The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-04-24
But we have already wandered Far enough
from the politicks Of New. York to an impor-
tant quefiion of foreign RELATIONSHIP is time to
drop the pen.

drop the pen.
Mr. Emn.>t..-The Federal N. York prints !
are now eAma"ii'"s AL their venom, upaH iii5 !,
di,nguiihed champion of the rights Of Ire land. |
II is impoiEb!r to perufe the topics aud terms |
OF reproach which they have employed, with
out mingled emotions of the deepeft aflonill-
nent and Indignation.
They have branded him with the names of
hypocrte, an enemy of his country a rebelli-
Gus traitor; and in the wide malignity of their
imPortent wrath, they have denominated the !
fociety of United Iriihmen as an anocation of
icoundrels and the Irfh infurredion as trail
ferrous rebellion.
Men OF this way of thinking betray what
their real principles are by fuch recruitment.
They need no touch of Ithuriei's fpear to ihew
us their acknowledgement men, had they been
called to aet during the American war, would
have been Tories and Refugees.--It is impof-
hbie to carve out any more respectable charac.
ter, out of fuch materials.
The U. States were oppreffed by England
and 10 was Ireland.--Ireland was even more
srievoufy oppreHrd.
to the people of ireland efficiently manfefts it's
ienfe of their fuferings. Who would not infer
from this appeal, that with the enlightened con-
greis OF that Ezra the Jrih had fufficient reafon
to initiate their efforts And yet even at that
period, the cup of their oppreflions war not
full.
The United States have been celebrated for
their effort; and the AmeriG an revolution is at
this moment the brightch event recorded in
the annals OF the world.-.Sha we then attach
10 different character to thofc Irifhmen, who
were engaged in the fame gallant Object of c
mancipating their country? What kind IF
luttiCe ia that which j;o,;fw h. 6rR
with the hghef, honours of virtue; and that
brands the lalt with the oPprobrious epthets
of Rebels aud Traitors!
The United Jrifhmen appealed to the az
iiitance of France. lit is true. And did we
not alto fly to the came refource? Did we not
dipatch Laurens to Holland And franklin
to this very lame France ?--And whyl That
we might procure an aid " difciplined, gallant,
pregnant with fcience and with experience
allies who would perceive the good, and, in
our collifion, poliih the rough points of our
character ;--tbey would come to US as trangers
and leave friends, after lharing in our tolls,
and elevatng our ,deitiny."
~ But theie were not the objects propofed by
iriihmen. 1t was to expel old tyrants, that
they might receive new tak-maters." But
how does this appear Read the report of
the iecret committee, on which the Federal
prints have laid 10 much Rrefs fee what fpi-
rlt OF independent de6gn breathes in the con-
ieiiions of thefe men. Read the affecting dy
ing fpeech of Robert Emmett in 1903, when
even the defpotic N"rbury on the bench,
Could not prevent him from indicating his
name from fuch calumny. Weigh the follow
ing pafase:
Were the French to come as invaders or
enemies, unlimited by the wilhes of the people,
l ihouid oppofe them to the utmoit of my
ftrength. Yes, my countrymen, hould adj
wife you to meet them on the beach, with a
fword in one hand and torch in the other--I
would meet them with all the defru6tive fury
OF war, and would animate my countrymen
to immediate them in their boats, before they
had contaminated the foil Of my country. I'll
they iucceedcd in landing, and if forced to re-
tire before hyperion dfciplne, would dfpute
every inch of ground, rate every hoafe, burn
every blade ST grsfs---ti,e laft fpot in which the
hope of freedom fhould defert me, there would
hold, and the lat intrenchment of Liberty
fhould be nay grave.---What | could not do |
myfelf, IN my fall, ihoud leave as laft charge
to my countrymen to accomplish, becaufe |
ihou!d feel CONTIGUOUS that life, any mere than
death, is difhonourabie when foreign nation
holds my country in fubje6tioE."
And yet it was men like this, that Mr. King
officially attempted 10 lhut out from his coun |
try, and uPo:. what grounds Let his eulo- !
gifts declare.
We were at war with Frauce."--Wc were
not. But admit we were, by what right did
Dir. King forbid their emigration:
By the Alien law % No. That law, |
bad as it was, could not affect aliens before
they arrived here.
"By the law of nations 20 But that law !
cannot pretend to dictate, what kind of people |
lhall be admitted into this or that country
That is reterved TO the municipal law of each. |
By the general duty of an ambafador to |
provide for the benefit of bis country !" In
plain language then, every AmbaIador is aditta-
tor, who sto take care that 'thc Commonwealth
fuffers no detriment." Every republican mutt
ihrink from the idea of fuch an cxorbitant pow
er; in fact it is one, which no government what
ever can allow to its diplomatic agents.-But
even were fuch power to EXIT, why exert it
in this initance
" Becanie Mr.. King fuppofcd, Menrs. En-
nett, MIR. Neyen &c. would anit the French
in their war with us Bee sufe they had been
her agents, in Ireland "--Is there a man, who
does not perceive the diverity of theie cafes.
Becaufe they would have joined France in de-
iverng their country from its yoke, therefore
they would have joined her in putting woke
upon us.-Such reafoning is too futile to- de-
Ierye refutation.
Reader mark then the difference between
Adams and Jeficrfon's administrations. Whilf
the former exiited, Emmett remained in dun
seon when the latter prevailed, Emmett be-
came free, and an ornament of our country.