The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-06-07

fence of sseasures which prodoced it. the
odium and disgrace which have attended
the late measures Of Congress, are all " be
bound on Mr.. Madison's back.
| Yet the .dnrora is outrageous againt US,
tor having entertained AN opinion of our
own. We see that no species of explanation.
however. vague and contradictory it is, can
Come amiss. if it only Stends to discredit Mr.
Madison. But if any be urged in his favor,
II Is Indignantly rejected. Towards Mr.
Madison. j, is all gall & wormwood; towards
Mr.. Smith, it IS the purest "milk of human
kindness. 1t Z" strains at 4 gna,, whilst it
swallows Camel" 1t shrinks trnm no as
sertion, which tends to criminate the e.
remies OF his clien'--let probability aud the
common sense OF thu world be ever SO much
opPosedt hefnout the moment that positi-
on' are .aken. which are fortified bv the
strongest probabilities, they are denounced
as mere assumptions, and idle declamati :
UriS.
The aurora, has no difficulty in asserting.
that the dismissal OF Mr.. Smith was pro
ducedby the unboonded ascendancy of Mr.
Sa'lat,n over the mind of Mr.. Madison !;
~nen there is not one 6.oal of proof or pro
oab'iity to warrant the generous imputati
on--and yet. when sve presume To ascrbe
the same event to the stant Of 6equire-
menfS. it is mere assumption aItho' the
range OF Mr.: Smiths mind has been so well
liked by the public opinion as to make it
extremely probable. that we have struck
upon the true solution
The Aurora " notes with what a tone o.
confidence & Protested knowledge the En-
qu1rer speaks of man about zuhon, he o6
sotufeiy knos3S nothing ftersonaHy"--yet
behold the modeSty & consistency of hat pa
per with confidence, not interior to
our own, II pronOunces upon the talents of
MIR. Smith-it> draws comparison upon
his talents. K those of MIR. Madison---in
knowledge oil the world" and lin vigor
and decision of mind" it sarrenders he no
noraoie palm to his client-and yet we are
toio, thal all - the intercourse we (the edi-
tor OF the Aurora) have had with him
(Robert Smith, has never passed 6eyond
the usuatincidentS of three or four visits ON
business. We may say at least. that ifthe
aurora gives us true aCcoun. ofits acquain-
lance with Mr.. Smith, we know as much
OF MIN as the .4urora-" Farther than this
the DePonent sayeth not"
Yet, may IL please the COURT Why should
he be astonished at the facility with which
the Aurora has plunged into such ASSERT
ons and contradictions? II has not blushed
even to Mtsrefresenr our own ideas-uay,
TO mtsquofe the very words before him, for
the purpose OF deception.-We had expati-
ated on the sort of requirements which
were necessary in Secretary of state
we had stated. that the great breach
es or the laws of the United States were
WITHIN the sphere of his duty"-that "the
"hoie range OF our foreiga concerns was
under his eye"-,har he must have cast
his eye over the of the world" and q
YER the great rights and Interests of his
country chat he must have conned over
those rights IN the laws and usages of ma
mons, exc. &c. Now, sirs,-the Aurora ga.
SreeS upon the qualifications describe d a.
requisite tor the due discharge of the Sec.
OF State; and adds 'what is Verysremgrk
able, they are the very KIDD of pursuit,
those OF the a7p, he nYoctice az the bar
and the ha6ns Of 1estslaion. which are
exactly such as ale best adap ed 20 the sta
tioh' and they won!d De equally exc ptiona-
BILE. and have excluded both Mi. Jefferson
and Mr.. Madison from that Office The
court will see at once, how our exnressi.
ons have been distorted by this statement
Ihey see, that w have not touched upon
the lazO las that term is always used. be
ing descriptive OF certain profession, J nor
nthe Practice Of the bar. nor the habits OF
legislation---On some of these POINTS,
perhaps, Mr. Smith, or County court law
yer, may be superior to MIR Jeff son or Mr..
Wanison---b put we more particularly dWelt
upon knowledge OF our foreign concerns
being the most important, which belong
TO the u. States,-of our national rights, Of
the laws OF NATIONS, (not the municipal code
OF Maryland) as well of the great breach
es OF the laws of the U. S. which certainly
do not require any familiarity with the
technical forms and details of the law.-In
those great requirements. sirs, we do nor
wish to draw comparison between Mr..
smith and Jefferson, or Madison. The
court will co justice to the motives which
impel US to this proceeding.
The Aurora says, indeed, that we have
pursued exactly that Course which is the
most cruelty adapted to wound the feelinps''
OF MI. Smiih--Indeed What have we sa,dp
Have we said. that M. Smith was man Of
no talents and no requirements that he was
knave or bypocrIte Have we denied
MIN every sort OF virtue, or of talents p
This surely isthe course which aoould be
most cruelty adapted To wound the feelings of
a man OF seDsibility-But we have not said
H--Ou the Contrary we have probcd the
wound with the Ightest and-most delicate
hand. All that we h We asserted. WAS. hat
Mr. Smith had not those peculiar acquire
mehfs, which qualify man for a Secrefaru
o. sfafe---nor that peculiar aptitude for
them, which supplies, By it's own facilities.
the want OF experience. 1t is certainly no
proof OF want of talents, that Mr.. Smith is
not fir for a Secretary of State. The coun-
sci tor Mr.. Smith NAV have taIents .vst