The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-06
TO JAMES MADISON,
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

pee TO JAMES MADISON, e2s.
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
SIR-At this period Of difficulty and dan
ger to our country, the surviving military
characters. of the late revolutionary army
and navy, residing in the city and county of
Philadelphia, presume to address you, on
the existing state of our foreign relations
It's at once with pride and pleasure, we
recognize ia you, the enlightened and firm
asserter of the rights of America rights.
which the two great belligerent powers of
Europe have SO shamefuIiy and outragsously
violated and trampled upon: Aud we are
happy, that your translation, from your late
digaiied ministerial station to the highes,
which free people, by their SURFACES can
confer, VIII enable you to give the mea.
sures, which Your wisdom and experience
may suggest to the assembled Representatives
OF an highly insuited and injured nation,
that direction, on which will ultimately
depend the honor and interest of the United
States
Whatever, sir, may he the result Of the
repeated and honest appeals, which have
been made by your immediate predecessor
and by yourself. sisce your election TO the
chief magistracy of the United States, TO the
sense CT justice, which may yet be presumed
to exist, on the part Of the two great coHflc
ting powers of Europe; we beg you to be
convinced that we entertain too great aregarl
| Ter the rights. which were achieved by the
valor, patriotism, and blood of and llustrions
band of revolutionary worthless to meet the
ievent with indifference. Born the heirs of
f,eedom, we shall ever be proud to defend
and maintain it---and If we must again
unfortunately live to witness our country
compelled TO depart from a state of peace
and tranquility, and assume "a .warlike atti
tnde. we shall at least have the consolation
10 reflect, that, by our government, the event
will have been unprovoked, and animated by
TINS consideration, with a humble reliance
upon the favor of Heaven, We can hope to
see the subtitle Vaccinations of foreign in .
trigue frustrated. the views of tyranny bias
ted, and our unbelievable rights. transmitted
to our latest postepity. 49,. titt5, 49,.
= We rejoice, sir, in the contemplation Of the
coinciaence fsentiments, which appears to
preyade eryipolitical description ofAmeri
can citizens, with regard to the daring outra
ges OF the beiiig.fentsupon ourneutral rights
and the evidence of Implicitly, by which their
public acts have been distinguished IL is a
consoiatory reflection, that, whatever diffe
renee OF sentiments may exist, ON subjects of
domestic policy, the great body of the nation,
attached to the principles of the revolution.
VIII rally round the standard of the govern.
nent, ms we did in the time thatstried mems
souls, determined to die as freemep, rather
than live as slaves under some imperious ty-
rant. whose will is law.
When we consider, that, at a time, when
the libsrtiea OF every nation, are rapidly
disappearing nnder the scourge of unrcient-
ing tyranny, the republican government of
AmerIoa, secures to the ineanest OF it's CHI
zens, every civil and religious privilege
when we contemplate the old world delueed
with the blood OF thousands, the unfortunate
victims OF Unsuitable rapacity and lust of
power, we are grateful to the God of mer
cies Tor the blessings which his providence
benignly dispenses 10 us; impiore his flu
ture protection; and pray that he may SO
dispose the hearts of every government, as
10 secure to troubled world the restoration
of peace and tranquility. Under the inHu.
Ieace OF these impressions, we who have
borne part in our late revolutionary con.
fict, and assembled to express to YOU orr
sentiments on the present critical state Of
our Country with the foreign powers. be-
you TO be assured that, although we canno,
now serve our country. with as much effect
IN the field as we did when the inirmities
OF age wee not felt, we are nevertheless as
willing now TO serve, Should necessity re
qaire iD in any station, our advanced state
OF life win admit.
With fervent prayers for the peace and
prosperity OF our beloved country, ana with
respect and attachment to yourself.
We remain, &c &c.
THE PEsIDENT's REPLY.
/ 4 % The surviving military characfers or the