquired the praiie5 and gratitude of
his cOIntryncn. The otherwas known tohaye
Propofed III the general convention, fome moii-
iications of our prefant form of government
which would have been highly injurious to the
public liberties, and he was alfo known to
have acquired comfortable Influence over the
feelings and understanding of the preGdent.
!
tial Americans began to dread his influence
over the mind OF the Prefdent. Hence il
was no wonder that when Mr.. IeAerfon
retired from his Office, the fears and frfpicions
OF the anti-federa party trcmblingly alive to the
operation OF the new government, ihould have
received additional frenglh. IT is no wonder
that the ratification ofthe Britifh treaty, which
ficrihced f)rne of the important rights of our
nation, which had received the warm filpport of
Mr.. Hamilton and his federal friends, and had
encountered the oppoIition of the other party
mould have made the Administration more fuf-
pected, and foTne ofthc people more fufpicious.
1t is no wonder then that thefe events fbould
nave divided the people into two great parties,
ore o. which emitting mof Of the Virgnans un
osr IT'S banners, was prepared 20 find a fault in
every me1ture Of the COVER inent becaufe they
believed that It was the flggedion of a party,
which wihcd TO bind us ttill clofer to the inter-
eits OF England, and to new model our con9itu-
ton upon the monarchcal fyftem.-I am candid
enough to co1feis that thef- fufpcions of the
Hero Of the revolution might have been carried
700 TAR. know that many men ~tre TO be
i0und in arms aga;aO him, who difgraced THAR