The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-10-20
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON,
nate PRESIDENT OF THE U. STATES

nate PRESIDENT OF THE U. STATES.
INSPECTED AND ESrEEMED SIR,
The republican citizens of the
city and county of New York. by their reso
lutim., unanimously passed, at general
meeting, determined to signify to you the
high sense which they entertain of your
virtues, talents, and valuable services to our
beloved country, togsther with their ,ul. APP
probation OF the measures pursued during
your administration. Bv the same resol,i-
ton they have. rendered us the organ to
communicate their sentiments to you
In complying with this pleasing request
We also think it onr duty to state, that
We speak our own opinions and feelings as
well as those Of oar fellow republicans at
large. You sir, live in our affections and
In retirement attract the same, and if pos
sible even superior emotions of gratitude, to
these which were cherished while you pre-
Side over the affairs of the union
fonr early and eminent exertions in sup
port of American Independence, and your
unvarying attachment to the civil liberties
81 vour fellow citizens, entitle you to their
affections and es cen. And though we can.
ro' but deplore that the errors and the pre-.
JUDGES, OF party have too frequently excl
ted unmerited attacks, we are sensible that
consciousness OF rectitude, together with
the appreciation and support of Republicans,
must have afforded an eStimabie Copsoati-
on.
We reluctantly parted with YOU as pre-
sident. In The difficult situation Of our coun-
tt! II was honestly wished to continue the
and OF your wisdom, experience, and tried
Integrity. We felt towards you the affection
0t a child to parent, and the moment of
political separation was painful in the eX-
IRENE Your reasons nevertheless convin-
Ced us of the propriety of your retirement,
and the election of your friend as success
SCR produces at this moment our greatest
consolation. In the infancy of our govern
ment, we perceive il to have been proper
that worthy and disnterested examples
snou'i be presented and that to preveAt he
redItaiY sstab lsAmentS, our best men should
avoid perpetuity OF power.
The more reflect upon The measures of
yoiir admins ration, especially those which
have been adopted towa,d, the principal
be,ligerent powers. the more fully we dis
cover and understand the purity of motive
and sound policy which produced them ard
we Principally regret, that any domestic op
position should have bccl made to the lust
regulations of a lawful government not only
attended, but judicious!y adapted to pre-
serve state OF peace, and to maintain the
most inestimable rights of our na5on
Divine providence has destined our exis
state OF human affairs. The most superb
cial observer must perceive himself surronn
ded by vast and astonishing spectacles -
Ambition is no longer stated with the con.
quest OF a Kingdom or province but re
Saidless OF the means it aspires TO the domi-
mon OF universal empire. In such a sirua
ton 1t was not to be expected that we should
entirely escape those agitations, which con-
Vuised the nations with whom we had esta
blished continual habits of intercourse.
Our relations towards the great bellige, ents
were too important to each to be behe id bv
the others without an eye of jealousy. To
this consideration we must in a great mea
sure attribute those repeated acts of aggres-
sion, which have been perpe1rated with diff
fercnt degrees of violence but without in
PERMISSION. To keep aloof from these pro-
digious contests, to cultivate our own resour-
ceS, and to enable our Country to profit by
Its favored situation, until it's natural and
progressive growth should render it invul-
nerabie to foreign attack, appears to have
been the great design of your wise and sa
e. lutary administration Many of our coun-
Srymen, who have opposed the measures Of
government, or withheld from. them firm
support, may live TO regret that infatuation
which prompted them to violate our laws.
and by presenting an appearance of our do
HeStic weakness, encourage a continuance
etthose njures which might otherwise have
Been restrained.
We believe, sir, that the embargo and non
intercourse acts were impartial in their cha
Tacter, devised from the purest of intentions.
and wise in their operation. They furnish
ed an opportunity to collect our floating pro
perry from abroad. They prevented incon-
slderate men, from placing their m. .chan
dIze within the reach of inevitable capture.
Ihcyrecalled our mariners, from scenes of
insult and imprisonment, to the bosom of our
native Country. They evinced to the war
ring world, that the United States, however
pacific in disposition, were incapable of sub
uniting to every extremity of injustice Thsy
afforded our own government time to Consult
the opinions and wishes of the nation, before
Ut consented to engage in more rigorous and
decisive measures. lucy were calculated
TO withhold, and had they me- been evaded,
would nave efectually withheld, from forei gn
asgressors, those supplies which were neces.
sary to the repentance Of their own power,
appealing to their own interests, to restore
the tree exercise of those rights which their
PRIDE and passions and injusi ice had violated.
with Difference to the better judgment of
those whose experience and superior means
ct information have enabled them To- form a
more correct opinion, we believe that the
truly independent situation of The United
otateS and the power which we possess To
withhold from hostile foreigners, supplies of
many articles of the first necessity, is a va
iuaDie weapon III our hands. And although
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