The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-03-28
ENQUIRE
RICHMOND, MARCH IS, 1905.
THE PRESENT POLICY OF THE FEDE-
P-fL PAPT1.
No. H.
No. II.


Experience has too fatally confirmed theft
melancholy predictions. The fpirit ofrepubli-
can difunion has already appeared in the united
councils of our country: and in every fate
where the federal party has covered beneath
the power of their opponents, too weak to en-
plov an open hofiIitv, & too well known To iuc-
coed by fccret intrigue, the fame fymptoms
have been ma"fened; the fame Earrings, mutu-
Al reprOach, and occalional defertion. This
therefore, is the awful crihs of the republican
detinY. Let theft internal ferments 60 ON ex-
aiperating and increafng; let contending lead
ers and adverfe fe6ts arife in the republican
tateS of the union, and the republican phalaux
will beultimatey broken down; breach will be
made in the combination, which no danger that
is likely TO ariie, no Cancellation that is likely
TO be employed, will be able to repair; and in
few years the banners Of the federal party r@i!!
be planted in triumph upon the ruins of repub-
/ IIcaDlfm. This therefore is the moment of mu-
tual concelfion and mature deiiberation. Divi-
tions have arifen among us; or, let me rather
fay, they are ariing and the delighted batilfk
is once more elevating its cret with rapturous
expectation. Let US difappoint theie riing
hopes let us proye to our opponents, that
the men who have had energy enough to con-
quel in the combat, pofIefs moderation enough
to fecurc the fruits of the victory and let us
not, by any internal dif1enfions, throw away
thofc advantages, and endanger that ineGimable
administration, which we have contributed to
obtain by our united efforts. 1t is from the
petty fchifms among individuals, or from fome
minute differences in the application of prnci-
pies, and not from the defects of our political
Lyfen1, not from the mifcondus} of orr cgd,ninic
fration, not from any ioral dihenion between
the republicans Of the north and of the fouth,
that the federal party have now extracted fome
Il Al.
party is in danger it is not that their caufe is
covered with iniufice it is not that they want
the ftrength Of numbers to battle their oppo-
nents, but tits hecaufe they want that enviable
itrength of mind, which impofes mutual toiera-
ton in matters Of opinion, and mutual facrihces
amid the expeditions ofinteref.
In tracing out the hifory of every party divi-
hon, If becomes us to difnguilh between the
political fubieets which produce difference of
opinion, and the motives of thofc, who engage
in the controversy. Let the number and varie-
ty OF the frit be ever 70 extenlive, they may at
lait be reduced TO tzvo heads TO men or TO
meqGlret. 1t NUT be, becaufe fome man has
adopted a meafure, which is not altogether
pleafng to his political friends, or hecaufe fome
mea'ure has been Imported which is fufcepti-
bic Of various contributions, that anv materials
can be found for an actual or a1umed difference
of opinion. Meantime the motives them
ielvcs which led to this variation of fentment,
may almot be a. various as the politicians
themfeves who arc Affected by their influence.
One man advocates or oppofes the man or the
me1iure, becsufe without any bias from par
ticuar fyfcr he has calculated its influence
upon the general interefs of his country. An
other views them in relation 10 that contracted
fyftem of opinions, in which his mind has been
accuftcmed 10 revolve. third politician
without tutoring his mind TO expatiate at all
upon the general concerns OF his country, with.
ont even elcvating his attention TO fOme general
though contracted fynem, to fome petty though
common party, brings every fubieet Of confider-
alton within the narrow circle of his own infli-
/ lated intcrefs. j is from the combination OF
! tUch circumstances in their various relations
| that we fhsll produce all the different cafes, in
which the different portions of party may be
! placed each of them prefcribing a new rule oil
conduct and impofng A new obligation upon
the majority Of the party.
When any meafure or principle Of great pub.
lie concern is brought into difculiiur, we can
not reafonably expeGt that every honea repub-
! lican will adopt the very fame conclufion. DIFF
ferent minds will take various views Of she very
Nrue iubictf, with equal impartiality Of under
! Handing and equal integrity Of motive. TIC
I pats then rom the mcclure to the man to con.
vert every new principle into ftandard Of po
| liiical purity 10 de0ounce and TO profcribe
every republican who has not embraced im
lar opinion, is equally adverie to the union o
/ foarfIee. and CONTRARY IN the tolerant rim,