The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-26

The following letter qvas reeei4ed from an I'M
knozUn gentleman Of AmberR. Some minds
qviH find it peculiarly i4tereJQigg: and there
can be .ttzv 10 9vbom it srW be PERFECTLY indit-
.fsrent.
PHILADELPHIA, ootb Ap,il, 1916.
HAVING done myfelf the pleafure
of writing to you by general Lee, mutt now
refer you to that letter, and at prefent invite
your attention to the mott important concerns
of our approaching Convention. Ages yet UNI
born, and millions exiting at prefent, may rue
or blefS that ailembly, on which their Happiness
or mifery will 70 eminently depend.
Virginia has hitherto taken the lead ia great
affairs, and many now look to her with anxious
expectation, hoping that the fpirit, wiidom and
energy of her councils, will route America from
the fatal lethargy into which the feebleneis. fol-
ly, and interelted views of the proprietary go
vernments, with the aid of tory machinations,
have thrown her mott unhappily. The twelve
years experience we have had of the perhdv
and defpotic intentions of the Britilh court, is
fill further demonstrated by the kings fpeech
by the eXprefs declarations of every miniferiai
man in both houfes of parliament by their in
famous Retrospective robbery act, and by the in
tercepted letter from the fecretary of fate to
governor Eden-all Join in proving the deiign of
the Britifh court to fubdue, at every event, and
to enflave America, after having deitroyed its
beft members. The a6( of parliament has, TO
every legal intent and purpofe, ditloved our 60
vernment, unconditional every mdgifrate, &
placed us in the high road to anarchy. In Viz
ginia, we have certainly no magifrate lawfully
commiflioned TO hang murderer, or any other
villain offending ever 70 atrocioully againh the
fate. We cannot be rebels excluded from the
kings protection, and magistrates acting under
his authority at the fame time. This proves
the indilpenlble necefty Of our taking up 60
vernment Immediately, for the prefervation of
fociety, to effect the purpoie of applying with vi
gour the trength of the country to its prefent
critical fituation and above all, to fet an exam
pie, .ohch N. Carolina, Maryland, Pennfyvania
and n. York will NOT afluredy, in my opinion,
follow and which will effettually remove the
baneful influence of proprietary interefts from
tine councils of America. When this is done
give peremptory infructions to your delegates,
to take every effettual meafure to fecure Am.ri-
ca from the dcfpotic aims of the Britiih court
10y treaties of alliance with foreign itates, or by
any means that lhlli be thought mott conducive
10 that end. a Tight attention to the late pro-
ceedings Of many European courts, will fuffci-
entity evince the fpirit Of partition, and the az
fumed right Of dilpohng Of men and countries
like live flock on a farm, that difinguihes this
corrupt age. St. Domingo, Loufana, Corfica
and Poland, individually prove this.
Now, Sir, leave II with YOU to Judge, whe-
Their, whilit we are hehtating about foreign ALI
ance, Great Britain may not, and probably will
not, ieal our ruin 10y Ggung treaty of partition
with two or three ambitious powers that NAV
aid in conquering us. Upon principles of inte-
req and revenge, ihe fursiy will. When Great
Britain finds ihe cannot conquer us alone, and
that the whole NUT he lo0, will ihe not rather
cho1ie part than have none? Certainly The
willard TO Join the necefary aid, give 40 a
pant, and thus involve Us, unaided, un1fHtd, IT,
a very unequal, dcitruct,c contca with three Oh
four 0i tie grcaieG itates ~ Europe. Nothing
~ the world Is more certain, than thu. the pre-
ient court Ot London would rather rule fngle
rod Of earth defpoticaly, than govern the " jrid
under J, gal coniii d;iOns. Az this danger, how
ever, may be prevented by a timely alliance with
proper and willing powers in Europe. Indeed
we are q huguar inGince iu modern Times, Of
people engaged ~ war with q powerful nation.
without taking any reps 20 fecurc the ficndmip
or even neutrality ct foreign Gates leaving 70
oar enemy the iull opportunity of engaging 40
AID we know wih certainty Chat every maritime
rate in Europe has bCeu iutgrcetfrd ,,ith uof fo|