The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-12-19

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bnref Congrg6 TO fbe Editor.
Nothing has'yet occurred In the prefent Con.
grefs, by which a correct climate can be made
of the relative ftrength of the parties which CON-
pofe It. lay parties-for / fear it is in vain TO
expect, even in this body, which hould contain
the concentrated wifdom and virtue of the natl
on, that al, will be governed by motives purely
patriotic. IF thofe who are ufually called va.
z~oo-men-together with thoie who confitute
the third-party (Which I believe is a very fmall
one) unite upon any queftions with the federal
ifts,-they will form a body too ftrong to be
confronted, but by the whole fore of the re-
pubicans. The latter, even then, | think, will
have a q majority, hut it will be 70 finall, that not
a man can be fpared. That fuch a union will
be formed on fome fubjeets, I think is highly
probable-particularly if the Yazoo-men hould
be Irritated as formerly, by queftioning too
cloiely the purity of the principles upon which
they ACT. Their old wounds are not yet heal
ed, and they n,ould be probed and drefTed by
a very delicate hand. The cauRic, and the
knife may drive them to deipair. Feeling will
then uturP the province of Judgment, and our
acts may prove %effnions of patton, intead of
being the refuIts of calm ratiocination. A refo-
intlon relative to the Yazoo-lands was fubmit-
ted ny MIR. Gregg to'Congrefs the other day,
which will produce another difcuffion of that
fubiecf, perhaps before ChriRmas. 1t is almoR
certain, ] think, that it will then receive its
death blow. Several additional votes againt
this ubiquitous buGne(s will he gained by the
new members, and fome OF the old ones may be
expected through Difference to the fentiments
OF their contituents to change their opinions,
or not to vote at all. 1t is not, I am told, in
Virginia alone, that this tranfaetiop has been
generally execrated. The public fentiment
throughout the union, and particularly in the
'outhern ttates has been exprefied in the frong-
cit terms againft it.
Another fubjea of far greater importance,
VIII loon be before Congrefs. mean the quef-
ton OF peace, or war. Upon this point, / am
NOT prepared to exPrefs a Deceive opinion.
Both tides of the queftion will probably have
many advocates. The immediate ~intereits of
the commercial ftates, & of thofe likely to pro-
hit by the plumber ofthe Spanih fettlements ad.
@jacent to thean, Will produce, I expect, a frong
party-if not in favour of war, at leaf of fuch
meafures as NUT foon lead to it. But if war
can be avoided confidently with our intereA
and honour-another party, and that by no
means a weak one, will ute every effort to pre-
vent 10 great a calamity. By this party, you
Will without doubt understand that | mean the
republicans. Nothing I believe would CRAFTY
the tederalifs more, than for this country to be
involved in war A part of them, becaufe they
really think we ought TO engage in it, and a
part becauie they know that it would embar-
RATS our prefent government very much. Upon
this iubjett you ihall hear more, as foon as I
can form a more correct opinion of the courfe
likely TO he purified. AT prefent I believe
fcarcely any perfon has decided how he hall
act. The prefent ~fituation of Europe is GER
tainly highly favourable to the United States.
whether they determine to adopt bottle or pa
cine meafures. But a few more years of tran
qui!ity would augment, almoft intellectually,
our capacity to wage war,-and they furely
would not diminiih our chance for preferving
peace. Yet fuch is the quietude which a long
courfe of PROPERTY has ingsndered amongft a
portion or the people of the United States, that
Tome depletion I fear, will be aecelIary before
they can be brought TO a proper temperament.
In the body polite, as we'll as the body natural,
very high health feemst o produce consequences
entirely fmilar. A difpeftion in both to c,m-
NIT extravagancies fnon evinces itfrlf, which
fober %reaion, and judgment, can with difficulty
controul."