The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-31

been open .moutS'd, and'are still for American
| Let inc, three Administrations nave
all the justification oide nrnterrs, jxscts7ss
| Ghidone phe,aaSes. hut l, AN unconnected man,
firmly pronounce, that the conserving voice of
! all mankind cannot make two and two more, or
less, than four that the YoI Popsti is not al
ways tho Yox Del, and among US upon the pre-
sent subject resembles the popular cry in old Je.
rusalem of cruelty, cruelty.
! Yet, Sir, likewise sincerely wish, that the
gloomy aspect, have given to our future situa-
ton, may be all migratory, all Misrepresentation,
unattended, but not therefore less the result of
error and blindr> IS. Hitherto Ihaye looked on
one side of the question only permit me now
to contemplate the other.
| 1t is the general acoeptation, that the associat
i ed provinces will submit in consequence ct the
! measures taken. The measures sllude to are
public facts; sud with some relief TO my de-
lection apply them TO introduce another fact IN
contcstab.e and brilliant; whereonJ gladly dwell
tor while 1t is subject OF praise, requiring
but few words, because is true. Ihsve named
the Romans we have among Us select body,
whom ca,y:Psre .sth them, their equals 80 -
ny the most distinguished epoch of tcir martial
| science and prowess. viii not ha1zard pane
gyric The grateful sensations OF all our memo
RES reRin the illus ,ious and recent achievements
of the British military by land and sea. with
4 warmth, which would render the most elaborate
lencomium spiitless an cold. But themselves,
lettersd gentlemen Of England, and versed in
history, will allow, that the peculiar superiority,
derived from discipline, possessed by them in It's
| highest excellence, is but the eject ct human
art that therc are left at large in human nature
certain sparks, whose occasional concurrence
| produce operations not to be c;rcumscribed, or
controlled by art or power, and hath caused such
wonderful vicissit,lies, recorded in times past,
hut, hope, will make part of our future
nails. aliude TO that violent agitation OF the
soul, enthusiasm. Such vcissitudes, not to be
stunned by art or power, merit the most attenti-
on, when most is set upon cast.
| Many without doors have treatedtthe existence
| on this uncomfortable spirit asimsginavy. did
not reason with those, who either feel uo enthu-
siasm for any thing serious, fetain just so
much, as may be requisite In the eager pursuit.
OF diversions, pleasures, orprofit lyculd have
accompanied others more speculative through
Their several gradations OF hope, still disappoint
ed, and still reviying, but for observation,
| which Ibave generally kept concealed, but will
| soon reveal tn you But for this observation,
| might have concnrred with the public behcf that
! the capi6slof province, now declared in-rebcl-
lion, would have submitted Oh the landing of II
few regiments this failing, 'sbst ether provin-
ces from, ancient jealousy and disgust would
not have interfered. rather sought their own adj
vantage out of that towns distress; this falling,
that they never would have proceeded to the
length OF constituting. certain inauspcious
sernbiy among themselves this failing, that the
| members ofsuch asse MISTY would have disagreed,
and not framed single resolution. This last
hope having proved abortiye, II new one is pop,-
larly adopted, that the frs intelligence of cor-
cling measures. !t least the bare commencement
of their execution, will tame the most refractory
! spirits. VIII here state Tire grounds of this,
and all the preceding hopes; sftsl wards with
your Indulgence the ground OF my original and
| continued doubts.
/! Our trading nation, naturally assumed, that the
| present contention would be with traders in Anc-
| rica The stock Of :, trader, whether his own,
or III part, and often the greatest part property
of otaegs, conGdi;'g il him, 40 personal, lodged
III magazine, and exposed IN seasons OF conn
| motion to instantaneous devastation. The cir
cumstance OF such property, the considerations,
suggested by co,p,uon prudence, by the sense of
common justice to those, VINO have given 4 gene
rous credit rarely make room for that intrepid
", which meets force With force. Hence adj
NIT, that the mere traffickers would have sub
mitted at first, AID viii now, whenever they dare
The reason, why they have not dared, is the
foundation of my doubts
| am speaking Ia an enlightened assembly, and
coRvcrsant with tier own annals In those ages,
the reverse OF commercial, when your ancestors
filed the ranks OF men at arms, and composed
the cavalry of England, of whom did the infant
| ny consist A race unknown to other Kingdoms,
and in the present opulenee Of traffic, almost ex
tinct in this, the yeornenry Of England; an order
of men, possessing pAternal inheritance, cutiva-
ted under their own care, enough to preserve
| Independence, and cherish the g crous se!ti-
mepts attendant tiIat condition, without super
iluity for deness, or etFenlinate Indulgence OF
| such doth North America consist The race is
| revived there in great numbers, and in great.
er proportion to the rest Of the inhabitants and
! in such the power of that continent resides
These keep the traiiickcrs in we. These, many
| hundred thousands in multitude, with enthusiasm
| in their hearts, with the petition, the bill of
rights, auti the acts of settlement, silent and OBJ
solete in some places, bu, vuciferous and fresh,
| as nowlyI born, attong theri these hot with the
bioodof their prcgenitors, the enthusiastic scour-
| ges at period, and the revolutionary expe.
| lers Of tyranny at another these, unpractiscd
| in jri0o!ons dissipation, and rrinoRs bylfasion,
standing armed OIL the spot, delivered down from
their fathers, property not movable, nor expo
sed TO total destruction, therefore ma1tainable,
and exciting all the spirit and vigot of defence
these under such circumstances of number, AMI
| nation and manners, their lawyers and clergy
| bio wing the trumpet; are we to encounter with
a handful of men, sent three thousand miles over
| the ocean 70 seek such adyerssries on their own
| paternal ground -Bu. these will not fight, says
| the general voice Of Great Britain. Agreed |
desire TO meet my antagonist in argument upon no
/ Dettcr ground
That exports to the associated provinces have
ceased for months, IS fact. May not their nom
| importation agreement singly lie a weapon suiFi.
ciently effcctul in their hands without striking
| blow Why strike without occasion?