The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-26
TIE Enquirer.
RICHMOND, FEBRUARY 26, 1906
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.

Pa'tnTfunt nlo,ites--nascitnr rtdfculus mus.
PowHATAN has commenced series of
uery severe structures ON Mr.. Madison and
ms irlends.-l hose who are conversant with
the facts on which he so SeDcrelv exDati-
ates, must readily acknowledge that his un-
founded assertions are unworthy of a serious
,HrSnnient.-Io those who are able 10 mark
the real character OF the man in his writings.
the intolerance OF his prejudices and the i'm
Petuoslty OF his temper will furnish a sufficj-
ent refutation OF his mistakes-Itis az rea
sonabie to look for the A" Music of the Spheres
III the rumbling of Volcano as to cxpect
JustlCe from fanatClsm--or truth from pas
Slon.--but as the authors style is hretku.-
as ms p" labours certainly do no discredit to
a NEWSPAPER, "a short and rapid review
OF his assertions, may not be altogether use
less.-Ihe world are too often apt to expect
genius and truth from the brillancv of me-
taphor or the ingenuity ofinvective Moth
ing is more captivating and delusive than a
graceful exterior. Because we are pleased
we are apt to think ourselves instructed
But what reasonable man will thus suffer
himself to be persuaded into conviction Nv
all the wit OF Canning or the eloquencc of
burke For my own part, would as soon
expect TO discover the unsulied honor of a
NheVaner Bayard under the tinseed orna-
the $f'iendiGa bills and pretty STYLE of Pow
hatan, the acumen, the veracity, and genius
of a Newton or a Locke.
What is the sum total of Powhatan's de-
nunclatlons Analyse every line of his ella
borate Essay collect everv fiction which he
has coined and every sophism which he has
fabricated, into one Bouquet of sweets: and
you will find that they will all resolve them
selves under one of three heads.
L. Some vague and general censures upon
CauCuSSes:
2. The {" Showers of letters from Wash
hlgton, which were intended "to BIZ
ass the minds of the Virginia Assem-
bly, :"
g. An inconsistency between the hrofrssi-
e'S ard Practice of the friends of Mr..
Madison; in first protesting their ankle
~ TO take the tone from our sister states.
ana at last I'm attempting to give it thro'
the medium OF nomination in Virginia.
10 one OF those three charges, may ali the
severe counts in Powhatan's indictment he
reducibIe.---As to his pert philippines against
some OF tine particular friends of Mr. Madi
son, the world will not expect me to stoon
to reply. Let him bring forward some
more serirus Charges, before he can deserve
the hohor OF reply. The Character OF
those men stands upon an adamantjue rock
which can neither be strengthened bv The
commentators of my own heart, nor shaken
by all the tnSinuatioHS Of Powhatan. They
mad no right to expect they have no
motive to desire the tribute of his pen.
- or my own part, should never request
nm Euiogy or an Epitaph from that writer's
BfnfUs, who could concentrate all the boBes-
~, all the eioquence, ali the zyisoyog and
all the a6fHfy of Congress in such a states
man as JohH Randolph--If Col Monroe has
no other friends more popular than Mr. Ran
dolph, OF none more prudent than Powhatar
lie might As well retire at once.from a con