The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-12-17
@be Gnqulrer.
RICHMOND, i7tb DECEMBER.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
No. L.

~ As
No circumRance Is better calculated 70 thew
the diitineton that prevails between the poll
teal inftitutions of Europe and the United
States, than the fpirit that fpeaks in the aidref-
les of their chief magistrates. When the En-
gifh king addrefes his Lords and his Commons,
he obviouay fpeaks in the language of fove
reign to his fubjeets: he offers them no other
information on the fate of their foreign relati-
ons than his miniiters arc compelled, by re-
gard to their own fafety, to unfold: all his OPT
Mons are delivered in the form of Prescriptions,
and even his Fluctuations for enormous fupplies
are conveyed in the language of demand. The
pretent ruler Of the French nation, has long
thrown Aide the mockery of compliment and
the forms of freedom s'mr lcgions, my trea.
fury, my imperial throne, my loyal people," are
the pompous epthets which announce at once
his own greatness and the degradation of France.
Far different is the fcene which our federal adj
ninlitration exhibits The PRECEDENT of the Uni.
ted States is evidently no more than the chief
magiitrate of a free people his Metiage is in
the ftye of one frceman addrelng the red : and
not of fovereign fpeaising to his fihieefs. Ref
ponfible to the people for the exercife of his
powers, he lays open every event, he fuggcfts
every hint, which may frrye to promote their
mutual intercits.
In declaring the, impreifions, which we feel
from the lat Medage of Mr.. Jefferfon to con-
erefs, we might perhaps incur the imputati-
on of being the humble Hatterers of power. So
deeply are we charged with the value of it's
principles. that the language of truth might
feem the degrading tribute of adulation. Let
the federalits then for once fpeak the praife of
the Jefferfonian administration Let the en-
vious enemies Of the Preiident for once claim,
the honour Of rendering jutice to his merits
That conduct mutt be meritorious indeed,
which can extract from the befom of party fpi-
rit, the reluctant tribute of appreciation.
Thisneilage, crythey, isdignifird firm & fpri-
ted. 1t breathes the pirit of TO- 1t betokens the
return of thofe times, when the frmnefs of
Wilmington directed the council of his coun.
try. In fine, cry they to give the lalt iinilh
tother commentators, we coniider it FEE.
DERALISM REVIVED"
The time, then, has at length come, when
the enemies of Mr.. Jeferfon are compelled to
admit the iniufice of their accuEations. What
nov has become of their contemplate fneers,
againft the infley.ble hrmnefs, and fpirit of our
public councils? Why have they purified the
tame d'fSuiting theme, through every pofiible
combination of time, * place & circumitance !,
from the NUT lated adventure of Carter's noun
tain, 10 the Threatened fcene of Spai,iih war !,
fromthe ara oftherevoutiont TO the prefcnt crifis,
1t was becaute they wifhed to repretcnt our H.
luftrious PRECEDENT as potroon aud A coward
as unfit to difcharge the. duties of an officer, as
thofe oil man; becaufc they wiihed to repre-.
tent him AS ihrinking from the perls of war,
though the nteeits of his country, fhouId i'm:
perloully call upon him To meet them: becaufe
IN fact they wiihed to fee him Gathered for
cowardce, and thcrnielves fucceedng to tie
honour or his pott. Bat for once, they have
exchanged the language of reproach for that of
appreciation. Contrary to the ftrongeft fugsef-
tons of party, they are forced to coniefs that
the lat mehage of Jefferion is not unworthy
OF the fpirit of Warrington. They are forced
to compliment the firmnefs of the man whom
they have 70 abuudantly abuftd and to f;.rren-
der the ftrongrft weapon of offence, which they
have welded.
If Mir. Jcferfon has never before fpoken the
language of hoitility and defiance towards the
nations OF Europe, 1t was becaufe no location
had yet occurred to call it forth. 1t was not
by war, but by peaceful negotiation, that he
fecured the uninterrupted right of a depofit
on the lower flores of the MiIiGippi that he
excluded the hottie French from Louiiiana,
and laid open new territories for our peaceful
fellow citizens. Mr.. Jeierfon too clearly
perceIves the calamiiies incident TO a fate of
war, to think OF recommending it upon every
Hight, and frivolous occaliun. His are not
the paiiions ola iroward and irritable child, but
the found diicretion of an experienced faye.
In fad, this advantage which we enjoy, is
not 10 much to be attributed TO the virtues of
Mr.. Jefierion as to the peculiar excellence of
our republican form of government.
War aud conquea Gays an eminent writer on
goverlrnent0 cannot be beneficial to the commu-
nifty. Their tendency is elevate few at the ex-
pence OF the re, and confequenty they will never be
undertaken but where the many are the intrunicnts
OF the few. But this canEot happen in a denioera-
ey, till the democracy fha become lueh only in
name. If expedients be devifed for maintaining
this ipecies o government in its purity or il there
be any thing in the nature of wfdon and intellectual
Improvement which has tendency daily to make
truth prevail more faliehood, the principle Of
offenHve war will be extrpated. But this principle
enters into the very efencs Of monarchy and aril
tocracy."
1t can only then be the naves Of party or the
friends OF monarchy who can with to deftroy this
peculiar virtue of our contribution, by pIungino
us TITO the cal9mities ofan unneceEdry war.
That MIR. Jetferfon has been peculiarly aHift-
ed by fortune in the ufe of his favourite expe
dent, no man will venture to deny; but
no one can deny that he deferves all the me-
rit Of taking advantage of her fayours.
Like an able fatefman we Zee him uniform
iy directing the current as i Eets is. Il Wa.
when war menaced the ruler of France
that we gained Louliiana. At this moment
half of Europe is in battalion " third Goa