The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-07-04

Il
comparatively speaking, in no great while
| felicity began to blossom all around, the ores
cent or hope was bright and inspiring, and
but little of the ken of divination was re-
CURED to foresce that our rank in the society
4 OF nations would be among the first, and our
1 destiny among the happiest. Population in.
creased with unexamplet success, the ferti-
my OF the soil brought the most luxuriant
| reward to thu farmer. and commerce rose
rom our waters like the goddess of Apellcs,
the beauty and the envy of the world. What
oetter idea can give you of the enterpriz-
ing character OF the times, than in the words
OF that electric genius of ireland, who in
Parliament said, "that whilst we were look.
ing Tor them beneath the arctic circle, we
near that they have pierced into the opposite
regions OF polar cold, that they are at the
hntipodes engaged under the frozen SERPENT
OF the south. We knoW that while some of
them draw the lite and strike the harpoon
ON the coast OF Africa, others run tile lonyi-
tude and pursue their gigantic game along
the coast OF Eraziis No sea but what is
VeXeu with their fisheries. no climate that
is not witness to their tolls" With intrepid
ac1lVity IKE TINS, 1t was easy to perceive that
we should rival, IL not surpass the most adj
venIurous nations ofEurope. Such, it seems,
was our character. Nature rose up in every
direction To display the majesty of her
strength and the vastness of her resources
was now, my dear X. that the cvii cue
oil Great Britain was intensely fixed upon
US. one viewed our towering prosperity with
Jealousy and alarm, Jealous of our skill and
ooundless adventures, and alarm lest some
Kind angel shouid stoop from it's sphere. to
Whisper freedom and independence to the
American. Under this combination of feel
ing, she determined in addition to chains,
10 torce on manacles and letters, that our
slavery might be more compleat, the cner-
gies OF our nation more subservient to her
interest and our meanso of resistance more
powerless. There never was perhaps. a
scheme OF hostility or of sanguinary opprcs.
sion SO eiaborateiy adjusted as that which
was preparing for the Americans.
1t commenced with 4 systematic aTrres-
sion upon our commerce, our Legislation and
our manufactures, for it was the boast of
Lord Chatham that he would not suffer. us to
make even Hoo nail for u Horse Shoe
neir design was too plain to be mistaken,
ana 1t waseridentthat nothing would satisfy
tnem Out an entire suspension to the Loom
the Anvil, the Anchor and the Plough
But our tate was TO be read in the tragedy of
Country which had a little time before been
reduced by inhumauity, that would have dis
Sraced Tartar on a Goth to the most hui
initiating and unqualified submission
ALAS POOR IRELAND! .,-..
:, l lie Americans could but loo!. upon this
dreary and frightful perspective with some
awetui sensations, although every nerve was
firm with determination They were shorn
OF the powers of sovereignty and the mea-
ufes.ot vengeance which hung over their
ieads would unaNodably have sunk them
INTO the most AFFECT and .grovelng state
Oh misery and dependence. Even the tyrants
| w npl ,,.l i.
TO enforce passive obedience were clement
enough To grant some few privileges to their
conquered couD.lies. But these yeru fcyy
were denied by Great Britain to the unCon-
Iuered Americans. In Rome, each had a
iatfcI or i'rU'ector in the Senate, but the
IDEA oi any kind of Representative from us
was treated with mockery and contempt-
ne voice OF complaint was regarded IS the
sound OF diaioyaity and the act of remon
strange was considered as strongly infected
WIN the crime OF rebellion. The refuse and
onlcast OF tie British Empire which i'm the
seile OF human estimation can find no coun-
.e'po'Se even m fancy, constituted a stand
ing army which was quartered up On us and
pad by us and without the smallest necessary
iof i'a existence. Acts OF outrage & excess
aist'hS'uShed their conduct and their Forts
aiiofdtd thcm so many sanctuaries from
whence they never could be brought to Justice
ana punishment. Our judiciary was compo-
SEQ OF nicn selected entirely for their pover.
w and temper of eXtortion, who held their
'iices during the pleasure of the crown and
| whose salaries were either diminished or
enlarged IN proportion as they displayed
tleir 1oy0tfy and justice in adiudging of
nhes' penalties and forteItures. The trial
oy Jury which was held inviolablc by them,
WAS "ehied with contumely to us. No Law
"ha'aoe!er, no matter its urgency and i'm
port Could possess any force, unless it first
received the SIC Ju5to of his maiestv.---
a%ation was imposed without any regard
10 Cur SITUATION and without suffering us Tn
nave any representation in the House of
commons. And if resistance to pavmept
shoud be made. the intli,iual was instantly
fJrced rom his friends & witnesses across the
vast atlantic to undergo his trial under thu.
aVowed reason that All Honest Jury could not
De round III the Coloniest. The idea of being
lnHed under the pretext Of supporting ne
HtSHHy u the crOzvU, when the subjects
oi tlc mother Country were exempt was too
DARING an attempt at slavery not to NEE,
WIN the most violent G. obdurate opposition
nus we were doomed to fee, all the miseries
OF their Government without being allowed
10 derive one solitary benefit from any of its
principles. Like the Egyptian task masters
they demanded aid from the Colonists and
AT tne same time imposed the most heavy re-
straints upon their resources. To toll like
slaves Tor ministers and FinanCiers and To
maze d whole continent, in fact, tributary tn
inc pride and luxury Of the metropolis Of
britain These are but few outlines Of