The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-27
TO JAMES MADISON, ESQ.

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
The republican citizens of the first Con-
grcssional district of the state of Pennsyiva-
MIA, conceive it will not be unacceptable to
you, as the first magistrate OF a free people,
to receive the sincere assurances of their
confidence, and attachment to the principles
which have distinguished your political life /;
but above all, since you have succeeded to
the chair, so happily filled, for two terms, by
man. who it is your mutual honor to have
been nnshaken friends, and who is the orna-
mentl of his country and the pride of his fell
low citizens.
The citizens of this district can, with the
mo sc perfect confidence, with the assurances
of the most firm reliance on the wisdom and
Integrity of your character, declare that
their hearts arc with you and their country,
and that they are prepared to partake their
full share of any perils or privatons to per-
form any portion of personal service, or vo-
UNFAIRLY yield any pecuniary contribution,
that the support of the independence, honor
and Interests of the happy nation over which
you preside, may require.
In common with all good men, in eyery
part of the Union, we have beheid with emo
tions of delight and an honest pride, the mo-
Iteration and dignity with which national
concerns of great difficulty have been con-
Quoted under your guidance; and we cannot
withhold the expression of our most cordial
appreciation of your conduct, in the dismissal
of that inSolent minister, Francis James
Jackson.
Without presuming to interfere with the
rightful authority vested in the chief masis-
trate, to conduct the foreign relations of our
country, your fellow citizens of this part of
the Union, think it correct to affirm, that
they have for a long time anticipated, that
all the sacrifices made by this country to the
spirit of peace; that all the measures ofpo
hey and negotiation SO honestly conducted
on your part, and that of your predecessor !;
that the earnest desire of the American go
verGmeEt, to maintain rigid & exemplary
neutrality, to consider all nations "in peace
friends, and enemies only in war;" that all
the forbearancc from justitiable retaliation.
and confinement to diplomatic demands of
honest justice, would in the end prove una
vailipg; and that the issue must ultimately
be to the nerves and the virtues of the ge
neratiou, that has succeeded those who be.
fore triumphed over the oppressor Of our
country.
What the course OF policy best calculated
to- ensure the best result is, we do not ven
ture 10 suggest we confide in the authori
ties constituted To maintain our national
rights aud independence, and look every
day with growing solicitude for the reno.
val Of that anxiety, which is the necessa
ny effect ot huctuating measures in Con.
gress. s
We urge the notice of the measures of
congress q fact, that merits the serious
regard of those who are constitutonally ap
pointed the rulers Of the nation, in the last
resort. '
We naturally look back upon the progress
OF events, from the we ar 1790to the present
day, and find each successive year TO have
produced new and aggravated grievances,
insults and outrages upoa our Country,
oar fellow citizens, our property and our
Dag.
From the experience which we have had,
we cannot calculate upon a peace in Europe.
4or many years; and looking to the progress
sirc growth Of wrongs, from trivial to the
most enormous injuries; we ask ourselves
and submit the consideration to you. sir, whe.
ther forbearance might not become a crime,
in submitting to any further aggravatipd OF
wrongs and Insults; but above all, we're.
specially submit, whether the effect of fur
Their snferance, may not be as fatal TO the
confidence Of the pepe in their government,
tho measures that have been pursued
have been ucavaiiing.
We submit it TO our government, whsther
measures winch only operate in favor of Ge.
pIavit, and the enemies % oar country, aud
to tie disadvantage Of the yirtuous part of
the cOmtbmity, may not ultimately, if