The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-16
From the N. 4. Public Aavertiser.
# CIRCULAR LETTER.
EXTRACT

NrUm tne GeNcraI KepNbiICan COTnfNlttNc o! tTe
City and county OF New.York, to their RePub
licon fellow-citi zens. throughout the state, in
Sndication of the measures of the General Go.
vernment. and on the necessity &C supporting
them against Foreign Influence and domestic
faction.
(coNTlNuFp)
fELLow.CITIzENs,
A new and better ara was then
introduced. The system which had so greatly
oppressed us, and from which such extensive
evils were spprehended, Immediately abo-
Fshed. This important event did not merely
change the men entrusted with the sdministra-
ton, but it likewise produced radical reform of
measures. The skeleton OF q standing army, for
which SO many ncossant pains and lshorious ex-
Pedients were exerted, commanded to be
dissolved. The excise-the stamp act--the a.
lien laws, the se6,tion law--together with the
landtax, and every other species of exaction
were ordered to cease. The republican govern.
ment chose rather 10 rely upon its own economy,
and the virtues of its constituents, IN a day of
necessity, than by repeated exsctions to i'm
Poverish, tor the purpose ofoPpr~ssng the PEG
pie.
Those who have traced the path pursued NV
our government, with scr-itnizing and candid
eye, will furnish evidence to posteritv. which
Will command gratitude and admiration when
preJudices cease. 1t will then be found and
must be acknowledged, that few administrations
Thave ever existed, which have rendered such
signal advantages to nation, in the Short COM
pass OF eight wears
Vt purchased the city and territory Of N. Or
, leans, with the whole of the extensive province
: OF I-ouisians, for the moderate sum, Of fifteen
millions of dollars BY its equitable and pru-
dent measures, it secured the affections of our
western brethren, and removed those discon
tents, which, fomented by foreigners, threaten
ed to separate an extensive and rapidly increas-
ing portion Of our country from the union.
Instead ofincrca,ing me public debt. as the r..
derat administration had either desgncdly or i'm
prominently cone, it appears by the regular and
official reports of the secretary of the treasury
that notwithstanding the total abandonment of
direct taxation and an entire reliance upon the
"evenues arising from commerce, the republic
can government has already paid upwards of
thirty three millions of dollars of the nationa,
debt; and without exaggeratior, it may be safely
stated that the acquisition of the immense terri
tory OF New-Oresns and Louisiana has produ
ced public property fully adequte to discharge
every remaining claim against the nation
Such is an imperfect, and, permit us to saw
faithful and impartial sketch of the relative me-
rits of the federal and republican Administered
ons Under the first we bave experienced ex
cesslve taxes, an increasing debt, and danger to
our liberties. The latter on the contrary, has
abolished taxation, and while it honestly applied
the public resources to the discharge of our
pubic debt 1T has never sought or attempted
one single measure injurious TO freedom
1t therefore remains, for the people OF the
United States, who are sincerely attached 20 the
prosperity OF thcr common country, to deter
lnne, n the FIRST instance, which OF The two par.
ties, tee repuo..1.:: ar the federal, is last emit
tied to support We consider the merits Of
the question to be evideRt, and desire that your
decision may be such as to promote The general
good.
The General Republican committee of the ci-
ty and county of New-York, would feel them.
selves deficient in duty, ifthey neglected, in this
place, 70 refnte i'll satisfactory manner the va
rious charges which have been exhibited by an
Interested and adverse party.
The tederslists, with all their industry. have
not been able to vindcate themselves, neither
could they ever fasten charge upon the repub.
lican government with having attempted or de-
1tignsd the introduction ofdomestic tyranny
They have bent tneir principal and entire force
against the government, towards the system it
mas ADOPTED IN rt.,,ard to our foreign relations
and, on this point, it is requested that full and
candid investigation may take place.
We contend that DER government has acted
with integrity, impurtiality and wisdom and
that. while it has resisted the encroachmenss of
the British, it has equally repulsed every aggres-
sion of the French.
The Committee will commence this subject bv
asserting truly, that they are, altogether devoid
OF foreign parti,lity. We have been injured by
Great Britain and injured by France, it is there
fore duty of Americans to maintain Ameri.
rights.
We arc also, equally the friends of agriculture,
manufactures and commerce.
we Believe that every citizen is entitled to
pursue the occupation which best promotes his
own happiness, without interruption We also
hold that each occupation of life is entitled alike
to the protection Of government for that e. IS i;
one OF the great purposes for which civil society
was established.
Fly agriculture we produce the fret fruits OF
our soil.
BY the,labour and skill of manufactures we
r1repare and fit them for our use. The wool
the cotton ard the fax, become linen and cloth
BY commerce we exchange our superabundant
commodities for the superauities of othe r nations
We take what they can spare, and give what we
can spare. The merchant becomes rich, and in
proportion as he grows rich is n better and more
profitable customer of the farmer.
Thus it is, that the agricultural, manufacturing
and commercial interests, instead of being rivals
to each other, are mulu puIilisres.
The greatest value we can send abroad tho
better for ou7 selves. Increase tie value OF ex
portatlons, and you may increase the amount oe
1mpoTtsticns, or at you pleasure, increase the
balance in your favor.
The agricultural interest nav 10 considered as
ofthe most value, because it ~ the principal foun
tation Of the whole. The manufacturing and
commercial interests are also greatly valuable,
and entliledto nat nal protection; because shev
also contribute their full share towards general
proNperitv.
Insseaa, therefore, oFfomenting spirit offca.
lousy, aSd rivalship, between these connected in.
teres,s, we ought rather 10 eYiace their cores.
pondent yalue to each other
IL is the true interest Of the merchant bimseIr
TO increase the resources ofhi5 country; because
that country will place q porticn orthooa ,cso,,r