The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-08-11


trade with her colonies in time of peace. This
reasoning so exactly resembling that of 4Esop's
wolf, M his dispute with the lamb, had actually
proved too strong for Mr.. Ames's dialectics He
had considerable pecuniary interest ut stake up
on the issue of resistance against that sally Of
BRITISH rapine. Eut money, even his mo-
ney, was nothing and less than nothing iii his
eyes, when the necessity of Brtans sgonies or
the supremacy oi Britsins naval dominion, came
IN conflict with it, in struggle against France
Ills opinion of British spirit WAS as exalted as
ms idea of British logic, and from his contempt
for our faculties, both ofhaart and head, he con-
Guided that we should only buster, but that John
Ball would say he was'' AS little convinced as a.
irad, and that we should ultimately acquiesce
1t did SO happen, that we persevered in our
CLAIMS, and that John Bull whether convin-
ced or afraid, did at that time abandon his pre-
tension.
1t was, however, again assumed in substance,
by the far-famed orders of council of the I1th
Nov. 1907. The prospect ola war with Eng
land was now rendered much more probable.
AS 1t advanced, and the dangers of our country
increased, the worshippers of Britain saw a dawn
othope, that with the aid of the British doctrines
they might hurl from power the then sdministra-
ton, and vault into their seats themselves. They
renounced all pretence to any claim Of right a.
gainst Great Britain, and immediately after the
outrage upon the Chesapeake, formally under
took tojusti!y in public newspaper of this town,
the act of the British admiral Berkeley, upon
aprctended right of the Brush to take sea-
men from an American national ship, by force.
Mr. Ames's number Of friends have not seen fit
to indulge the public with his sentiments upon
that transaction. We know not whether he had
reconciled his soul to the belief, that every Bri.
tsh naval Lieutenant had riSht to search an a.
merfcan ship OF war tor men but we contSss
that Judging from the specimens they have given
OF his late sentiments upon British rights, we do
not regret the loss of his opinions upon the affair
OF the Chesapeake.
The people were alarmed by the near prospect
OF war with England--1he people were dis.
ressed by the operation of the embargo.-The
people were partially deluded by the imposture
Oh aPretended mission TO atone for the attack OH
the Chesapeake. At this critical moment, one.
Oh those very Senators, who in February, 1906,
mad voted thai the British pretension 20 exclude
us from the colonial trade'in time of war. was
violation OF our rights and an encroachment up
ON our independence, came out in printed pam
ph'et as the champion for that very British pre-.
tension The argument Of MIR. Ames's letters
doubtless had converted him from the American
errors OF his ways & although Mr.. hines. when
writing those letters, had felt-it to be the duty
OF good cifisen, TO be silent, rhile our side zvas
argued" yet his friends have not Thought il in
decorous, at the very moment when Or, SIDE
was IN the most imminent jeopardy, TO Summon
him from the silence of the grave, TO bear his tes-
umony In favor of our adversary
Thanks to the good and wise disposer Of all e.
vents, that this weapon has also fallen biunted
to the ground Thanks to almighty God, that the
nation has been saved from tho disgrace and ru-
IN which submission to this insolent and ground.
less pretension of Great Britain, would have
Drought upon them ! The purpose of breaking
down the sense and spirit of this people, to that
level ofdcgradation which would have assented
to the hollow sophis.ry of the British claim, has
been defeated.--The opinions of Mr.. Ames, will
not now avail as an apology for treachery to the
rights o. the country.
There is indeed one point of view, in which
the publication OF these letters will he servicea-
bic to The public. They have discovered, beyond
decentralization and denial, the real finClamen
tal principles, of that political sect, which has
obtained the controul of our state administration,
and which, for the last two years has baen dri.
wing with such furious zeal to dissolution OF. he
unon-combired with an alliance, offensive and
defensive, with G.. Britain
The last half ofthis volume might be denomi-
mated, the political bible of the junto Ifthere be
rejecting man in any of our sister states. not
infected with the scab of this political leprosy,
who has any doubt what the junto principles re-
ally are let him attentively read that part ofthis
volume which had never before been published
Here he will find those principles which they
have heretofore circulated in whispers AMONG
themselves, and denied when charged with them
III puolic which III their secret conclaves they
profess as articles of faith, and which in their pub
lie mantestoes, they repel with Indignation, as
slantierous aspersions. Here he will find spun
from a degenerate plant OF our soil, that three
jCid cord OF Prostr0ttOH 10 Britain, Horror of
France, and Contempt to- An1ericG, which binds
together the whole political system of the facti-
on.
But although the p.etension commended for by
Great-Britain, has once more been withdrawn.
and will, iii all probability, not now form a sub
lect OF controversy between the two nations we
have no security that Ill the first hour of success
which the chances of war may evolve in her "a.
vor, she vii. not assert it again. Should tile
temptation of rich and defenceless commerce.
expanded over every ocean, and immediately un
der the tangs of her naval power, again copcur
with that " envious jealousy and cankcr'd spitc."
winch sickens many of her most influential states
men at the sight of American prosperity, that
accommodating principle of British law of natl
ons, which, like the devils of Milton's Pandemo.
mum, sweIs INTO giant or shrinks into piemy.
as Its occasions require, will again make its ap
pearance " in its own dimensions, like itsclf"-
The rule ct the war of 1885, painted with some
new sophisucal varnish, will issu again from
the dens Of Doctors Commons, as an Asiat;c
panther leaps from the thicket upon the unwarv
traveller The commerce of America will be
its victim and the Canning ofthe day, with some
sarcastic sheer, may refer us, for the ustificati-
on OF British depredations, to the opinions of an
American statesman. One of your own iurists.
ne WIN say, has settled tho question against YOU
Mr.. Ames has sanctioned the British doctrine.
There is another public mischief which NAV
result from the publication of these private let
t 's Oh Mr.. Ames, respecting the question:
There are two remarkable pecularities in the A.
Inensan character The people of this country
Ift1r 60. 4