The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-24

as the all-four's -criticism) dreams of disor-
! I" dercd fancy-crude abortons Of short
sighted theory"-and lastly" the deliri-
" nm and rawlings or hectic fever'-what
terrible catalogueis here, and the poor pro-
testers heaven help 'cm, furni sh all the nate
rails Rude things-5ravado-bl uster in
vective-constitutiona irritability-fts-
splcen-passion-fur NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
taunts--sarcasms-p Observation-Disclosures fam
fcy--.crude abortions-and to cap the climax,
the delirium and rawlings of hectiei 1t is
somewh5le said, that an orator who expects
tn: make others feel, must feel himself. Now
IT you, Sir, Ike n true orator, rs you arc,
have worked yourself up into "a belief that YOU
stand in the situation of one lab oring under
all this complication of disorders, which YOU
you nave SO copiousiy attributed tours You must
indeed, be in a most pitiab.e condition, it is e
ven tar worse than had ina gined for I was
willing untilnow, to believe that YOU might be
afflicted With nothing more than Beau Clinch-
fer's disease politics * brandy. None of AS
have set up for rivals to Mr.. M. in eloquence,
! yet you say, s. We (meaning Yourself sup
posc) have compared sonie OF your highest
& most Wanted displays with the speeches
OF Mr. NJ during hiss services in Congress
Great God! what Contrast # is the
noisy and short lived babbling' (hquid me.
taphor again y g of a brook after a rain.
Z" compared with the majestic course Of the
Potomac" This may be all very pretty,
! for aught know, but admittingit TO be true.
how are our dement's to augment the repu-
tation of Mr.. Madison and how is coapa
rison male by yourself between " Dur most
Wanted displays" and Mr.. Ms speeches.
where the preference has been given to the
latter, to fit Mr.. Madison for the presiden-
lcys The credit which you claim for him as
the man TO whose, eXertions it was principal
| l. owing, that the federal constitution with
all its acknowledged imperfections ON its
head was adopted in Virginia, is to say the
least of it, very equivocaI. The republicans
| of the old school. certainly took sides with
| Patric Henry in that controversy, and it was
only by ccafess:ns the error sff his ways, as
have plways understood, that Mr.. Madison
/ was received into the republican foid, {if
you will let me borrow term from you ONCE
more) after abandoning the federalists with
whom he was originally associated, Now,
although, to change ones opinion, is right
acknowledged by all, and the exercise of it,
| is even laudable when tits done upon clear
| conviction, yet it certainly borders some what
upon the marvellous, that a man of such ia
Tents as you ascribe to Mr.. Madison, should,
after protesting federalism to the age THAT he
did, all of sudden have such new light
shed upon his understanding, as to adopt o.
pimions iii some respect almost directly oppo-
and avowed. But presume you would have
me practice upon the same maxim in poll,
| tics, that Divincs say should prevail in reli
! gion & you think it nothing bat right that
there should lie more JOY over one repentant
political sinner, ethan over ninety and nine
|" just persons who had always adhered
both TO the profession and practice of the
true faith Thc proof of energy in Mr.. Ma!
Olson, which you deduce from MS resolutions
ILL., 81.
ton, is of still more dubious character IS
the mere writing and presenting to Congress
a sett of propositions, which am willing to.
admit were very good, be proof of energy
| sufficient for President, we might have Pre-
sident, ] had almost said 'as plenty as black
|d,erries ;" but your favorite really possessed
all the energy which YOU Claim for him, why
were NOT his propositions matured into some-
ti1it,, i Le o.. e!:csc:c;:s S;y.S.Giii was
the acknowledged leader of the republican
party, at that time believed by many 10 have
been sufficiently strong to carry almost any
point they pIeased--yct what was iones
| From delay---oscillation-- despair of repub-
licanism, or some other cause, this party by
degrees dwindled down into SO powerless
minority, that they almost to a man Quilted
Congress and Mr. Madison amongst the rest .
Not with a view, however, to give up the,
contest against federalism, but to attack it i'm
the state legislature, as the only Places
where the war could be wagetl with a pros
lpect of success. This, It's presumed, was
she design, as it certainly was the conduct OF
the most conspicuous amongst those repub !
licans, with the exception however, of Mr..
Madison. He instead of uniting with his
old associates, and going immediately into
he state legislature, retired home, where he
remained in snug quarters, for upwards of
two years, until those who had never ceased
4 their exertions in the cause of repubcanism,
had SO far triumphed over federalism in Mr..
Ms own state, that little remained for him
to do but to stepi in and enjoy the fruits of that
victory which the intrepidity and talents Of
others had principally achieved AS proof
of this, let any one who may be inclined to
doubt the fact recollect what a large majo--
rity of republicans there was in the Virgil
mia legislature, at the time when Mr., M be-
came a member. This little item in his BIZ
ography of twoyears total seclusien and re-
tirement, you have thought proper to sink al
together, until near the conclusion of your
third number, you affect to notice it as a cir
cumstance which had almost escaped your
recollection. To Mr.. Madison's report, I
am wiling 10 allow all the credit which it de-
serves, but if you will give yourself the trou-
bic to enquire particularly into its history,