The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-03-28

PIC appears really Incompatible with the repub-
hcan fytetn, that It's advocates dcleryc an inter
lminable fenteuce of oGracim.
The maxim is in general correct, that the me-
rit of a man or meafure, can never he impair
TALLY iettled, until they have been ahtracted
from each other and feparately conIidered. Ii
rs not every Difference of opinion' which is
ga difference of principle :" aud the character
| OF the advocate does not always confer its inn
perfection upon the opinion he iupports.-
Where then, let me ak, was the iufice of cait-
ing upon the conicientious advocates of va
700 compromife, the charges and reproaches of
federal corruption Where was the proprietv
of entering Mr.. Findley upon The lit of pro-
fcriptions, until fome satisfactory ietimony had
been collected, that he alto had partaken of
the corruption of the Yahoos, or imbibed
the tenets Of iederalifm /?
But when an inveitigation is to be made, not
INTO the merits of meajIrcJ, but Of nleY, the
operation is much more delicate in itit!f, and
more productive of miRake. The tendencies
or meaiureS are in general fixed and unchanged
bic their indications are public and percepti-
bic. But the character Of man is liable 10 eter-
nal mutations ; and the politician, who exhi-
BITS this day the mott honorable character.
may unve, ere the fettiug of another fun, the
mott profgate ambition, the moft unprincipled
avarce. The pureH politicians, evenm may derive
their tranlitory virtue from a tranlitory fituati-
or; < the patriot ftc-day may be converted
by Circe-like PROPERTY into the tyrant of to-
morrow. Lett too be recollected, that the
views which are taken Of men are much more
liable to the bias and prepofe!Iions of the OBJ
/frz'er.
The iPirit of competition mixes tlclf with our
reflections. & difcolourS our Judgment. But this
cdute OF divition was not likely TO operate upon
the republicans 70 long as the federal party
iI,b INK '.
tilithe downfall fthisfyfe' that therepublican
memberswerebroughtinto competition and coll
| llhon with each other. 1t was not till that mo-
ncnt then, thatthe republicans whoh dalready
obtained the honors & emoiuments of5n Office.
orwho had the ereateit chance of obtaining
them, became the objects OF rivalry and envy.
II is then that the vain and The interefed, and
allthote who have affirmed the faireft pretenfons
OF patriotiim to- promote their own ambitious
parpotes, fep forward 70 claim their ex-
pectedreward. 'Have wenot braved' thevwillf ay
all the terrors of the American revolution /?
Have we not dilplayed an equal ent ialm in
our conflicts with the federal party. . I'VE we
not adhered to your naturalization, in ipite of
relentless oppoiition and repeated menace?
And are we not now entitled to fome Of the
fruits of the victory ?" DaZzled by This
lplendid picture OF their own exploits, tnefe
men are prone to believe that TO recompence
can be too great for their ferviceS, no competi-
tor can be 70 well entitled to the confidence of
the people. Let thefe fplendid expectations
be disappointed, and their adherence to the re-
publican intereft is nolongertobe trufed. Here
then is one iource ofdiVE92 Bullet theirefforts be
fucceisful in towing fufpcions of their rivals
principles, and IN overthrowing his pretenhons
and they Immediately create new divihon a.
mong the republican party. The virtue of their
rivals may not indeed be affected by this de-
feat /: tho their bofoms may fill beat as high
as ever with the feryor OF republican princi
pies; yetthey are manned in their exertions. TO
promote the republican caufe the eve of fif-
Picion has fafened upon them and the peo-
pie will no longer receive benefit from thofe
IN whom they will no longer confde
Grns there :rs rl>,- IsF1s aat.rae 20 Them
iclves the title and the garo ofreUutlicanicn, to
conceal their Observation-Disclosures These men
remain under the banners Of the party 10 long
| as they have hope of iharing in the FOOLS
Bat once let them feel the fuiIity Of thcfe hopes
once let them fee that there are others. who
better deierve reipeti, & who are more fuccefs
fni in ITS attainment; and their ambition will
be confined to the diicovery of fome plaulible
pretext for deferting to the oppoiite party.
Who can coniider the GiviEog of fuch men as
worthy OF the lliEhteA rePret Their adhe-
| renee reflects a lufpicon and diigrace upon the.
realrepublicans. They even deiert theircaufe on
the mottimPortant queitions. They add to the
| number, without increahng the energy of thepar
ty. Theylulth them into fatal confidence & pre-
mature repoie by giving them the appearance
or irreiiltibIe ltrength. Like the Wondering
pieces that enter into an arch, they for time
deceive the eye: fmaIer burthens are laid upon
1t without danger but at the very moment.
when It bears upon It's bofom the very beR
hopes and the moR inefimable rights of the
people, the deceitful fragments tumble in, and
endanger the fecurity of the wlole. 1t is there
fore the interet of the republicans, that fuch
rotten members ihouId be eternay divided
from their party. To fuch men as James Eli
oft of Vermont, aud Aaron Burr of New-York,
we may furely bid adieu without DEPENDENCY
or regret.
Hsre then LET us delineate the Outlines of re-
publican policy. When they inveftgate amea-
iures, let them employ federation towardstheir
friends when they inveGigate the characters of
men, let them exercife liberal contribution.
Slow IN denouucing, let their recruitment be un-
eXtinguihable. When a republican expects
the reward of his fervices, let him never lofe
| fight of the contending claims of his compatri-
OTIS; and in all the competitions of interef, let
him never forget the nscsiiity of making mutual
| facrifces.
Republicans if this be not your conduct,
| mark the boHcg! mark the exultation mark
the probable triumphs of the federal party
(To be continued