The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-06-18
(Tol. 8..----.---No. ~.

ms OF liberty) to establish despotism. But
oinerent system has been pursued by q
few OF our towns. and in particular by our
Metropohs where ofiate, I. a., asse mblage'
ma)or,y OF her electors, many ofthem
crlzens. whose talents, professions, prope r.
~ and influence have placed them in The
most r. Spectacle grades OF society, and in
hiSn omces OF government have, in the
most ueHberate manner, passed unanimous
y various Resolutions, too important, in
,neir nature and tendency, TO be unnoticed.
ne publication OF these measures, which
III no instance have been disavowed, is so
marked. as to admit no doubt of their ap-
thenticity.
mad this 'assemblage' been content, With
exc rc'siag freely their rights of suffra &c ); or
agresably TO the Constitution of the United
o'ates OF 'ies ly peti,ioning the Govern
ment tor redress of grievances Grin con-
tormity to the Constitution of this Com mon.
wealth. OF requesting, in an orderly and
PsaCeaoie manner, the Legislative body, by
addresses petitions or remonstrances to re-
dress the wrongs done them, and the giie.
vances they suffer = no rational objec,iaS
could nave been urged against them On
the contrary their conduct, if it had even re-
suited from mistaken zeal, wouid have been
,us.V aPpiauded: But their open avowal Of
hostility to the Government of the United
otates, demands fus, in support of il as
sacred ofncfai duty, an ingenious and efiicIs
emit line of conduct
ne measures referred to, were predica-
tea on assertions that our ancient and
respectable metropolis" !" was the FRS! to enl.
courage commercial enterprze" That
.nis; was great source "of our national
distinguished by theft quick discern en- Of
ana tneir vigorous opposition to II invasiuns
OF tneir rights" that at the risk o, their
lVes and fortunes. they hsd opposed the en-
croachmeDts OF arbitrary power % that they
NAG Expected "a domestic Government
winch would project the III in the lawful ex-
ercise OF their rights" That, amongst
, ,he. ene most invaluable was protection. ia
the pursuit OF Commerce." That sthe Go.
Vernment OF the United States has for MANY
years past, manifested disposition ALARM
ihSiy hostile to commerce. sbut most emf.
Nenefy oy the late act OF Congress > which
anoer CERTAIN pretexts, inf1cts deadly
Wouna on our commerce = That, sthe only
remedy short of an appeal to force is to
:nahSe our national rulers ; and that, this
'mPofiant measure can only be effected, by
a correspondent change in the admioistratis
on. of this State
~ tSsaro tothese positions, it is presumed,
'nat TINS assemblage' will not assume al
w ne." OF encouraging commerce, or Of
oPPos.tion TO the invasion of our rights, or Of
opposing, at the risk Of life and fortune, the
.';I, OF arbitrary power bull,
VIII admlt its fellow citizens of the metropo-
lis, and of the state, TO equal honor viii
themselves on those subjects and it IS be-.
ihat the assemblage,' in whatever
hemtN may view the Federal Governments.
VIII, WIN not uehy' the sovereign right of its feEs
10" otizens OF the United States. to exer-
cise the'r Judgements on the conduct of that
government; to declare their COW, ion thac
,t Is Wise, just, impartial & patriotic Gaus,>
thaI fac ~
Oh ihhicting,i it has warded off by every pos-
81 nc mean. deadly blow. aimed by f,re,en
po"e'S on our commerce /; and to applaud.
we're, ana support their government, in
opPosit'on to those who have proclaimed
thelr oisanection to it, have prescribed il 81
ooomeo 1t to destruction.
Inc 'assemb'age,'n their first reso ion,
ueI,are' tlat having reviewed with jmpar-
taiity our foreign relations, thew are unable
70 discover any alteration in he conduo, az
o'e'8n nations which can justify or even
"P"iog re. Tor the late measures of the 20
Sernment OF the u. States Admittipe the
'act' that the assembIage' sould not disco
VIC. any such alteration, still it NAV have
e"'steo and 1T did exist in regard to France.
II. ne opinion OF the sole constitutional Judge
the National Government and generajiy
of the State Governments The measures
aiuded to, were the Presidents procla,<a.
'ioil Oh the I'd OF November last, and the act
o. congress of the Cd Of March last. And
when 1t is consi cred that the Emperor OF
france, by his official declarations of a revo-
cation OF his Berlin and Milan DEGREES. had
rendered indispensable that proclamation
mat the neglect to issue it would have given
Just cause OF offence to the Emperor, ard
nave hazarded war that had this have
oeen tne result, no apology could have been
onered Tor the President that even i the
emperor had been sfrongy susheeted of
ihtehtionai Perhdy. the proclamation was
wise and polite asst was revocabIe in such
an event. and would thus have placed him
coHsIfcNouSty in the wrong. When these
'bIngs are considered, where was Inc impoli.
cy or injustice of issuing the proclamarion..
or OF renewing cur commerce with France
but nave the United States and Great By;
ta!n' OF either OF these powers. authorized
this assemblage' TO be their umpireS 10
not by what authority did it sit in iutpe-
ment on the relative measures of the two
nations It constitutes, perhaps. one part
IN tour hnndred OF the federal electors and
IS SO small portion to govern the whole /,
ne assemblage had right by the federal
consultation. not to pass such resoI,it;bne-
out tofetitton for redress Of grievances ~
ana u Us the greatest Of all absurtlities. ana >
destructive of all order, to admit. tbatfhrse
4 mi fl. a