The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-29
TIE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, MARCH 90, 1908.
FOR THE EWQUIRER.
N UMBER III.

To Msssrs, Joseph Clay, Abraham Trio,
John Russell, Josiah Masters, Geo; Gin
ton lr. Gurdon D. Mumford, John Thomp-
son, [eter oWart, Edwin Gray, w Hoee,
Samuel Smith, Daniel Montror.rv a.,
Harris, Samuel Maclay, David r WIN
ans, James r. .Garnett and John Re-
dolph, members of Congress.
GEN7LEMEH,
WE believe that Won, wou,d
willingly dispense with any farther attenti-
ons to your PROTEST. y on would not care.
now soon 1t sunk into the bottomless ocean
OF oblivion And if we could repard 4 &C
the work of indiscreet and unresect;r,
haste, TOR which, in u enhancement w,
would yourselves feel generous serrow and,
contrluon, we would permit it to sink fore
yer. But, since 1t is the offspring of deli
Iteration and design, sample of yonr cha-
racters, IN your wisest and most virtuous
| moments, it shall not sink We will keer,
IT bnoyant, until you shall perceive and feel
how thoroughly we have dissected and an.to,
mizea you, how perfectly we understand Won.
until yen shall stand abashed and copro,rd
ed at the broad and open detection OF VOW
own weakness and wickedness and over +I,~
graie OF your ruined regulations, ruined by
your own misdeeds, pour from sclf-,ove.
those groaris OF reInorsc and repentance
more generous source
4. You object to Mr.. Madison, tie 7yant of
; energy. The objection shews the Company
Which you have been keeping. 1t proves
that confederacy with your former politica.
adversarles, which has been so often. and
we now find, so justly charged upon von.--
1t IS the mare echo of the old federal re-
proach against Mr. Jcffcrson caught BY Won,
: TO be feVerberatcd against his expected sue
p r
lr. Madison shewn it, Was it in STANDING
abreast with the van Of oar revolutionary
patriots, and Drawing the horrors of seven
years war, for. Gberty7-while you were
shutderlns at the sound of the storm and
ci'nSng closer with terror, to your mothers.
breasts : Was it, on the declaration of our
independence, IN being among the first and
most effective agents, in casting aside 'thr-
ieeoie threads which so poorly connected the.
states together, and, in lieu of them. snbsti
tutng that energetic bond of union the fe
derai constitution! Was it in the manner
III wnlch he advocated the adoption of this
suostilnte-ln the courage and tirmness with
"h'ch ne met OIL this topic, fought, hand To
hand, and finally vanquished that boasted
prodigy otnature, Patrick Henry? Wher.
was this timid and apprehensive spirit
winch you are pleased to ascribe to Mr. Ma
aisoh' when he sat under the sound of Hen
. "hen ne saw that Henry, whose soul had
so undauntedly, led the revolution, shrinkin,,
back from this bold experiment, from the
energy OF this new and untried constitution
|-"hen ne heard the magic of his elouuence.
eXerted toits highest pitch, in painting. with
a prophets fire, the expressions which
would How from it; in narrowing I'D the
soul with anticipated horrors ard eniistinp
even the thunders OF Heaven in his Cause
dow did 1t happen that the feehie and eff
terminate spirit of James Madison, instead
OF hylng III confusion and dismay, before
TINS awful aud tremendous combination, sat
serene and unmoved upon itsthrone that .
with penetration so vigorous and so clear.
he alsSPated these phantoms of fancy rail-
lied back the courage of the house to the
charge, and, In a state, in which Patrick
lienly was almost adored as infalIibIe. sue
! ceeded IN throwing that Henry into a minor
! NY is this the proof of his want of ener-
g. Or viii you find it in the manner ia
which he watched the first w ,vements Of
the feCefll constitution-ln the 6oidness with
which he resisted, even in Washington.
what he deemed infraCtions of its spirjt-in
the independence, ability and vgor with
winch, IN spite ct declining health. he
maintained this conflict, during eight yearss
ne was then In a minority. Turn 10 the de-
bates OF congress and read his arguments.
You Will see how the business of vrtuons
and able minority is conducted. 10 you
discover in them any evidence of want OF
energys Yes--if energy consist; as you seem
~ think it does, in saying rude thin, S, in bra
vado ndbIustcr, in pouringa muddy torrent
OF Coarse invective, as destitute Of argument,
as unwarranted by proyocation, you will
| ind great evidence of want of energy i'm his
speeches. But il Jrue energy be evnced, as
we think it IS, by the cam and dignified.
yet steady, Jealous and perseVcrng pursuit
OF an object, his whole conduct during that
period is honourably marked wi energy
And that energy rested on she most solid and
| durable basis-conscious rectitudc support
Fed by the most profound and extensive in
| formation, by All habitual power of investi-
lgation which nnFaveied with intuitive GER
ttlnty, the most intricate subjects, and am
cloquence, chaste, luminous and cogent.
which won respect, while it forced convic-
ton. We have compared some Of your
highest aud most Wanted displays. with the
speeches Of Mr.. M Olson, during his scrvi-
ccain congress. Great God! what a con-
ttrast 1t Is toe noisy and short-liYed 1ai,i,'iue
Of brook aftcr rain, mDared WIN The.
majestic course o. tue Potomac. Tcc,oa