The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-22
LETTER THE THIRD.
To JOHN RANDOLPH Es,

TO JOHN RANDOLPH, Esq.
MEMBER OF THE n. OF REPESEN7ATIrRs
SIR have attempted to show to the sa-
tlstaction of every unprecedented mind, that
the manner In which YOU have spoken of the
comparative resources of the u. States and
OF Great Britain, was calculated to d,spirit
the energy OF your Country and to increase
the demands OF CUR enemy. Equally unfortu-
nate have yoH been in the firinci/iies which
you have supported, during this interesting,
controversy.
The aggressions of Great-Britain natural
ly divided themselvesin into two classes I'm
Pressment OF cur seamen, and depredations
upon our colonial commerce.--On neither of
these questions have you maintained that
dignihed and patriotic ground, on which the
interests o' your country ought to reposei
i will appeal, Sir, to Your own candour :
although you have lately exhibited so small
portion Of that virtue, as to render it a very
suspicious tribunal. What exertions, Sir,
can be expected from the zeal of that po!jti-
clan, in securing one of the most important
rights OF his countrymen, who forgets the
very existence of this right, and at the very
moment when every honest patriot is indie.-
nant at its violation? ! shall not accuse Won.
as Mr.. Smile has done on the 5th March
1906, "of dcsigncdly passing over one OF the
most important considerations presented by
the present SUBJECTIVE imhressn1c,rt of on,.
Scdn'e"" will allow you the free benefit
OF your own vindication. i will seriously ask
you, what attachment for the rights of orr
seamen is reasonably to be expected from
thatpohtician, who could eXpend whole hours
III the ebuiitiOn of his "Crude and desultorv
observations, without dcvoting one moments
attention to the serious impressment of vour
countrymen YOU could find sufficient leisure
Tor expatlating upon the formidable resources
OF U. Britain. fon had time enough to hurI
your polntless thunders against the reputa-
ton OF Mr. Madison, ard to shoot YOUR slv in
situations against the invincibte Iigejs Of Nh.
Jeiterson's administration. You could calrniv
exhaust the patience Of Congress by empty
denunciations against the commercial privi
leges OF your country; but you could not de-
vote one moments attention to the CALLING
expressions Of your impressed fellow-citizens,
You could compleatly "omit this topic - nor
could You "recollect and regret it," before
you "had thrown" yourself into the car
rage, mat cohvered' you home.-What pro-
lection, Sir, can your impressed countrvinen
expect to derive from such forgetf,tl enthus;-
asm or what services can your country derive
from the employment of your talents in the
approaching discussion Of this important aues-
tion'
Nothing is more strongly expressive of in
difference than the manner in which YOU ultiA
mately meet this question. This interesting
topic was one of the finest themes which YOU
could have desired forthe display of all your r.
/ loquence. Hadyour bosom truly svmpathised
with the injuries of your fellow-citixers OF
with the violated interests of your country
you would come forth in the most animatct
strains Of fervid Indignation: You would nci.
ther have originally omitted this interesting
topic. nor could you possibly have dismissed
1t with such contcmptuons Indifference. Yot
would not so oontemptuously have called OF
! gentlemen to clay their hands upon theil
hearts, and answer sincerely if they do believe
| this resolution has the power to take one A.
! merioan seaman ont of a British ship of war
! Are gentlemen hostile to impressrnent. anc
! yet friendly to naval war, to systems which
must eVentuate in the Introduction of tbi
! system II home, in the subversion of our IL
berries l-c'thcio examine the profound ar