The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-29

hsppineis, are we prepared to undergo that ylc-
rious transformation Do I'VE feel within our
ielves the germ of that patriotic zeal which
ought 70 glow in the foul OF republican. Do
we feel the deve!opement in our hearts of thoIe
tentiments ofpolitical brotherhood which fhouiri
unite the members of the fame body, and pro-
duce that harmony 70 neceiiary TO the felicity
OF the whole! Louilianians of all caies, my
fellcw-citizcns, my brothers all reflect, that
we are all the natural or adopted children of the
fame country! Reflect that we have one COM
mon intereit; that the fame fpirit ought to AMI
mate us and, that we ihould be cemented by
the cloiet union Reflect that upon this union
depends the happinefS and PROPERTY of the
great farnily of which every one makes a part !
Reflect, above all, that it is from this union this
accord, this unanimty, that we may accelerate
the moment of our political emancipation.
eff there be any among us who, from a habit
of dependence, dare not lift up their heads if
there be iome who cannot fhake of the prejudi-
ces and the reltraint of their ancient fate, let
them rid themislves of this difgraceful apathy!
Let them be men Let them be citizens For
mcrly we were doomed to bend under the en-
pire of men: now we live under the empire of
the laws: now we are regenerated we are re-
turned to our primitive dignity. Let us, there
fore, my fellow citizens, enter the fan6tuary of
liberty, and let us unfold that Respectable char
ter in which are contained the rights we have
acquired by hecomng members of the Republic
of the United States.
"At the fight of that monument ofhuman wifi
dom, in which man reads his deftny written by
the hand of reafon, and dictated by junice at
the fight ofthofe facred laws under the protect
on of which repofe individual and public fecuri-
ty; of that formidable ranpart which oppreiIi-
on cannot overieap, holy refpect frizes me,
and elevates my foul. behold mytelf in the
midft of a Wait ioc;ety of men, none of whom
have power over my freedom, to crulh me with
the weight of their fuperiority, or to hu,niliate
me by contempt | fee mild equality fmiling
on every fde; active induftry circulates unop-
poied; order and peace govern throughout un-
der the eyes ofpatriotic vigilance. fee no pa
lace OF Themis ftained by corruption, no infa-
nous avarice telling jutice by golden weight
The dignity of man is not degraded by the hui
initiating ncceiiity of obeying orders often ditta-
ted by folly, fometimes by caprice, and rarely
by imPartiality. The law alone has the right
to my fubmiiiion and to my obedience. By ref.
pecting reGgioufly the duties irnpofed upon eve
ry citizen, am free to follow the dictates of
my own will /: Whatever my projects may be,
my hopes, my enterprises, my lahours, can
puriue the end propofe to myfelf without ha-
wing to coniut the good pleaiure, or feed the
cupidity of any fubaltern tyrant. No impedi-
ment, no opprefion, no favours, no exclufions,
no privileges, do dtin6tions equality, iuftice,
harmony, tranquility: Such is, 0 my fellow CT
tizens iuch is the exifence of the freeman of
the United States and fuch, doubtefs, will be
ours. If Inconvenience infeparable from the
political cribs which we experience, ihould oc-
Gallon momentary fufiering 4; if behind the ho-
riZon, charged with clouds, we fee not the Sun
Of Liberty illumine ferene fky, let us not au-
CUR from it unfavorably; let us, on the contrary,
hope, from the wifdom and the iutce of the
regulators OF our new country, that they will
ioon comply with our wiihes by.incorporating
us in the union, and admitting MS to the enjoy
ment of the rights, immuniiies, and advantages
of the citizens of the United States.
&c Until the arrivalof that happy moment. we
ihall have for our protector and guide that Phi
ioiopher who is the mt OF the age that
Man celebrated equally for his profound know
ledge and his civic virtues who, placed in the
rank of Potentates, preferves in that elevated
ftation, the modeft implicitly of the citizen, and
gives to all an example of true patriotifm he
VIII watch over us asa father, that benehcent
man who coniecrates his life and his abour to
the happnefs of his ,countrymen; and who,
when we have occafon to approach him pre-
tents no barrier, no obtacle, no oppofition.
Acceiiibe to every perfon, Illuminating contraft
to the pride of kings !! he has no other fatellite,
no other guard, than the affection of his fellow
citizens. May that virtuous Man, to whom we
owe the Happiness of being reftored to our primi-
tive dignity, fniih his abour by infpring us by
his example, with an involuntary attachment to
the principles of civil liberty, and holy ref
pea for the laws which enfure to US the enjoy
ment Of it.
The following letters have been tranfnitted to
the Prefdent of the Academy of Arts, by our
Minifter at Paris, by which it appears that the
Emperor Bonaparte. Demon, (whoEe traveIe