The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-04
FIN OH TEEl2.
RICHMOND, dP&LL :, 1905.

| TIE PRESENT PoLIc1' or THE fEDE-
RAJ PARTl:
No. w.
! We have ct h1gt5 Attended to the prevailing
principles of the federal party. After having
rctraccd all their fubtle and vigorous excrtions,
Eace the ar1 Of the prefcut administration, to
reifore their fallen fortunes, we have noticed
their repeated defeats. We have fcen them pre-
ditting, thar lhoud Mr.. J@fie-lon be pat at the
head Of our affairs, in a few fllor5 months we
houid Zee oNr country Involved in war with
Britain, and enangled in an alliance with
France /; anc we have fen the peace and prof
PcritY OF or beloved country r-futng their
prcdttOHs. We have feeu them attacking the
principal ineafireS Of the administration, ard
tire private character of he officers Of govern
ment: and We have fcen the people revarding
th5le mcrit0rious criticifi1s, By heapng new
honours upon their CPpOrents. Disappointed
III their attempts TO overthrow the republican
party, by attacking the political fJGcn which
they iuDpOrtcd, we have n5erved the feGcraliRs
Of the north, changing the grounds OF their At
tack t,tullY attempting 70 fcattor divi6on
and difunion in the republican ranks, by plav-
ing of the republicans of the north aganR
thote OF the fOuth, and bringing local 2rciudicss
, IN array againit the leading principles Of the
party: and we have fsen the republicans of the
north ridiculing tliefe unfounded fufDicions,
expecting al! their infamous arts, and acting in
I more perfect union with their brethren in the
! foCth. In fpitr OF thele repeated exer,ions, we
have obferyed the federal partvdai'y ioiing fome
part of their ground, fucce(iivey driven from
/ one ttrong hold TO another, dwindl.ng in their
numbers, and reduced at laR 10 fuch Fate oG
imbecility as to be incapable of any ferrous eff
fort to recover from their defeats So feeble
are the approximations entertained OF their iiIc-
cefs, that we have already feen the republican
party relaxing in their vigilance, and in the
ftri6thefs OF their difcp,ine. We have feer lit
tie differences of opinion, which had preyiou1y
appeared Of fmall conltQnence, now affirming
an Uuuiual importance. We have leen indivi-
dual intereRs, which would never have been
+ thought Of amdf the great conflicts of party,
iuddenly itartiug up into coliiion with each
ether. In fact, the hight indications of an ap-
preaching diviiion among the republican party
have already obtrudcd themfeiyes upon our
notice. thus, at the very moment when the
federal party were falling into irretrevable ruin,
when their ipirits were yielding to defpair, ano-
tier ray of CCG!oatiOn and hope fprings up
from the very gloom which envelopes them,
I TO animate their lPirits, and to point the way
/ for new exer:jors.
! Here then IS the ground, on which the fedc-
! raj phaiauX have now pitched their Gandard.
hey tDow they are imPotent by thenielves.
They feel how neceaary II is to their iuccefs to
attach part OF the republicans 20 their CASTE ;
and theY therefore dwell with delight upon the
! proiPsct OF republican dl!union. They know
that II ever individual iniercfts or flight dife-
! renee OF opinions Ihonid produce an alienation
among ther-Pubilcan3; 1t would be impofible
10 calculate The duration or degree of its effect.
Let tins alienation once cSi:t on any topic, and
wat ihaii prevent It from extending the
iPAeie OF ITS influence Private palllon is called
| 'n'' ACTON; reciprocal enmity may be general
ea' q 'neH slii ecss WI attempt to thwaTt each
I o'hef deIitns lher mutual oppOlition