The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-14
FoR 7nE EIgUIRER.
70 rnr rkorlE ca v1Re1NIA.

'putes. which have so Violently agitatcl the
passions of mankind. we are at once asto-
nished at the apparent insiguifcance of the
questions that have at certain times embroil
ed the hu,n-+, race; and do not fail to give
ourselves credit for superior wisdom, as we
think 1T utterly impossible that we should
yer have been led to consider such TRIES rs
matters of importance. People accustomed
to reflection will however, make different
conclusions. Good or evil, ii is true, may be
n olonger so strongly associate. in oar minds
with the cut or colour Vt a Sacerdotai gar
.acnt. as to inflame the passions Of lcve or ia-
tired in the same degree as we are told il
did,
"When cruel dudgeon first grew high,
And men fell cut, they knew not why, :
When hard words, iealousies aud fears
Set folks together by their ears"
But why are there no popular prejudiccs
in the present day, which p~osteritv NAV in
their turn be inclined to pity or deride Do
we condemn opinions but on a thorough
investigation of their nature and tendency,
and does not opposition in sentiment n~everin
these enlightened times produce orRmosity,
rahcostY and hatred2 Alas | am constrain-
ed to answer in the afirmaGvc-Thc liber-
ty OF the press, that great PALLADIUM of
our rights, that 6utJvar& of freedom, has
been tor the last three months conv9rted into
a vehicle, for the most virulcnt invectivcsa-
gainst the men and measures of the govern
ment, that ever disgraced a free people
Those. whose, transcendant talents and emf
ncnt services had already immortalized their
names. have been equally the subjects of ri
dicule aud petulant abuse. The foul wea-
pons OF detraction have beer SO skilfullv
welded, and characters of the most unsullied
virtue have been so personally assailed, that
postcrity will look back upon the turbulent
and sicentious spirit of this age and Count it
similarto that Of Athens in the days of Arts
tophanes.
Faction, that Canon CT republics, has as
sumed III our infantile government, a hercu-
lean strength. In our neighborhoods, our
counties, our state, and our country all equal
.ly icei the effects of its baleful influence
mat peaceful harmony, that unity of senti-
ment, that general sympathy which once
characterized you, and which has ever Civ
en- you an equipoise in the Union, appears
to be completely superseded by a universal
spirit of party, violent opposition in senti-
ment, ana rancorous animosity. Would to
God, Fellow, Citisens that you would for a
moment pause and reflect! yes, reflect on
the lmPolicy OF your conduct during the now
critical situation of our country. An c.
re%staii period mas arrived. An interesting
crisis in our public affairs has occurred
which presents to you the choice between
natpnai degradation and national honor ?
SSht'SubSu L tiiiS Il tlile LOT JUCffGr :
IT we bat for a moment take a retrospective
view OF our situation, a short time prior and
subsequent to the declaration of indeDen-
uence, we shall see y: pfaLtice 4 solution to
tnls question At that time one grand object
fIreo every bosom the love of libe rty and
the resentments of oppression acted as the
general cements to society, all party dis
functions were utterly forgotten and each in
u,vi,f6sl was rendered happy in proportion
A -, L.. IL. L.,,r,l I'll =. l.
of their common cause. Glorious spirit -
Worthy of imitation. Is it possible that
twenty i've years of peace have 60 impaired
american Uirtue, that whilst danger con-
tlnUally menaces us from abroad, faction
RACES with unabated fury within. For shame
my countrymen, Shall it be said that we
after all the toll and solicitude Of a Wash
ington and a Jefferson for the glory and pros
perity of our republic; after all the reful-
gent examples recorded on the page of His
tory for our instruction, are blindly jeopar-
dising cur liberties. Shall it be said that
we, the sons of those heroes OF seventy-six
who fought, and bled, and died on the fair
plains OF Columbia to secure to us liberty
and happiness. are thus sporting with our
blood-bought privileges. are thus far abber-
rating from the paths of virtue, are thus
like the Prodigal son wasting the portion of
his goods? Heaven forbid it Genius of IL
49, y 'O'pio II AboNtoh NtCn vi OlChCTlIZ
and ,contending among ourselves about OBJ
jccts OF minor importance, let us be on the
alert to preserve unimpaircd that which
has been confided to our care let MS be ever
anxious toPerpetuate the blessings conferred
on us by cur ancestors down to the latest a
ses of posterity, that they may look on us
and call US blessed.
From d most impartial review Of History
and from considerations on the nature of
man, | am convinced that the preservation
OF liberty and of national prosperity, essen
tally depends upon the preservation of Uni
on among the people. of harmoRy in our
councils. That an excessive zeal for liber-
ty, like all excessive zeal, Injuries the cause
it means to serve. That faction and seditioD
disgrace free countries, and introduce such
evils as make the lovers of rcpose almost
wish for the tranquility Of despotism. That
ebullitiens Twill sometimes arise IN a free
community like humours ina healthy bod, {;
and when they preserve the limits Of mode
ration, they are to be considered as symp-
toms of a sound constitution, but, that when
they rise too high, aud continue too long,
they are like a gaDgrene which gradually
diftuses itself, till il destroys the vitality from
which it originates. That as all the passi-
ons are strengthened BY sympathy. ,he as