The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-11-24
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
No. w.
O n P A r T Y.

our revolutionary war, gave leifure to the peo-
pie of the United States, to fyftcmatiZe and di-
GET thofc political infitutions which had been
formed for their government in the mida OF
confuiion, and perils the mott affi6ting.-The
competency of the exiting confederation, to
i1jure domeRie tranquility, proqide for TIE com
mon defence, and /eeave TIE bhe3FnSJ ofEberfy 10
onrfe!1,es and our p9ferity, became an Object of
primary nveftigation.-Under it, we had I'M
qucftionably performed prodges filch con-
cert fuch undivided energy had rarely been
difplaycd by the beft efabliihei and tirmeit 20
vernmcnts. But it was believed that our virtue
and patriotifm, more than the agency of the
compact which united us, had given 70 people
acting under thirteen diftinGt and feparate CO.
vernments, an individuality terrible to the mott
warlike nation of Europe: an individuality, of
force fuficientto achieve our independence, and
finally, to leme thc 6ieFneJ ofEberty to ourjciqe,
and or pofsrIty. Hence the formation OF 90
vcrnmept, competent to refrain thofe aberati-
ons from virtue attendant on the progreis of TO-
cietics, of which hitory afforded many MOURN
ful examples, became, in the opinion of almoit
every perfon, qucition upon which the defi-
ny of the nation refed.-Fortunately for Ame-
ricans, every citizen had, at this evcntfu ezra, rs
he noev has, the privilege OF uttering and pub
lining whatever he pleaied. The various OPT
Mons advanced produced intereitine difcufiions.
The republicans believed, that " it was much
" eaEer to refrain liberty from running into Ii
" centioufneis, than power from fwelng into
" tyranny and opprellion." The converfe OF
this opinion belonged to the federalifs. | am
warranted in making this aliertion, not only from
General Hamilton's proposition in convention
for federal contribution, but from Mr.. Web
fers letter to that eonleicnouJ politician, in de-
fence of MIR. John Adams.-It is fair to allow,
that both of theie parties were equally honeft
and liberal in the commencement and that the
fhades of political difference then exiting,
would form but feeble obfacle to generous &
dihnterefed friendihip: to confidence infDir-
ed by the fublirnett iympathy, and when the ter
rors of death were loft in the awful conteR for
liberty.
How then has it happened, that within few
Ibort years, Ulyiies has been armed againn Do
med, and the power of Achilles nerved againit
ppattfocius Even with thefe men, / viii be
bold to aGert, that the misfortune grew out of
narrownefs of fentiment. At that unhappy pc
Rod, the mode of education in this country was
entirely miscellaneous. The monarch of Br-
tain had dftra6ted our peaceful fyfems, and the
youthful American was fumnoned from his
college to facrifce his haliowed blood at the al
tar of lberty.-It is not my meaning that COM
munity of philosophers would be exempt from
divilions: but believe they would dildain in
tolerance. Accuitomcd, as wife men are, to
detect error in their own opinions, they would
learn TO bear with it in others. Having attained
fome afcendency over their pafiions, they would
be patient under contradiction: mutual for
bearance would prepare them to exchange pla-
So Hith their antagonists and 20 analyzc with
fcruprlous. nicely, the {ubhance and tendency
of confictiss opinions. A people, fuch as
have defcribed, would foon perceive, that ODE
dience to the will of the majority confituted
their peace and Happiness. Yet while the mi
nority yielded due obedience, they would recog-
nize their rights. On the recurrence of the
electoral remedy, they would exert their beft
energies without violating principles OF honor.
Their efforts would not be accompanied by the
faetious defamation ofvicious and feverilh par
tizans. Argument, honeG and inftru6lye, would
extend the fphere of information, and reajon
qvois,G be left free to combat eyrot.-From fuch
elevated minds, matured by reflection and learn
ing, and unncumbered by dtruftful ignorance
and fchemes of revenge, we ihould hear no.
thing of Carter's Mountain, Salt Mountain, and
the fize and flavor Of Cheele. From oppoG-
ton like this, they would turn with abhor-
renee : it could only be viewed as the dcgrad-
ing and lamentable voice of faetion.-Yet thofe
who co intend in this bRmbk quay, claim for their
country the feat of fcence. They are the ielf-
ftyled Athenians of America.-Strange then,
LnaL TIC OiSulllCIi HCIShl Ol put
lofophical accuracy, they ihould inpoveriih
their unrivailed talents, in conjuring up phan-
toms to alarm the morbid imaginations of the
timid ard illteratc. But faction has engender-
ed all the angry paflions and habit has given
dexterity to finding fault. Like all partizanG, |
they had rather keep alive an ungainful contro- |
verify than to acknowledge the truth. No real |
caufc Of complaint exits and the hiatus which
nander has to ELL, is fupPlied by the landing Qf
a Gun Boat, Or fome uninteIiigible allufion to |
Dayid and GoLab. In thefe Higbt svitfiei/1n5,
we find the. Rrong boLd of federal opPoftion.
In countries where more care is taken TO re- !
nrain liberty than to check the oyerbearing fpi- |
rit Of rulers, there will be no parties.-Men |
may advance and fupport speculative opinions |
on fubieets of literature and fcience but the |
bulk of forlorn mortals who conltitute the lowy |
MATS, have no intereff in the refult. Their feel
ings are not inlifted on either fde. The afcen- |
dency Of this or that dogma, will give nothing |
10 their hungry babes, nor diminifh the number |
of tax and tthe gathcrers. They know that |
their families, to whom they are united by the !
tendereft fympathies of the human heart, mutt |
be fed by the fweat oftheir brow. BY the fame |
labor the fplendid board Of titled ariftocracy re-
ceives its annual fupply.-Theie faEt6 have in !
clined fome politicians to believe, that party is |
elential 70 freedom, thereby mitaking the |
caule for the effect. There is certainly neither
freedom nor party where the people have not |
the privilege of expreiing their fentiments with
out reftraint but this by 10 means proves that
party is free from milchief ike the licentiouf |
r r II.