The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-05


bic rights, which had formed the BATS ofyour
unexampled PROPERTY"
Ignorant as we have been repreGented of our
natural rights, fhall we be called on to f1ew
that this Government is incCnfRent with e,a,,,
principle OF civil lib.rty.
uniformed as we are fuppofed TO be of orr
acquired rights, it is necetiary for lis TO demon.
trate that this ACT does not ncoyborafe u, il, f6e
mion, that 1t vets us with none OF the ",4gb.s''
gives us. no " GdvanfagsI," and deprves us of
all the " imnrmgi.ieJ" of American citizens.
If this fhould be required We think neither
talk will be difficult.
Ch the hrit point we need only appeal to yonr
declaration of Independence, to YOUR Con(titu-
ton, to your different Rate governments to the
writings OF your revolutionary PATRIOTS. and
tateinen, to your own projections and public
acts, and finally, Legislators, to your own hearts
on which the love of civil liberty, and its prin-
clples are we truit too deeply engraved to be e.
yer totally eaaced.
Governors to be placed over us. whom w.
hav'n't choten, whom we do not even know.
who may be ignorant OF our language, uninfo-n-
cd OF our inHitutions, and who NAV have M
connections with our country, nor inieref in IT'S
welfare.
This governor is vefted with all executive and
al'noit unlimited Legislative power, for the law
declares, that "by and with the ads,ice and CON-
/erf OF the Legislative body, he NAV change, mo-
oiiy' and repeal the laws" &c. but this advice
and content will no doubt in all cafes be eaGv
procured, from the majority of A council. e.
lected by the PRECEDENT or Governor. and de-
pendent on him for their appointment and con.
tinuance In Office; or if they fhould prove re.
lractory, the power of propagation frees hin,
from any troubetome Interference, until (, more
prudent felecton at the end of the wear, }baIl
give nm council better futed to his views
the true legislative power then is vefted in the
Governor alone, the council operates as = clo.t.
to conceal the extent of his authority, to fcreen
him from the odium of all unpopular aefs-to,
avoid all responsibility, and give us the faint fem
olance OF representative aiiembly, with 70 few
OF Its dlttnguiihing features, that uDle{s tbe
name were infcribed on the picture, il would
be difficult to diicover the object for which il
was intended
aXation without representation, an oblgsti
on to obey laws, without any voice in their for
nation, the undue influence of the executive
upon iegiiiative proceedings, and dependent
judiciary, formed, we believe, very prominrnt
articles in the lt of grievances complained of
by the United States at the commencement of
their glorious conteit for freedom: the oppoG-
ton to them, even by force, was deemed n,eri-
tonouS and patriotic, and the rights on which
that oppoiition was founded, were termed FIN.
damental, indefeafble, telf-evident, and eternal
they formed, as your country then unanimop0y
alierted, the only rational BATS on which 60
Vefninent could reit they were 70 plain, it was
| added, as 10 be underitood by the weakeH M
deritanding not capable of alienation. they
might always be reclaimed; unfulceptible yf
change, they were the fame at all times. in all
climates, and under all circumstances and tbe
ialret inheritance for our ponerity, they fhould
never-it was firmly afIerted-they hould ne
| yer be abandoned but with life.
hefe were the fentimentS of your predecef
iors-were they wrong! were the patriots who
competed your councils, miftaken in their poll
tcal principles did the heroes who died in
their defence, feal falfe creed with their blood
! NO, they were not wrong the admiration of the
world, the refpe6t fill paid TO the living. tbe
Veneratlon accorded TO the memory of the dead
attef the purity of their principles, and nrov,.
the truth OF thofe maXims, which render their
iiVeS oleiiing to their country, and their deaths
glorious IN It's defence-are truths then 70 well
,1u''ueo' 10 uniVerialiy acknowledged inapplica-
pe ohiy 10 us DO political axioms on the At
lantic, become problems, when transferred 70
the ihores of the Mifljfippi or are the INFO
tunate inhabitants ofthefc regions the only peo-
pie VINO are excluded from thofe equal rights.
acknowledged in your declaration of Indenenl
dence, repeated in the different fate conffituti-
ons, and ratified by that of which we cla;ro n
De member! Where, we ak refpec1fuuv.
w"efe % Inc c!rcumfancc that is TO exclude US
rom participation in thefe rights Is il be-
cauie we have not heretofore enioved them
1 ms on the contrary would fcem reafon to
haten the communication, to indemnify nc ~,
futurlty of freedom, for the years we have
been deprived of it, and enable us exDerimen.
tally to compare the blefTngs of free govern.
ment with the evils Of another dominion. But
the preient iituation Of afars, forms no nlesfng
contrait with that which is paf and FIVE did
not count with confidence on change in fbe
iyitem you have adopted, the profDeG before
us would not afford matters for coniolatorv an.
tlclPation; for though period is fixed for tte
abtolute government placed over US tho a ve1r
may terminate, the equally Objectionable fyRcm
whlcn iucceeds 1t, yet what is to follow? Ii
perry Sef-government independence and
participation in the advantages of the Union? IF
thoie were offered TO us as the reward of GER
IAN term CT patience and flbmilion, thoucb we
could not acquiefce in the iuftce of the proce-
dure, we Mould have fcme confolaion in our
! misfortune but no manifestation of what awaits
US al the expiration Of the law, is yet made.
we may then again become the victims OF
faie information, Of hdity remark, or preiudi
esd Opinion we may then again be told that we
are incapable OF managing our own concerns.
that the period of emancipation is not vet arriv-
ed, and that when in the fcboo of llaverv, we
have learned how to be free, our rights nan he
reitored. Upon the topic to which this leads
mn .a.l.r