The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-15
MR. PICKERWG'S ADDRESS
TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
No. I.
--f INyr Ro,nucrro>-
IN'SRo'Du crrox.


Feilots- Citizens, ;.
Before present to you view O,
the past and present condition OF our country and
exhibit the characters Of men who have produ
ced, or greatly influenced that condition, it is pro
per chat should place before you plain repre-.
sen,atlon OF my own. For you ought to be sa.
tshed, that the writer who asks vonr attention.
possessed the means of acquiring an adequate
knowledge of his subject, and integrity to pre-.
sent it with truth .
My name has for SO many years, been the
theme OF reproach with my enemies and their
publications having been in fact, though not IN
form, addressed to you, as the proper tribunal to
decide on the merit or demerit of my conduct IN
public lie, justice would require that, prior to
hnai Judgment, should be heard i'm NV own
defence. This right, however, should waive.
"ere my personal interest or reputation alone ut
stake. Content with the esteem of men of the
hfst distinction among my conntrymen. for .he;r
d'scerhhent' virtue & patriotism, and with an ap.
proving c0nscience,I would not again. on NV
own account, take the trouble to repeI the clan.
ders with which bad men continue to assaiI me
As 1t regards myself, these lbellers mis-, their
ann. Far from woundiDg my feelings, their ma
ieyolent reProaches bear witness that 1 am not
destitute OF merit. The unweared, malignant
efforts OF these men to DESTROY INV renuto,;on
demonstrate that the truths have heretofore ex.
hiblted, have annoyed them and their employers +,
WHILE perhaps, they anticipate display gilmore
truths, the proper effects Of which, bv reyiv;no
their ssnders, they may hope to defeat.
ihdeeo, fellow citizens, have gone but lit
tie way IN spreading before you the errors of
your rulers would to God that they were
chargeabie with no more than errors Certain Il
IS, they have plunged our country into n state of
degradation and disgrace, and brought upon IL
calamIties never before experienced 1t Is time
they were stripped of their DISCUSSES. and ex.
lloited m their naked characters to your view.
This Is one great object in my present underta.
KING FOR no hope can be entertained Of an adj.
Vantageous change IN the condition of our conn
try, until you shall be convinced that the lead.
ers OF the party, which for ten years past have
governed II, are not worthy Of your confidence
embark in it with acknowledgements Ito sav
nothing OF the time and labor must bestou IN.
on ~ IN expressing them, l shall unsyoidabiv
expose tne nakedness OF my country when ii
compatible with truth, would infinitely rather
speak the praises of both. But to authorize o.
ven distant hope of producing general convic-
ton, plain truths, however mortiIy;n0. must he
told and the belief of them can alone reacus
our country from impending ruin. Perhaps for
entertaining this apparently forlorn hope, i NAV
be charged with vanity But if truth is, before
naho' 70 De presumed unayailng, Why then the
cause OF onr country is to be given up IN desns;r
But until ruin actually oyerwhelm us. 1 will mot
despair. VIM "o'
In the prosecution ofthe work, I will present
70 you faithful pictures, drawn from the life
from the words and actions of men. / will Law
before you facts. And where the nature ofths
case renders facts unattsinsble, will state the
circumstances which furnish the ground of ra.
uoIi@l oeIsi ana because the unexampIe state
OF things demands that facts which are the -
SIS OF my sdd'e ss, should be presented TO vo,,r
consideration, with whatever weight the lest.
mony OF kn"sn witness can impsrt, and beIie.
vag my statements to be true, and nv reason.
mgJust, shat subscribe them with nv proner
name. should there be any errors they will b,
gnntentr' 'ai and when fairly exhibited, a.
frankly COME sscd.
am aware that shall draw unon ro,,oo,e
host Of sisnderers, who from Ill quatters vii