The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-29


as vet slewn no talents tina, can BE- of ser
wee to yonr country no talents beyond those
of the merciess Indian, who dcxtSrously
strikes Il tomahawk into the defenccless
heart but what an idea is yours OF cner-
q You feel n constitutional irritaBility-
you indulge it and YOU call that iG,intseace
energy Sudden fits Of splecn--transien
starts of pa.sion-wild parcXysms OF fury
the more slow and secret workings Of envy
and northumberland taunts and sar-
casms-tne dreams Of disordcrcd fancy
,he crude abortionS of shout sighted theory
the delirium and rawlings OF a hectic fever
this is your notion of ENERGY! Heaven
preserve our country from such energy as
this If this be Ne kind of energy which YOU
deny to Mr. Madison, the people of this
country will Concur iii vous. denial. But if
you deny him that salutaiy energy which
qualities him To pursue Els country's happi-
ness and todCtend her nights, we follow up
the course Of his pubtiC. life and demand the
proof of your charge; for we beg you not to
think SO hisaiy OF yourselves, nur SO meanlv
OF US, as TO SUPPOSE that your general dsSer-
zion will pass with us for fyoofs we have
mot yet seen the evidence of candour and viz
tue which entities you to this high ground
To your Tr0cfS, then, and to the retrospect
OF his life. DO you RENE Der that dark and
disastrous period, during the administration
of General Washington, when the British
marine was taking some of those stately
strides, which Threatened to crush our infant
commerUe in the bud: do you remem-
Der the resolutions brought forward by
Mr.. Madison at that period, to restrict
the British commerce itself, and avcnme
the wrongs done to his country Do
you remember those celebrated res lutions,
and the rap :ures of applause with which
they were received by the people for their
well-tmed and weil-directed cnerey2 1t
may be convenient to uon not 10 remember
these things. But do not believe that .cc shall
forget them /; nor that we shall fail to COM
pare tbs; spirited and highly aPplsnded poll
cy which he recomm, ndCd, then, with
the policy which our present wise and vir-
tuens repucncan minority, arc recommend
ing toward the same nation now on account
OF the same kind of aggrcsSions. Yes, gen
tlcinen, VIC mari. the energy of your policy
towards Great Britain--the .,olicy by which
you, lin conjunction with vour new ally and
associate tile honorable Timothy Pickering.
(the force of whose logic you just begin to
fec recommend * to this independent and
Sdiiant nation to cover down before the law
less and arroP AIT pretensons OF that bloatecl
and clustering bully Of the ocean. This das-
tarciv trucking to Great Britain, is what
you call energy the attitude which Mr..
ciAty. Blush III the iipbecility of Your own
intciects. which could plunge vou into this
ridiculous .,ld shameful dilemma
Again, WAS Mr. MAtigcn's want Of energy
ehcwn in the year 17e9, nthat wear,
" The pcli.icat hcolis1here'' was so tar from
having. " Enlightened little that its dark
hess had tllickened until it could be felt
ne Alien and Scdition, laws waved their
ha!efni seeptTes over the continent and the
bnsoms OF patriots were every where, filed
with CONSERVATION. and ahnozt, with DIS
pair twas believed that public ltbert, had
no hope, nc rcfuge but in tie state gov eln-
rnents. II had been announced from the pre-
sidemial chair, that there was a party in
virginia which was to be "gronnd into dust
and ashes The resolutions of Col Tayio1.
IN /! IS, treated with nesec or contempt
by. the ether great states, had proved that
the legislature of Virginia was the last stand
OF orr political freedom and happiness -
Rnd to crown the climax Of danger and dis
Consolation, the distinguished Patrick Henry
came again from retirement, with the view,
~ 1t was understood, TO assault and dislodge
them from tllis their last station. Such was
ne 'aaaspici0us. the all-impoI tant the de
EisiHe cfis1S, when James Madison, with a
frame st,ii laDguiSning under sickness, but
Win spirit firm, erect and intrepid, came
forth III the cause 81 liberty and his couu-
try. WHO c2u forget that moment? Who
can forget bow the little bard of Nirginian
patriots crowded around this republican
champion 70 catch The accents Of a voice r:n-
dervd feeble by d,"ease s--I,$en vet we have
this virtu7us and f?atcrnal eroupe before us.
VINO Can torgc, now the night of despair.
trst began to gle wGy-4how hope, at first,
tuntly da%ned M each check, as uncer-
tam G! her footing; LG.i} underline inspiring
s:ra'nS OF his vCCc she a=sumed n deep and
determined glow AID sr4raieA with eXulta
Aon IN every eye Who n forget the re-
sp.endent trinmph of truth and reason ex-
hibied in his report! Who that loves his
country can cease to love the man whose
genus and tlrmness gained that triumph p
Not the American people be assured, gen
tlemen-Ict We md that one of yon, under
the signature of Falkland, in q late Enquirer,
en- recall that epoch with far different
emotions can CRAFTY his spleen by fancy
Ing what would have been the result Of
r"7contr" between Mr.. Henry and Mr.. Ma
Gis"n, !! j. had MT been prevented bv the
death 81 ~ toTmer-how the genius Of Ma
tiiAsa would have sunk and Fed before the
1mpeucus ana Overwhelming el9gucncc of
Mr.. Henry. The writer obviously derives
species g malignant pleasure from brood
ing over this imaginary triumph, although If
gained, 1t would have beer at the expente
or his country. This is his virtue this too
is his candori Had lie forg1ttcn Che convcn-
zion Of virginia, where Henry, in all his
glory, was folcd by the transcendant DOW
crs OF James MahIsCns Or did he think the