The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-16

| Aurora. We had originally deEcned 10 havc
gwen general view ofthe merits ofthat paper;
and the reaions which led to this dc. ermination
have not as yet loit any part of their force. The
enIoc'unS in fact which we pan upcn the Au-
rcra, by declaration that it was tn, bef paper
IN the union have only fervcd to furniG, us with
an additional conformation of our original d. =
| Iign. Let us review then fomc OF the merits OF
! his celebrated journal.
We admire the Aurora, not becaufe il gives
us the car!ieit, the mon complcat, and the
belt authenticated account of foreign and do
| meltic intelligence ; but becaute il more accu-
| rately developes the cau!es and consequences
or thotc events. Its comments upon Eaft-Indian
affairs are uncommonly minute, precife and
comprehensive. 1T unveils the intrigues of the
Cabinets Of Europe; it predicts the fate of ne
gociatons; of battles, ofcommcrcal regulations,
& Of all political events with an aitonifl,ing Qick-
nets, tagacity S; truth. EGabl'hed ir one ofthe
mott influential cities of the nnion. aided by the
confidence and correspondence OF the moi diff
tinguiihed republicans, conducted by an editor
ofndefatigabe zeal, of an acute understanding,
and of great experience, it is not iurprifng that
its comments upon American affairs, flould
he generally correct, ready and 'exterive.
With an aitonihing facity,it penetrates the
mlnuteft movements of party, unveils the
tecret intrigues of the federalifts. cifplavs the
remote tendency of neaiiires, which are Of
tenhbiy uteful, expofes their mittaterents,
| refutes their fophiltry. and animates the ener.
gy and the efforts of the republican party
There are many ne7yEPapers in this country
TAR hyperion TO the Aurora vehicles of irtelli-
gence but there is no political Journal, which
can vie with It in the rapidly and correcfneis OF
its views.
But the Aurora has feveral prominent defe6ts,
which detratt from thefe important advantages.
The ftye ofitS controversial e!ldys is often four
rilous, vulgar, and malcvolent. It's views of fo-
reign affairs are too frequently blended, con-
founded and interrupted by unnecefary cri-
tiques upon the federal party. Its views of
| their iecret iutrigues are not always fIp-
ported by that veriiimilitude and probability,
| whchare 70 neceilaryto produce conviction on
all fu',ie6fs, where the truth is 70 important and
20 difficult to Ne afcertained. The mott pro-
minent defect Of the Aurora however is 10 he
found in that executive fpirit of fu!pcion. which
extends to every man who differs from it in OBI
mon, and in the immoderate Reproduction which
it extends 70 fuch opponents. I fpeal not of
its cenfure upon the federal party. Their de-
fgns it is no longer in the power of charity it.
feIf 70 deny, or to eXtenuate. With refoe4 TO
them experience has too fatally ripened fulfil
cion into conviction, and there are no centuries
too harlh, no denunciations too violent, which
the leading Importers Of that party do not iuft-
" dsftrvc. Yet even towards theft men I
would extend a refpeGtful moderation. I
would never forget their political errors; 7
would never forget that their actions have prov
ed them unworthy of the confidence OF their
country but woullnever forget, that many of
thefe men are equally entitled with gnyfef to
the liberty of thought and of fpeech; that ma
ny of them are confcientious in their miftakes,
and that there are many, who would foon yield
| TO the light of real5n, if their fseL;ngs were
not excited by the fpirit of intolerance.
| To ufe the language OF orr fage and benevo-
lent Prelident, &c let us cheril (thefe men) with
! bqtiert Affection. Let us do them iutice, and
more than iuttice, in all competitions of intereft
and we need not doubt that truth, rea!t,n, and
their own interehs, will at length finally pre-
vail; will gather them into the fold of their
country, and will compleat that entire union of
| opinion, which gives to- nation the bIefings of
| harmony, and the benefit of ALI its ttrength.''
Ifpcak not however of the centuries, which
have beer 70 profufely lavin1ed upon the fede-
| ra!ifs. What principally excites my difappro-
baton are thofe indifcriminate and executive re-
breaches which the conductor of the Aurora has
| hefowcd upon men of his own party, who hap-
pen to differ from him certain political quefti
ons. II would appear from many of the ftric-
lures of the Aurora, that a politician need only
differ from it on certain points, to expofe hirnfef
70 an irdiftrimiuate fufpcior. and when once
| fufpeGcd, no coincidence of opinion, no coope-
ration of effort, no pat fervices however inefti-
| mahle, can fcreen him from anathemas CONT
| nuaIly and boldly repeated. Who was it, that
denounced Mr.. Barbour OF the Virginia legifla-
ture, who had uniformly Imported the princi-
pies Of the prefent administration who was it
that made the federalifs exclaim 4" Barbour is
ripe for orr purpofe; well play upon his am
bition and that love OF fame which often makes
Virginia young men Regardless of the quality &,
that the quantity is great !" 1t was the con-
du6tor o. the Aurora. Who was itthatdenornc-
ed almoh without an exception, the ad~erfaries
of convention in Pennfylvania? The Aurora.
That charged the advocates of Yazoo COM
promfe with corruption or with fcderalifm /?
| 1t was the Aurora.
| Has the Editor of that paper maturely conf
dered the consequences of thefe prescriptions,
Does he not know, that the diviiions among
the republican party are defined to arife as
well from the jealous and perfecuting temper
of thofe who are too violent in their denuncia-
tons, as from the compaifant, lukewarm and
third -party-fpirit of thofe, who are too mode
rate in their principles That even if this per-
fecution has not the effect Of curdlng their at
tachment to the republican caufe, it deprives
them Of the confidence Of their party, and de-
! feats all their efforts to promote the common
intere(t Does not the Editor Of the Aurora