The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-03-26
ENQUIRE
RICHMOND, MARCH %, 1905.
THE PRESENT .PoLIC7- or THE FEDE-
RiL PART3.
NO. |.

FRUITFUL in refources, and indefatigable in
their zeal, the federal party have fcarcely ever
deipaired OF recovering from their defeat. No
iooner is one error refuted and one trick expo
fed, than their ingenuity or their artihce have
readily !upplied them with others. Gifted with
the fecundity of the tabled Hydra, their blood
falls TO the earth, only TO generate new mon
tiers. Following in their turn the fate of their
parent, thee have been unable to withhand the
power of truth and the federal party are now
left TO the unavaing regret, that in fpite of
their multiplied expedien,s, in fpite of
their indetatigable zeal, they have fcarcely par
/ taken of folitary triumph.
Previous to the commencement of Mr.. Jef
terton'S administration, they reprefented the re-
publican party as the friends Of France and re-
evolutionary anarchy, and as the enemies of Bri-
tain and good government. Taking thefe traits
as the ground work of their piSure, they drew
fcene of the probable policy of our adminf-
tration and the condition of our country.
fraught with the NOT horrible images. In
few months we were 20 be engaged in fangu-
nary war with Great Britain, and entangled in
bafe alliance with France. Navies were TO
be built armies to be RATED taxes were TO be
levied upon tie deuded people. Even if this
fcene ihould notbe realized, their prophetic ina
gination was ready to draw as melancholy =
picture of our internal relations The princi-
Piles OF the republican party were fad TO be CO.
pied from the revolutionary Jacobins of France.
Their political opponents were to be denoun-
ced, profcribed, perhaps inundated on the gull
lotine. The rights of property were to be vio-
lated and the coniilcated eRates of the pro-
fcribed, were intended to reward the Roher
fpIetrcs and the Dantoni of the day. What
has now become of thefe glowing images of 70.
reign degradation and internal diitrefs? They
have faded like the vfions of the night, before
the dawn of experience. Connected bv trea-
ties OF frIenGlhip with Great Britain and France;
neither involved in war with the one, nor en-
tangled in alliances with the other, we have
commanded the refpe6t Of both, and of all Eu
rope. AT home, we are enjoying mild and be-
nihcent administration. Periecution is gnawinp
her own chains. Where the public veal is fup-
poted to demand change of meaftlres, refor
nation takes the place of revolution and To-
cial order is maintained by the laws, as well as
by the habits of the people
With tuch illiberal nfnuations on the views
OF the republican party, they blended more ILL
beral attacks upon the private character of the
Prehdent. They defended to the recenes of
his private conduct !: vainly expe cling to find
thote detects in the man which they had in
vain attempted TO detect in the public officer.
There was fcarce!y vice in the whole catalogue
of human nfrmites, which thew did not trium-
phhntiY attribute to him. Fearlefs of God. he
was LAID TO be IN continual fear Of man. He had
PiOplidhSb lilC NCitlUu!C OF COnlQgSt love. I'm
der an air of the mott Ean6titied fmpIcitv. he
was difguting the mott ambitious and extenfve
detigns. The fa!tidious critics of the admin
ftration, thinking nothing beneath them, even
erected themelves into contemplate court Of
fathion 4; and arraigned ut this terrible tribunal
even the texture of his coat and the hue of his
hote. mpotent and contemplate criticifos
nat perfection is not the attribute of man. is
what the friends of Mr. Jefferfon have never de-
denied that MIR. Jefferlon pofefles more iIInc.
trious virtues, than mott other men. that he
has rendered more fubfantial farvices TO Anne
rca, than almoit any other man this is the
pohtlon which his friends are anxious TO main
tain, and which the people have ratified bv
triumphant voice. Infour years there is fcarcelv
Jingle friend who has deferted his cauG4
while numbers of his former enemies have bo.
noraoIy acknowledged their miltake by enlih
ing under its banners.
Defeated in fuch impotent projects
the federal party of the north next deter
mined to vary the method of their attack.
Unable to accomplish their objects by 4 com
Piete combination with the fouth, they refolyed
to purfne the old maxim of tyrants, & couons,, br
aiDidHg They now attempted to excite
Jeaiouiy among the republicans of the north
towards the republicans of the South. The
deicanted upon Southern ambition and
Northern degradation. They reprefented tbe
= 49, CON'NA' and
the actual matters of the North. Virpinia in
particular was faid to be fecretly acquiring this
tranicendant influence. They appealed TO her |
reluctance inenbracing the prefent conHitution. |
they appealed TO the fecond fiction of the fri !
article of that initrument; to her opDoGng The |
principal acts of the two anterior admipiGr,ti-
ons; to every meafure of the prefent adninic-
tration, for 10 many proofs of Nrginia ambition
and Pif;ginia influence. They tried to exc ont
thete contructive charges, by recurring 10 re-
cent facts. They produced Pierce Buffers let
ter TO the Legislature of S. Carolina too plainly
dictated by the goadings of disappointed ambi-
ton. They condefcended even to cite the an
thority of Mr.. Elliott of Vermont he who
itands forth as an awful beacon of the danger. of
facriicing the public intereas, to CRAFTY our
own intuated feelings. The tocfin was found
ed through the New-England Gates. Yirg;0ia
influence was now the federal talifman, bv which |
they hoped to work change of the adminiHr,-
ton, if not dinolution of the union. If was
employed in their public prints: it was en-
ployed in their private circles it was employ
ed in their public meetings." MAY the domi- l.
Mon of Virginia be limited by the contitution.
or at leait by the Delaware" was fet toaf'
given by $50 fcderalifts of Bottom, at feRivai
given to Mr. Gore. But this charm was en-
ployed in vain. The federaRs of the north