The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-10-30

Il
am, very respectfully, Gentlemen,
Your o5edient servant,
ALBERT GALLATIN.
Messrs.- others.
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
1t we loIk back to the annals Of antioui-
ty, we shall see that wherevever in any gov
ernmcnt human happiness has been the OBJ
lject, and civil rights even tolerably defend
I'd and secured, fervent love Of country
was the dominant feeling. To live for the
Glory and prosperity ofhis country, or to sa-
crifice himself for his welfare, made the no.
lic,t emulation of tile Grecian OF Roman
Patriot-the man who could foster forei!s
Partially was regarded as unworthy the
lowest Offices of humanity. Even when vice
& excessive Luxury had greatly deteriorat.
ed the general Morality, q Sylla, a Marius.
Or Cesar could never have arrived at do
minion with the badge of foreign treason up
on them those very swords which by the
address OF favorite leaders were taught to
wreak In vengeance OF intestine feuds in the
purest blood of the republic, at the approach
OF foreign fee, would have lifted i'm firm &
terrible union, or precipitated in fearful
chastisement on the monster who could sur
render the ashes of their fathers, and the
monuments of their heroic virtues to the dis
graceful rule of an enemy. For modern
Federalism, has been reserved. tile, hirh.
the honorable Office Of dissolving the ties
which bind the citizen to his country, of de.
claring in the 18th century to the. beople. of
thisthappy republic, that it. is both justiiiable
q necessary tohecomee the partizans of a po
wer in open and declared hostility against
| their native country. Such is it's doctrine
as avowed;in declarations from the press that
any thing is preferable to. the present state
OF thlurS'--Dr lar \
rather than permit the present men to re-
| main in power and ousreives consequently
out OF power, we had better by a desperate
CONFUSION rend the constitution and liberties
OF the people to atoms at the feet of a stupid
Desotted despot. Such again, is its doctrine
as proclaimed in the Address of the minors;
ty IN congress; a labored, tedious and uncan
did attempt to jaundiCe the feelings and
mislead the judgements of the people
by weak unqualified advocation oftrea ch
ely, violence. & oppression in their wors,
ent mes & "a Malignant, unmanly, indscrim-
mating condemnation of all the acts of the a
gents selected bv a majority of the people 8,
OF course OF majority OF the people them
selves. Such is its doctrine in the last in
stance which l here think proper to emu
merate, as exemplihed in the Conduct of Ger
tam federal Governors, wholly refusing O.
| 'edience to the laws, and TO Cooperate with
the general government in it's measures for
| national defence or for attack on the enemy
are guilty of the double crime of aiding that
enemy and OF placing their infamous servili-
~ ioa foreign power in open opposition to
the deliberate and solemn resolutions of a
majority of this nation.
Let Us test the effect of these political
principles. Let US take two nations at actual
war say the people Of Mogulstan and Thi-
oet. 10 take up arms, to engage *veXillis
explicatis in behalf of an enemy. is an
offence in Ihibet, to which its laws have
annexed the penalty of death a disappoin-
ted faction whom the enemy have gain
cd over by bribes or any other means are
afraid therefore to take up arms !; but they
tDdnk u a safer Course to withhold all aid
from their own government and to let the en-.
| envy eEFP<,citiy understand their determine
ton to promote any fraud or deceit, howev-
er base, to provide him with those things
which he is mostin want of, which with grea
test ef1cct will advance his designs on
their own country ; and if he will march an
| army mtoit, lie shall find all resistance which
they could have opposed entirely rem owed
Where is the difference between conduct like
this, and declared, open secession to the
| toe-is not the effect the same whether in
their homes and foz5n meetings the people
join the invader, or whether when the hos
tile armies are opposed in the field, it is done
even vexillis expicatis.
What can you think, my countrymen. of
politicians shamelessIy protesting principles
like those /? What opinions can they enter.
tain OF your hearts and your heads, wher
such are the professions by which they hope
to gain you
But. say the Federaii5ts, they wish
Peace, Commerce, and No Foreign Ali.
apce." Impudent &c contemplate iugele
Is your good sense to be gulled bv a iargon
OF words, because placed at the head Of a
few federal namese Who is it that desire.
not feccc-who wishes not to see the pros
| perity of .commerce--w who sees not and is mo-
anxious to avoid the mischiefs ofIoreig,
eounecit9ns 1t Cannot be necessary in or.
der to correct solution of the above enqui.
| iies, &c recabtulate the tedious protracteC
| negotiations Of the last 10 or 10 years, the
injustice, the evasions, & the insoleDce OF
! Britain throughout that period--you will re.
| collect them, and hope, nay doubt not
with the manly blush of shame you recall
them. seeing at the same time the justifca
ton OF your excellent government in its high
appreciation of your happiness, and in tina,
sacred and the only incentive to the attitude
it has at last assumed. You will not forge
too, the coarse and vulgar re,iings of Fe.
dera'ISts, who declared to Our enemy, thai
his outrages would excite no resentment
that we never could be F" Kicked into war; =
that war which they froGi some hope OF ad.
vantage, now arraign az the offspring o.
rashness and precipitancy. BY federal
logic only, and to none but federal mi.,a
Can 1t be shewn, how the determination OF