The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-08
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, APRIL 8, 1908.
sKIEE e cHAMPAIGNY.

= CHAMPAIGEY.
he ridiculous reports, which have lately
disturbed this city, are now at an end. On
Monday and Tuesday, it was busily circula-
tsd, by some, that war with France was inevi-
table that she had advanced pretensions
and adopted measures, inconsistent with the
independence and peace OF the United States
that Bonaparte had threatened us with
war, unless we Immediately declared war
against England. The least that was repor-
ted was, that he had sequestered all the A.
merican property in France-Asis general
~ the case with these alarming rumours, the
truth falls infinitely short of the report.
Bonaparte has neither required us to de-
clare war against G. Britain, nor seques-
tered all the American property in France ;
nor has he made any specific proposition
that is inconsistent with the honor and indie
pendence of this country
In point of real virtue & justice, most neu-
trails have little to choose between ENGLAND
and France. Interest is the polar star of each,
Bonaparte is stimulated by the strongest am
bition 4: England, by the most insatiate a.
varice. The one has more of the hero in
his composition bold, aspiring, painting for
power and Tor fame. The other is stmu-
lated by the cold, but more profigate cal
culations of the miser, who sacrifices every
principle of honor and justice to his own love
OF g8randizement. The one lords it over the
land ; the other over the ocean, Bonaparta
may do greater good than his adversary
because he is animated by the still linqerinq
revolutionary spirit of France, because the
hoary institutions of Europe are so bad
that no change can scarcely make them
worse; because his death may be the pre-
Jude 20 new revolutions, which his CLANS are
now maturing and because amidst all the
dark and dangerous clouds of his militia
ry spirit, there are still occasionally emit
ted luminous flashes of that generous and
enlightened virtue, which NAV have I;ebtad
the paths of his first achievements.
But 1T is not in times like these. that tho
prevailing genius of these powers is to be
sottened down. Never since the times of the
Romans and Carthagenians, has there exist
Ell more deadly discriminating warbetween
two powerful people less regard to the
established laws of nations or a more rlro-
found indifference to the rights of neutrals
wherever they seemed to interrupt the march
OF retaliation and vengeance.-France. now
ever, can plead for most of her wrongs. that
II was TO the injustice of her enemy, that she
stands indebted for her own strength. and the
world, tor her injustice Was il not G r.;
tain who formed the horrible conventions sc
Pilnitz and Pavia Was il not G.. Britain
who reused against her the sleeping lions of
d1scord and dsmembermentl Was il not
" Britain whose gold and whose intrie-ues
Drought forth those repeated and abortive CO.
ahtions, which assailed her power and her
peace' Was it not G.. Britain who caiied
forth all her energies who compelled her tn
teei her own strength; and to whom bit r.
herself must e.. b. have the Consolation of
ascrlblng the growth Of that stupcndons
power, who now threatens her East Ind;es
ard alarms the world
IT must be confessed however. that the
grounds assigned for the invasion Of porf,-
ga, arc but poor justification Of that mea-
sure.