The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-11
THE ENQUIRER.
. RoR THE EWQUYRER.
FELLOW CITIZENS.
NUMBER 2

cover that the first step of his administrati-
ON, is to be an oblivion to those political diff
ferences which every republican must de-
plore the necessity OF supporting, Until the
federal party abandon principles hostile to
the essential interests of the country. To
believe that they will abandon those princi.
plies, is to anticipate arevolutiop, which the
most sanguine cannot expect. You will be
told, fellow -citizens, that the ticket OF Mr..
Monroe is republicans The friends OF Mr..
Madison viii be dared to question the deyo-
tion OF Taylor or Tyler toyour constitu-
ton. have known those gentlemen long
There is ne man chat admired them more
than did bit that admiration has ceased
from the moment Ihave seen them inCorpo-
rated with party who spread dissention
throughout The. country from the moment
have discovered that their names are be-
come the watch word to legaliae the politi-.
cal divisions of .Virginia-Iry feeble talents
shall be devoted to the detection of their err
rors and the exposure of their inconsistent
Cies. ssf1fs ,.G = 4.
When those gentlemen profess an attach
ment to the administration OF Mi. Jefferson,
] cannot but question their, sincerity. If
they are attached to his administration, how
will they discriminate so far as to deprive
Mr. Madison of the conspicuous part he has
borne in it? Ifthey admire the present adj
ADMINISTRATION, it must be from its benefits to.
the people. Ifthey admire it, they OF course
must wish the perpetuation ofits principles:
if they do, i'll opposing Mr.. Madison, they
must believe that he differs from the admi-
histration, and that he would pursue differ
ent course: but we find that MIR. Madison
has been denounced by MIR. Randolph, for
supporting the system pursued by Mr.. JEFF
ferson. Without then charging these gen
tlemen with gross Inconsistencies, cannot
believe the assertion, that they are the
friends of the present Enthusiastically,
fellow citizens, their lahguagci is used as a
blind : for them boldly to avow their opinions,
would at once blast the airy visions of their
future prospects: they know that the peo-
pie have felt the eminent advantages of MIR.
Jefferson's administration: They know that
to denopnce him, would be to ruin themselves,
and underline speciops pretext of respect to
him, they seek to establish principles hostile
TO those which he advocetes-I wish not 20
wound the vanity of the Monroe party;. but
when reflect on the pre-eminence of Mr..
Randolph S talents, / cannot but believe that
those. who-are warmly his friends, pay that
respect to them, which he e7storts from his
enemies. That Mr.. Monroe is,bro't forward
by the friends Of Mr.. Randolph and by the
federal party, is certain: That the federal
party are not the friends of Mr.. Jefferson,
willb admitted: That Mr.. Randolph is not
the friend of Mr.. Jefferson, is certain.
=.
vernedby the same principles or by different
opes. When, however, we see men, united
Ter the same, end, is but fair conclusion
that they are governed by the same motives.
II the conclusion is erroneous, it becomes
necessary for I. en- to draw the line of distinc-
tion which exists between the federal par
sy, Mr.. Randolph and themselves. The pee
pie are triumphantly asked if they can be-
4ieve Mr.. Randolph is fedcraliss: / will
horror. of NV
to his character an epithet which they still
affect to view with so much oStentation.-
wiilnot deprive them of the little .solace
which they can derive from words To the
people, it is immatcrial whether their rights
are jeopardized and whether their interests
are sacrificed under the name of federalist
OF repubiican. The loss of national harmo-
ny is poorly compensated by the reflection,
that the authors of this discard are anathe-
matized by g. faction, as the friend of the
people; but will assert and pledge myself
to prove, that the, course pursued by Mr..
Randolph, has been inconsistent with the
true interests of his. country, and has been
calculated to PROSTATE our national dignity \
in the eyes of tho nations Of the Garth.
The interest of a republic, consists in do
mestic harmony and in peace with foreign
powers. That suspicion is necessary trait
in the character of republican, is truth
20 be admitted, with much caution. To say
that the moment we invest public officer
with power, we should begin to suspect his
fidelity, and that his least deviation from the
precise rule which the fancy or the judg-
ment of single individual might psesoribe,
was to justify his denunciation; would be to
establish tenure of Office, ON which no in
dependent man would be willing to accept
t. Whilst in the republic, we should bear
with MS doubts so strong as to lead to
Investigation their expression should be
most guarded and most circumspect. If
this rule is necessary with the people at
large, its importance is increased with those
whose stations attach to their character
such portion of responsibility, as give them
the controul of public sentiment. IF indeed
the chief officer of our government should
pursue course hostile to our interests, it
becomes the duty of every man to point ont
his errors and by opposition guard against
tacir effects,
But it is necessary TO prove the fact and
the motive, before that opposition is raised
The man who INDUCES in invective, may ca
silly discover the grounds of censure.-The
most trivial circumstance may be distorted
into the most fragrant outrage, and the con-
summation of human wisdom made to bear
the aspect of folly.%~The language of MIR.
Randolph has not been addressed to the mind,
but to the passions and the malice of man
This opposition TO the administration origi-
mated in an occurrence which / conceive
not only innocent, but highly properADi-
vest IL If the severity of his lanouape aud