The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-04-06
@be enquirer.
RICHMOND. APRIL 6. 1910.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
TO TIE REPUBLICAN PARITY!
TIE CEN7TNEL.-No. WI.

10 TIE REPUBLICAN PARITY!
TIE cEN71MEL.-No. WI.
The charge of French Influence i'm our
co1nsels, Is one which it will be salutary "a
trace to its origin. The discussion will ne.
cessariiy involve the character of man
who is no more and although admit the
humanity OF the maxim, de mortuis MI nisi
6o"um, yet the good of the living sometimes
makes breach of it Indispensable.
Great talents, confined with the charac-
ter OF frankness and generosity, have begot-
ten respect, and even an affection for &c,
neral Hamilton's memory in almost every
bosom. During his life, T for One. acknow-
ledge that dreaded him for thought
NM destined to overturn the republic.
but hrs death banishcd from my breast, eve
ry hostile sentiment. & have been since dis.
posed to Cherish the recollection of The bright
parts OF his Character only Ibelievc, that this
feeling is general one. 1t is impossible, how
ever, TO remount to the source of the charge
winch L am examining, without going up to
the hrse formation of parties; and this can
not be done without bringing General Ham
liton faliy into view. Our accusers, there
fore, are the persons who impose upon us
this invidious and painful duty.
General Hamilton, in common with the
enlightened part of our countrymen, had
witnessed and dcplored the feebleness of the
oio confederation, and its inefficacy to an
swer even the purpose of general defence.
l nat some remedy was necessary, was adj
united on al hands but that Which Cen
eral Haniiton, seemed disposed to admins
ter, was thought rather too potent it erred
on the other extreme, by threatening to
brace the patient beyond the tone of health.
IN the convention which formed the consti-
tuition, this gentleman had given the alarni
to the friends of republican government,
oy proposition to Convert the Senate into
a sort OF Mobiles. He seems to have Thought.
that no strength short of that which belongs
10 monarchy, would suffice for the safety,
peaes aud happiness of the people and
although there was certainly no immortality
IN holding that or any other abstract poll
''cai opinion, yet the expression Of it was
enough to put the republicans on the alert,
anu possibly to discolor the medium thro'
which they examined his subsequent prin-
ciples and actions.
Inc stress OF the opposition to the fede-
raj constitution, was on its monarchical ten
aencies =" IL has. said Mr.. Henry, an aw-
lui squirting towards monarchy" Mr.. Ma
dison, however, and its other friends thought
mat there was no such danger from cor
Iece construction OF the instrument; that to
~A'J SoSh PSihlOfOuS eUeCC, tile con
sutution must not only be strained. but
snapped asunder; and that those who would
90 so far for such purpose, would not be
yer
me constitution began its operation UNI
GeT circumstances of very great suspicion.
it mad encountered, every where. the most
formidable opposition, and some of the states
nag oeen so much afraid of its apparent gra-
Vitat'on towards monarchy, that they had
Actually reIectedi 1t altogether. TO encrease
tne apprehension arising from these causes.
alexander Hamilton was appointed to fill
an once under the executive, which in the
.e VI ttinss. at that time, was the most
important office in its gift: it was. therefore
WIN the kecnest vigilance, that the first
movements of that. department, and parti-
cularly OF that officer were watched. In
such a state OF public feeling, it was extreme
~ unfortunate, that it was thought necessa.
~ 20 throw around the Office ofPrcsident, a
i hina OF majesty, too nearly resembling the
british type. The speeches to both Hou.
ses, first delivered, in great state. and sf-
rewards handed to them in writins-and.
then, the levees (Which, however Innocent
III intention, had much better have been a.
yoideo at any inconvenience,) were wide
departure from that plainnssx and simplici.
~, winch were thought most becoming in a
iiePuohc. 10 make the matter worse, the
senate, themselves considered as the, sha-
cow OF the British House of Lords, had pro.
Poseu, ana catered upon their journals, to
address the President by tissue of titles,
an OF them the genuine growth of Great
britain. Then came general Hamilton's cole.
pratcd report freighted with national bank,
iataln8 system, great national debt, and
heavy system of taxation. The republi-
cans thought the admiration of Britain so
great that 1t was deemed desirable to re-
semoie her, even in her -misfortuncs.
ouch variety of measures, all of them
pointing to the British prototype, and all of
tneni IN strict consequence with those senti-
inehts which Gen. Hamilton had ayowe ed in
tue convention, filled the minds of the republi.
cans WIN the most serious alarm
IL was believed that party of royaIists
was forming, whose object it was to sap the
consultation. by degrees, and Introduce a.
ihohg us the counterpart of the British gov
eminent. The more the republicans tho't
their liberty in danger, the more en,irusias-
ucaiiy ala they press the heavenly boon to
their bosom, and the more did they revere il
~ Whatever quarter of the world it made it's
appearance. Such was the state of things
IN America, when the revolution began In
France.
france had been our friend in the time Of
greatest need. 1t was in great measure
owing to her, that our resistance to British
tyranny had not incurred the historic brand
OF an unsuccessful rebellion. 1t was in n
great measure owing to her, that our bodies
were not hanging on gibbets, our blood at
.a,u'ea ana our estates forfeited. That gem