The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-10-20

on. US The most permanently injurious con.
sequences we should be enliste d i'm all the
! intricacies OF European connections and al
liances we should be alternately rueuac es.
and intreated, coerced and courted, driven
or seduced, to destroy our general safety and
forfeit our national character of Justice, and
become habtuailv enlisted as standing par.
~ IN the distant contests of the old world
And we farther, sir, believe, that when the
Injurious system of warfare is once adopted,
that tits beyond the limits of human sagacity
to foretcll its ultimate consequences.
But attached as we are toibe continuance
OF peace, and adverse to any European con-
hection, pacific disposition. or an ,appre-
hension of danger, would neither occasion
ttnidity, nor produce.the most distant consent
to abandon. the natural and national rights of
Our beloved country. The spirit of the re,
violation is une xtinguishcd. we shall emulate
the virtue and vigor Of our forefathers, and
maintain at every hazard the Liberties, u
mon and Constitution of the United States.
together with the government of their gene
raj choice.
That you, sir. in your chosen retirement.
In the bosom ut your family connections, and
IN the midst OF affecsionate friends may en-.
JOY many years OF happiness, and that the
sweets OF domestic tranquility. may be unit.
ed to the pleasure of benoding the prospe-
rity OF your country, and the triumph OF those
principles Of civil liberty, in the defence of
which your active days nave been so beue-
hcialiy employed, are the sincere and fer
vent wishes of your friends and fellow citi-
-zens.
BY the general committee of the City and
County of New Yurk
ABRAHAM BLOODGOoD, Chairman.
JUDAH HAMMOND. Sec'ry.
MONTICELLO. September so, 1909.
GENTLEMEN,
The very friendly sentiments
which my republican fellow citizens of the
city and county of New-York have been
pleased to express. through yourselves as
their organ. are highly graceful to me. and
command my sincere IN anks and their APP,
probation OF the me- 81 es pursued, while |
was entrusted with tn administration of
their affairs, strengthens my hope that they
were favorable to the public prosperity For
any errors which may have been com mitted
the indulgent will find some apology in the
ANTIQUITIES resulting from the extraordinary
safe OF human affairs. and the astonishing
spectacles these have presented. A world
III arms, and trampling on all those moral
principles which have heretofore been dee
med sacred in the intercourse between ma
tons, Could not suffer us to remain insensi-
bic OF all agitation. During such a course
or lawless violence, 1t was certainly wise to
withdraw ourselves from all intercourse with
.ie Deilgerent nations, to avoid the desoia-
'ing calamiiies inseparable f ON war, its per,
hicious efects on manners and morals, and
me dangers 1t threatens to free governments.
md 10 cultivate our own resources until our
natural and progressive growth should leave
us nothing to ear from foreign enterprise
hat the benefits derived from these mea-
urcs we're iessenod by an opposition of the
most om'nons Character, and that the CONT
nuance OF injury was encouraged by the APP
pearance of domestic weakness which tina
presented, will doubles be subject of
deep ana durable regret To such of our w ell
interviewed Citizens, as participated i'm it, un-
der mistaken confidence in men who had O
thcr views than the good of their own coun-
try
Shosld foreign nations, however, deceived
oy tins appearance of division and weakness,
render 1t necessary to vindicate, by arms,
the injuries to our country, l believe with
you, that the spirit of the revolution is uu-
extinguished, and that the culuvators IF
peace will again, IDS OH that occasion, be trans
formed at once into nation of warriors, who
VIII leave us nothing % fear for the natural
ana national rights OF our country.
Your appreciation of the reasons which in.
duced me to retire from the honorable sta
tion IN which my fellow citizens had placed
me. is a proof of your devotion to the true
principles of our Constitution. These are
wisely opposed to all perpetuations of power,
and to every practice which may lead TO he
redstary establishments. and certain | am,
that any services which Gould nave render
ed VIII be more than supplied by the wis
md sc
am very thankful for the kind wishes you
express for my personal happiness. 1t will
always be intimately Connected with the pros
perty OF our country, of which sincerely
pray that my fellow citizens of the city and
County of New York may have their full par.
ticipation
TIL: JEFFERSON.
Messrs. BioeGgood and Hammond.
From the Aurora
Once for all, these stories about General
Armstrong are totally destiture of found,