The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-08-23
DoslaeBtit.
From tie National btelAgcneer.
Aug. 90.


Agreeably to our promise, we proceed to
make few remarks on the general scope
on Mr. Smiths Address to the people of the
u. States.
This Address. though in its commence.
ment protesting to be an exposition of the
circumstances which produced the resipna
ton OF Mr.. Smith, its object only his vindi-
cation. has been subsequently described bv
MT Smith himself, in his second address
as containing IN its several articles char
'ges against Mr.. Madison" We pronose
to examine the ground of these charges. as
they effect our general policy, and 10 make
a few remarks on the evidence by which
they are attempted to be substantiated.
Mr. Madison is charged in the address.
thrst With want of energy and secondly
with subservience 10 France. These char.
ges have not the merit of novelty to recon-
mend them they embrace the old federal
ground OF attack against the Republican aid
mmistrations OF Messrs. Jefferson and Ma
Olson. These are the charges which the
federalists have sounded on the tocsin of
opposition against every measure of the
government from the era of The purchase
OF Louisiana to this day, including inca.
sure, which perhaps more than any other.
mas been considered political test We
aisude to the Embargo, which has been
denounced by the whole most of federal gri-
ters, with Mr.. Pickering at their head, as
the result OF a combination of those motives
which Mr.. Smith hasimputed to Mr.. Ma.
Olson. The attack in his book therefore
though s,udiously confined to Mr.. Madison
is aimed as we'll at Mr. Jefferson and the
Republican party and the refutation of
Mr. Smith'sgeneral charges resolves itself
into an enquiry into the correctness of the
general policy and measures ofthe Repub-
lIcan administrations. 1t is useless to at
tempt to make distinction between them !;
the policy and measures of both administra
tons are identified & avowed federaIists. at
least, have the candor to place them on
the same footing. We shall pursue the
course OF investigation to which Mr. Smith S
charges obviously lead, by enquiring nto =.
The CORRECTNESS of the general policy of the
Republican administrations 2. The expe-
fiiency ot the measures to which that policy
has given rise,
What, then. we ask has been the generel
policy OF the Republican administr atoms
Their policy has been
10 support all our rights equally against
both beliigerents;
10 endeavor to preserve peace by the
adoption OF restrictive measures instead of
OF hostIIitles in the first place;
10 make rational preparations for defence
in the event of war land
Above all, to avoid submission, TO either
beiligerent, by entering into war against the
one, whilst justice was refused by her ri
val.
The unanimity of the popular sentiment
which has accompanied this system of
measures almost precludes the necessity of
argument IN its support A few observa
tons however may not be amiss.
The United States in 1907 found their
rights at once assaiIed by two powerful
belligerents each equally the aggressor,
but each claiming a preference from us TO
the exclusion of her antagonist. on the mad.
missible pretence that her measures were
merely retaliatory. so long as our rights
were injured by both. it was not for the
United States to enquire which first com
menced the violation Of national law by
which our commerce was distressed, These
zggressions on our rights were sufficient
cause for war against either and had we
only one power TO contend with, that rem
edy would doubtless have betn resorted TO.
The spirit OF the people would not have
brooked any other course. But we were at
once assaulted by Great Britain and France.
Submission to .hese usurpations Of power by
he bellgereHts was universally secuted.
Resistance was determined on, with scarce
dissenting voice in the nation
The only question was as to the mode Of
resistancs. II as the Hotsrurs of the day
now affect 90 Tell us. war was the only no
noraole resort, Tor a redress OF grievance
we must at tnat time either have waged war
against two nations, themselves IN arms q.