The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-07-22
FEDERATIVE SYSTEM.

qVitb the Policy Of the Roman Republic.
Italy was long confidered the fchool of the
arts and of politics. The French of the prefent
day removed the fnef monuments and produc-
items OF the former, from that fair peninfua, TO
their brilliant capital; and fiRce Taleyrand's
adminiltr alton, plan of the mott fubtle policy
teems to have found its way, with thofe monu-
| ments, to the palace of the Thuilleries. MANY
expreiiions of that cabinet are now recalled to
m,nd' which, to many perhaps, appeared to-
tally unmeaning, but whole eventful (igniica-
ton was but too foon manifefed. What, how
ever, ditinguiibes the French fchool from the
| more ancient one, is, that its plans are more
| tPeediy matured and is not this perfectly ma
tura, asst the impul6ve energies employed are 70
infinitely hyperion
In the letter in which the emperor of the
French informed the fenare, that he had adopt
ed Prince Eugene, Viceroy of Italy in that re-
markable document, dated the 9Th of January,
Napoleon ufed for the firft time, the expreffive
term, Federatipe States. We intend faid he,
by other dhpohtions, TO devote the relations
which ihall exit between all the federative States
oil the French Cmpire. AS the different parts,
| though independent of each other, have one
common nteref, 70 likewife they fhalI have
| one common bond of union.'' Scarcely three
months had elapfed, when the pron,ifed deve-
lopement appeared, and this federative fyiten
unfolds itfeif by marriages, and political trea-
ties, to an extent that excites atonilhment
The exprefive term Federative State, fri
received hgnficaton from the fpeech with
which Napoleon opened the flirting of the le-
giilative body. on the cd of March. "The
whole pennfula of Italy, faid he, forms part
of the great empire have, as its chief, guaran-
teed the fovercigns and the contributions, by
which the different portionsof it are governed"
The new federative fyftem continued to ex-
tend itielt over Europe. The idea may, per-
haps, long have engaged the mind of him, whole
influence over the deftiny of fstes, is 70 pow
ertul and irreiiftable. It's appearance before the
world, its realization, can only be dated from
the lalt dfaarous coalition, and particularly
from the eventfn, battle of Aultertz.
Modern times can fcarcely transfer to the
great book of hiftory, events and circumstances,
! tor which parallel may not be found on fome
preceding page. Thus, in an earlier epoch of
the human race, we difcover the fame fedora
tive fyften, which now forms a principal object
or French policy, of an extent and perfection,
that are worthy of admiration. 1t was at Rome,
where the ambition of universal dominion in
vented this fyfem. The fubtle rulers of that
conquering fate, were convinced of the diff
Guilty of retaining all the dtaut and molly parts
OF which this perpetually increa6ng collohus
was competed, and this conviction created al
lies. Thefe allies of the Roman people were
nations who, either voluntarily, to preferve
their otherwife precarous political exiftence, or
vanquiihed, after a frutlefs contet, entered into
| alliance, by which Rome promi(ed them her
protection, as the price of her independence.
| They were obliged to furnifh numerous auxiIia-
ries, who never formed feparate armies, but
were only permitted to ACT 10 conjunction with
the Roman leeions. The political exertions
were confequenty crippled by this alliance /;
| from Rome emanated the commands, whi:h de-
oided the deftination and employment Of their
energies.
| The various nations which inhabited the TIA
| Ian peninfuIa, the Latins, the Hetrurians, the
Peceni and the Campaniaus, were the principal
allies of the Roman fate. In the fequel, this
federative fyftem expanded tfelf, and, for many
centuries, kept advancing by degrees. 1t ex-
tended TO Greece, to Spain, to Gau, and reach
ed from Europe even TO Alta and Africa. Not
only fmall republics, but lkewife many kiagJ,
fome Of whom were powerful monarchs, be-
loDged to this confederacy.
| AS Napoleon, at the prefent day, hrength-
ems, through gratitude, the bonds which unite
Bavaria, Wirtemberg and Baden TO France, by
increaiing the power and enlarging the iomni-
ons of thofe princes, 70 Rome HkewiEe rewarded
the zeal Of her allies. The territory Of the Afr-
| can king, Mafiniha, was confiderably extended ;
and that Of king Eumenes, in Ala Minor, was
increafed by the provinces united with it, to a
powerful monarchy. Exactly in the fame man
ner as Napoleon accommodates the difference 8
between Bavaria, Wirtemberg and Baden, rela-
tive to their reflective limits, the Roman ftate
adjuRed fimiIar difpute Of king Eumenes.
| This paralleI,s rendered fill more ftrking, by
the laaguage employed in the aHembly of the
French legislature, after the official expedition
of the exterior fitudtion of France -" From
'the peace concluded BY Napoleon, (faid mem-