Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-25
FROM THE ENQUIRER.
No. /.

.IONN hUSSCst, JOSsON l'fUSSST", george
Clinton, jr. Gurdo;, S. Mumtord, John
W. Roge, Samuel Smith, Daniel Mont
go1,cry, John Harris, Samuel NIGclay,
Davd II. UTHiams, James III. Garrett
and John Randolph, members Of Com
gress.
GESTLEMEN,
One of the people of the United States, to
whom you have lately addressed yourselves
through the medium of the press, returns
YOU his acknowledgements through the same
channel, and as one of your constituents he
expects 10 be heard by you in his turn. An
appeal to the nation by their representa-
tives i'm congress, and that under SO solemn
a form as a protest, strikes the attention
and commands respect. The parliamenta-
w protest in England, has generally been
the act of narietic minority, resisting in
behalf of the people, the corrupt policy and
bold encroachments of the minister. We
have been accustomed to see and to feel in
those protests tie genuine flame of the pa
triot, the Justly aud simplicity of truth, the
energy of argument, crowned with the
light, the order and dignity of eloquence.
From Il natural association of ideas, on
which you, no doubt, calculated, we re-
ceived your protest with similar feelings.
1t is true, indeed, that in this country zUe
have perceived nothing either Of minister's
al oppression or corruption, during the
course of our present administration.
The country has appeared to us to flourish
in halcvon peace. Instead of oppression,
we have felt our burtheus lightened in
stead OF corruption, we have seen only
that political purity and chastity which
become republic, But in spite of seeing
aud feeling, when we find a congressional
protest published 20 the world and support
sdby disscntients so respec Table, in number,
we, at first, apprehead that our senses
have been deceived; that unknown TO US
there has been oppression or corruption, or
both, which this band OF honest and indie
pendent patriots is nov about to expose and
proclaim 70 the nation. We take up your
protest with hearts beating full of expecta-
lion and anticipated gratitude. But what
is cur Disappointment, what our regret,
what oar disgust, when instead Of protest.
breathing the elevated spirit of conscious
truth and virtue, telling rs Of wrongs VIII Oh
we have suffered and troUing them roo
we Ind ourselves insulted by an elcctinn-
eering squib; weak and inconsistent in It's
charges Snuff and prevaricating in It's
argument; poor, cntangied and CRIPPLED
in its compos ton Is it by these means
that you seek to recommend yourselves to
our respect! Is il thus that you respect
the understanding and integrity of your
conntrymen?
The jealous resent'nentof republic, is
the sacred guardian OF her honor and sac
~. The wise ana the vrtuous approach,
ard excite il with caution; for they know
that it is dangerous passion, and they
would coiiiine it To its appropriate function,
the punishment Of gailt, aud the preserva-
tion OF the republic. II is only the weak
and the wicked, who seek 90 rouse this lion
passion on every occasion The weak, be-
cause they know not what they do; and the
wicked, because they know it too wei
because they are, perhaps, In a situation
which anarchy caunot make worse, ard
may make Better; or because there is some,
man Of pre-eminent merit who stands in
the way Of their designs, and who is too
firmly fixed to be removed by any other
means than popular storm or because
they feel themselves SO perfectly eciipsed
in tho plain read Of yirtUous and honest
policy, that they fDd it necessary TO fy
OF into an eccentric track, in order to
catch the public eye and because they had
rather be regarded as balcfui ucjeors, sha-
king pestilencc and plague upon the earth
than a. salutary planets Of inferior magni-
tude and spltudor, dispensing light and
maintaining the harmony OF the system
or DcCaUSe thtS nave bC@O banked IN the
obtention of some favorte appointment,
and writing under the united panzs cf
disappointed ambition and rancorous re-
vcngt, or painting for the guilty glory Of
heading a bold and turbulent faction, they
would involve a republic in confusion and
ruin, rather than not to be gratifcd and
distinguished. These are truths which the
people Of the United States understand
and understanding which, they will scan
with critical and suspicious eye, every
attempt which is made to inHame the ma
tional resentment. Before they suffer them
selves - be inRamcd. they will examine
we'll The causes which are assigned for it.
Before they suffer their confidence to be
Withdrawn from tried, = faighfUl and a
favorte servant, they will anaiize with
calmncss and patience the charges which
arc made against him. They will do more
they viii look with IN eve Of jealous scru-
tiny into the characters and motives Of
his acCusers. They will see whether there
be no one among them TO whom tie reno.
val Of that favOrife would be personally
Convenient or grateful no one, whose re-
sentiment or whose envy IL would so1,he
no clan Of subsltcrn characters. Co whose
private and personal attachment to a rest
less and ambitious chieftan, II would ad-
minister delight. They will trace the de
nunciailon 20 is source and see whethel
It be iair and patriotic, with a sincere and
e. IL -. a..