The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-11-06
ri he GnQulrer.
RICHMOND. NOVEMBER 6. 1910
THE CRISIS.
No. II.

1t is done--the die is cast. The Presi
dent OF the United States. with thar deter
mined spirit; which becomes the Friend of
the Laws and the Chief Magistrate of Re
public, has obeyed the laws of his Country !;
and the Poclamatiop, which Announces the
Revocation of the French DEGREES, is Row
before the People. His sense of duty has
proved paramount every other consider
Fation--and neither Clamor nor abuse has
sweryed him from his obedience to the viii
of his country. y 49, >.
As usual, the 1" British party in this cotn.
try" have not been sparing of exertions TO
serve the cause of, Great Britain. What
articles have not been used 10 disguise the
rruth-~--and to inspire deception and dis
may into the mind of the President ? For
a weeks, have the federal presses inces
sanity teemed with every species of clamor
and Representation. AT one time, they
Dave reminded the president of the perfidy
cf FranCe----at another, of the seduestra-
lion of our vessels At other moments. thew
have warned him Of the weight of his res
possibility, and threateaed him with the
aoss of his popularity. Sometimes they,have
affectedly advised him to wait until the
Representatives of the People could as :.
semble---and then, more forgetful of the
purposes they had in view, thar of their
9nconquerable resentmentS, they have AZ
sected to insult him with the grossest insi.-
mutations that ne svoutd certainly shrink
back from the task which was assigned
him, and that ne wond not dare To issue his
proclamation, until the meeting of Congress
Yet, how unavailing are all the articles of
all his enemies The case was too clear
20 be perverted; and the mind of the presi
dent was of too firm texture, to be bent,
like an osers from his duties.
me task was, indeed. arduous enough to
nave discouraged men of far less ohsrouious
devotion to their wishes, than are the g Bri
fish Party in this country" VINO can ex .
tinguish the light of the sun or who that
has ever taken a calm and impartial view
OF the subject, could have mistaken the du.
ties OF the executive, on this occasion The
tazu was imperative and clear--tbe facts,
within the purView of the law, have really
transpired; The leu requires, that either
OF the belligerents should " sorevoke or mo
dify her edicts, as that they shall cease to
violate the neutral commerce of the United
States. The Jact is, that France has so
revoked every edict of ber's which comes
up TO this description. Where thea is
the doubt. that the President of the United
States was bouna by the laws of his coun-
try. to issue his proclamation Nay, that
he would have been guilty of the basest in
fringement of them, If he had not issued
that proclamation
The law has now spoken---sit NAV re
celye the obedience of the Constituted pow
ers, but 1t viii not command the acouies
cence of the b. Party They will cnanee
their battery. hose very arguments. which
were so Intellectually addressed to the pas
sions OF the President, will now be employ.
ed to SOW dissatisfaction and murmurs a
mouS the PeOhie.----But we will not shrink
from the enquiry. With that proud conf =.
dence, which becomes the conviction of
truth, let Us meet them before that illustri
Gus tribunal, and Briefly review the objecti-
ons which they have urged.
What are Mey2
list They tell US that " the French de
crees are NOT revoked--for that no conf.
dence is TO be put 10 the word of rance"
How ridiculous is this objection II is
Congress' and not the President. who hal
incurred the sio Of credulty. Have they
not declared that such revocation was
sufficient And has not the assurance of
~. Cbampagny correspondent With the strict
letter OF the lawS Besides, is France to be
denied the respect which is due o all civil
Ized nationss The whole of Europe Gre
dis her engagemcn;s, because every part Of