Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-10
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
THE FEDERAL PARTY.
RI Z ~ N o ND:
MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 1919.

THE FEDERAL PARTY.
It is most truly surpr.zing that the fcde-
ralists, as political party should SO far
adhere 10 the minor leaders among them, as
to decline the lofty ground which they might
occupy, to place themselves in situation
which must, sooner or later, totally degrade
them. r
The men who now attempt to direct
thai, Course, are obviously neg men,
Such are Messrs. Quincy, Cold, Lewis, and
others, who have no great reputation for
intelligence or prudence; aud are all midi
vitluais, who are rather seeking name
than suchas havealready acquired a stand
ing. Messrs. Lloyd, Bayard and Goodrich
King, Wolcott and Pnckney, are, in gene
raj sentiment, favorable to the war; You
cannot find their names Among the protest
ing minority, nor among disorganizinS conf
venhoaaliSts Mr.Pickeriag, who, from his
passions, always was, and always will be, a
boy, is no exception 10 the remark. He has
never been regarded as pillar of the iede-
raj party; and has only been upheld, as
men like Wagner and Hanson are, for the
infamnatory qualities OF his mind.
BY the documents which the President
has laid before Congress, and particularly
those recently published relative To mhrcs8-
rIenf, it is manifest, that it has been in the
power of the federal party to place them
selves before the public as the champions OF
American rights. And, really, it is extraor-
binary that they should, wantonly abandon
the ground which Washington, Wolcott,
McHenry and Stoddert took in cd6inef, and
run into the other extreme, openly advocat-
ing British interests! There is one way, and
only one, of accounting for this curious and
impolitic desertioR Of old principles. Quin-
cy, Gold, Lewis, and politicians Of that grade,
not being III tie secret, as King, PiuCkney,
Marshal and others of their standing were,
the former have rushed, ignorantty. in the
| face of the doctrines of the iatter,-there-
| by exempliiying. a conflict between the OPT
Mons ofthe more respectable portion OF the
| federal party, and the opinions of the less
respectable part of it. Pickering, as alrea-
| dy remarked, forms no exception (; for, al
though he was ul the Secret, he is made of
| materials too combustible to take the bene-
fit of his knowledge.
MeSsrs Quincy, &c. then, being in the
ho66Le, in of1iosi!ion to men G. their own
party, of superior standing, have no other
chance of being saved from political perdi-
ton, but that OF making the moderate men
of their own sect Commit the same blunder.
To this end, therefore, they are working
them up 60 feVer heat, so that they may noe
be able, calmly, to judge. Moderate fede-
ralistsl there is still time to retreat. Adam
don Quincy, Gold, and Lewis, and adhere
to Washington, Adams, Pincl.ney, Jay, King,
Wolcott--Nay, only adhere to Pickering
when Secretary Of STATE, against Pickering
the deniagogHe !
Ifyou do not, where will you be, if adj
ministration succeeds Gas it assuredly Willy in
/,
the British You think, perhaps, our re-
publican rulers will not be able to effect ac-
comnodation on independent terms! So
did the tories last war! Aud what was
| thought of the tories at the peacce Be adj
vised-takc stand on the side of our coun-
| try; and do not by a contrary conduct merit
| the CONTEMPT of the enemy and adherence
OF your fellow-Citizens. What do the Brit
! ish naval officers praise capt Hail for p
! Was it for his cxcrtions in sayiag the Com
| stitafioH, or for abandoning herr What
| was capt. Cranes sword restored for? Was
| it because he tamely surrendered the rights
of mis- country, or because, with the little
for. 2 he had, he made use of his utmost ef-
forts IN behalf ofhis country Do not these
examples shew, that the British, however
they may. CO. zen the federalistsin their news
papers aud IN their speeches, detest in their
hearts the wretcn VINO does notstand OUT FOR
his nation9 Depend uponit, whateverRaDles
we may call one aaCther by, the Britons con-
slider US all as Yankees.
4 correspondent congratulates the repub-
| Leans of the Union, that Mr.. Eppes again
steps forth the active friend Of his country.
1t corresponds with the tenor OF his political
career to be active when the nation is en-
ployed in defending it's rights We shall
want, in a little time, the bold energy of
Eppes, in the Representative Hall, and bis
experience and sagacity in the committee
rooms OF Congress There are other men,
no doubt useful by their talents, by their in
dustry, and their penetration. But Eppes
has mass Qfcharacter, a 8tabilty Qfreilu
tafion, Uigor and decision fshb1f, cacula-
ted co confirm the wavering To- inspire no
bic minds with noble thoughts, and to abasl
the audacity Of flagicious demagogues. Mr.
Eppes has fairly put the question between
himself and John Randolph.
Are YOU fer the rights Of your country
. Then you are for Eppes.
AreyOu qgaiHSf the rights Of YOUR country