The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-07-10
OR.q4YoN. Al;rered By J. w.n,r,s


OR.2ITO.N, 9ci;vered By J. w. RATES.
fEtLo w-CITlzEEs .-The ordinary purposes of
iestvity alone, have not called together But
there rs, hope, blended with induce ments to
this meeting, something which is intimately asso,iat-
ell with the heart-whioh partakes largely OF the
soui-sometng which is nearly allied to that &c ho-
~ enthusiasm which SHOULD characterize re-
p9b'icans We are not this day convened at the nod
OF tyrantwe appear NOT rs the titled slaves or ia
the gorgeous livery of despot. Since that glorious
contest which made among the nations of The.
EARTH the revolution OF this day has found us
ths situated. Tl,at crisis which has so long been
looked forward TO, with anxious solicitudc ,v all with
ardent hope by many, is now east upon US. The Re-
representatives. of the people have at length spoken
the voice OF the people. The time has come, when
n nation's vengeance must wipe away a nations
wrongs Too long have the thunders of the Reuul-
tic siept-too long have superadded indignites and
outrages continued, i'll rapid suceession to swell the
'ohs catalogue of our grievances The character of
our hation has been grossly misunderstood; protract.
ed negotiation was mistaken for indecsion and for
oearance under injury misinterprcted pusillanimity
war IN the abstract deprecate-war for the CHI
'airic ana mad purposes OF ambition, or the sordid
purposes oil ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is opposed equally to
the habits OF the people and the genius of the
tution; but war under existing circumstances with
all ITS pr1vaons, it may be with all its horrors Wa,
arc reauy 10 encounter. Not AMPLY are we prepar-
Ell TO submit to 1t without murmuring, but we wei
come 1t with rapturous exultation We view il as a
restorative OF the wounded honor of the nation Ii
was ever (says his hisorian the maxim Of the cele
DRAFTED John de Witt, that " no independent govern
sheht should yield to another any evident point of
reason or equity; and that all such cnrccssions so
ar from preventing war; served to no other purpose
than to provoke fresh claims and insults' IF this
POSITION were not sef-eyidenr, would not expert
ence attest it's correctness? The contest into which
we are about to enter, is one of our own choosna
1t Is one which we could not avert, but by yirt,i
III surrender OF sovereignty and return to state
eierinS only IN name from that colonial vassalaee
yyncf In al. n
yoiution to deliver us. Continue TO submit and ri
What avail are charters they would be as yalne
less as the envelopes which contain them. Then
would 1t be sound policy to every landmark
but Americans yet think nothing so iutolerable n,
" voluntary slavery" Those ennoblhis priuciple,
which guided the men of 20 in council and inspired
them III the field, still beat high and strong in the
breasts OF my countrymen.
Inc recollection OF our wrongs will nerve every
srm-war has tor us no terrors 1t is against Bri-
tam we arm--that perhdious nation, whom no trea-
ties bind and no compacts restrain---whose touch is
poliuton--whose embrace is death--who has carried
woe and misery to the remote corners of the earth
--Whose policy Is seen less in the situation of the
subJugated lrshman, than in that of the degraded
and enslaved Hindoo. Borne down by an enormou,
public debt-bearing from every section of her EN-
pre, the voice OF her disconnected and impovershed
subjects, world seem she has a presestiment nj
her impending DOWNFALL and is DESTROYS to involve in
one promscnous ruin with herself all the nations nj
the earth. Yes it is Britain our impIacab,e deadly
and eternal foe we oppose: Injuries, abuses insults
weighty, underwriting countless, impel us To thu.
contest. The commencement of her injustice is CO.
eval with oar political existence---It was calling IN
her pride it trenched on the dignity of her em1ire
TO acknowledge as an independent state rebel pro.
vince. With feelings most transcendantly malien.
dia she cast an angry glance every propitiors
wind waited welltreishted vessels over the ocean
Our commerce has long been, on the most Himsv
prete1s the subject Of her spoliations--New and he
fore-unheardof interpretations have been introduced
INTO the code OF nations equally conflicting with COM
mon sense and the usages and understanding of the
eSnized world. 10 us, neutral, she denied the
right OF carrying to her enemy, those very article,
winch she by her licensed vessels furnished her
Not only has our property to an incacuable amount,
ct the suggestions OF long-cherished hatred or to
rePiens an exhausted exchequer, yielded to her ra-
Pacious and lawless grasp; but the sacred name of
American CITIZEN has proved no safeguard to our
eountrymen-thousands of them groan out their mi.
eerabie existence IN the most ntoerable captivity
compelled to light the battles of tyrant whom thew
detest, compelled, perhaps, to fight against those tn
whom nature has allied them by the nearest and
dearest ties of conoanguinity. The toanahapk a.
gam has cleaned on our frontier. Can ncredulity
doubt the motive OF Indian hostility Who is so
blind as not to see in this thing the hand of Bri
tam = In ordinary times, this doubtless would have
sailed forth all the indignation and all the energies
"i the country; but connected with numerous and
aggravated outrages and daring violations of right il
appears to have lost much of its intrinsic importance
But what language can depict the demopac perfi,ly
OF that government which at tho moment of pendjnp
negotiation, when she making fervent protesta,
tons of pacific views could depute secret ornisss
~ to SOW dssenons amongst US, plot the dismem
Oerment OF this unon--.to rear the standard of 20
beon, and through all the horrors OF civil war to
effect the subversion OF this goyernment---the only
rightfui government the globe--.tie only govern
ment which owes its existence TO the people and is
amenable to the people for its acts Yet this was
the nalious but phrensisd artiiee OF our willy foe
To us, let it be of graduation that the viz
tue and patriotism of our citizens would spurn at her
fagitious proffers.
These are few only of the wrongs inflicted Oh us
--hese the that leave us no alternative be-
tween disonor and the last resort of injured nations
decided majority Of the people has long been in
umately persuaded Of the Indispensable necessity OF
this resort and the tardy determination of their ru
lers has at length responded to their wishes We go
not to battle asin the Of the revolution unaceon-
tired and without funds We go not trammeIled and
iettered by the enervatng influence Of provincial de-