The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-02-13
Gbt enquirer.
RICHMOND, 1873 FEBRUARY.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
To WILLIAM DANIEL, ESQ.


tofore food high in my sftimation, and that 1
have not been alone in this opinion, the diftin-
guiihed office, emanating from the affections of
the people, which you now fill, is concluiive
evidence. am not one of thofe violent parti-
Fans who is 70 fond of denunciation, and 10 te-
nacious of his own opinions as not to hear any
reckoning that may be offered againft them, or,
the contrary, admit the falbility of myfelf, in
common with mankiHd, and if my undetitan.l-
ing has generated opinions erroneous in them
leives, and injurious to you, it will give me
pleaiure to retract them whenever I am con-
vi6ted of error.
In all the points fhall make in the obferva-
tons which may follow, fhall endeavour to ufe
plain and perfpicuous language, and if the
words employed for this purpofe, ii,ouid fome-
times be little burthenfome to you, can on
~ explain by laying, that this is one of the
consequences which will fometimes flow from
conflict OF opinions-I do not intend to charge
you with any wicked defign in the part you
have lately taken in the Senate, upon the refo-
luton ient up from the Houfe of Delegates, but
HAL endeavour to fhew that your language
upon that occaGon has not only been unfortu-
nate for yourfelf, but injurious to yoar repre-
/fnfatizs, whole conduct in the minority of
Congrets, you have 70 zealouly advocated and
calculated TO endanger the public good. The
opinions which / ihail here advance may be
deemed erroneous, but they are fuch as ho-
neftly entertain, and iuch as fnall honeltly
exprefs.
The refolu,ioa fent up from the Houfe of
Delegates is in thefe words" RefoIved, That
&c the Legislature of Virginia continue to view
'' with the higheft appreciation, the firm, juR,
" and liberal policy, which characterifes the
" coHd1tt OF the government of the United
g States towards foreign Dations," and TO this
TefOIutiOn NJ
ever may be the opinions of many republicans
in Virginia about the introduction of this tfo-
luton before the General Anembly, | be-
lleve the number to be very fmall who will
ianction the fate it met in the Senate am as
tonifhed, fir, at the obftinacy with which you
afiert and maintain an opinion, that this refo-
luton was introduced |siei, for the purpofe of
ceniuring the minority in Congrefs, when the
friends Of the refolution, with an exception of,
believe, ene) declare in the face of the nation,
that fuch was not their object. You mutt have
but little refpe6t for the veracity of thefe gem
tlemen, or you NUT have an unfortunate de-
fire 20 bring the government & minorityagain into
public difcufiion. If you fupport your opinion
from the frft caute, you furely have departed
widely from the efablifhed rules of decorun |;
If from the laft, your motives deferve the frowns
of the people. What, fir, was the fituation of
our G" untry when you addrefied the chair of
the Senate? Our relations with foreign powers
exhibed cloud of darknefs and uncertainty
which ought not only to be lamented and re-
GREETED by the people of America, but which
ought to infpire them with but one fentinent
for the fuppert of their country but, liz, this
was not all our internal ftuation ought to
have drawn your attention at the time you were
indulging your eloquence in the Senate cham
Der.
1T was well known to you that a confpracy
was planning in the Wefern States, which had
for its object the mott fatal consequences, and
which could only be effected by withdrawing
the affections of the people from the adminif.
tratlon--this, fir, was our iituation, menaccd
with war from abroad, and Internal connections
at home, it became more than ever necefary
that we fhould become united by thouland
documentary ties, and rally round the adminif-
tration, even five knew that that adminitrati-
on had committed fome errors, which upon this
location am far from admitting.
Under thefe circumstances you ought to have
weighed the consequences which might follow,
from the doctrine which you fupported you
might have kept your eye upon the imperfect
ons which you faw in the administration, but
your lips ought to have been fealed upon the
fubjed until the public mind was tranquized.
You delivered your opinions at a time when,
according to your own maxim, you ought to
nave looRed over the fequ errors, you diicover-
ed for the many advantages you enjoyed and if
you did not choofe to 6" fling praifes when your
heart and your tongue were not attuned to the
fuhje6t," you might have prevented your notes
from founding at all, which would certainly
have been the belt policy under the exiting
fate of the nation.
1t is in vain, fir, for you to declare that you
are the friend of Mr.. r ****"s* and alto of the
administration the declaration exhibits foil
cifm which cannot be fupported, and when
you make it, you muft either fuppoie an incom-
potency in the people to underfand you, and
thereby preferve both the friendfhip of them
and the administration, or your intellect muR
be more superficial than have heretofore fup-
pofed.
In vain, fir, may you attempt te divert the
attention of the people into wide range of ar
gument about France, Spain and England, the
battles of Marengo, Aufterlitz and Gena thofe
things may crafty your own inclination to ihew
tothe people how Handsomely you can argue up
on certain fubjects, but when the people give
to you all the credit you deierve upon that
fcore, they will exclaim with one voice that
your ingenuity or imagination could not ma
nufaGture matter enough for you to go upon
out of the refoluton before you, but you laid
that aide to ihift for itfef, and Immediately
conceived yourfelf to be MIR. R''''''' Handing
upon the floor Of CoDgrefs and debating upon
our Britifh aud Spauih Relationships, fir,
was an unfortunate miitake for you, and altho'
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