The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-23

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important objects, and with firm determi-
nation, IN the pursait,to be guided by candor
justice, and unbiased deliberations.
L O divest our minds OF pats principles *
! ceilings, ever productive of pu1iic and pr
fate calamity To trace the streams OF col-
tention to their morbid fountain, and to ibe-
rate from them our happy chime, are inqis-
! pensabe duties And shall we Tot, by Il
! faithful discharge of them, render abortive
the iiluslve attempts of foreign influence in
domestic guise, TO excite TO phrenZy oui
brave rchubRcaa ah,dfsderai brethren, who,
in the revolutionary war, were united by
sincere friendship, and who never have had
reason for dissoiving ito urge them 20
sheath their swords m the generous 6osoms
OF each other-and TO render them, alter
| nateiy. their own criminal eXecurioners /;
ieSt, when called on by their country, they
! again may act i'll unison, avenge her cause,
and repei her haushty and unjust foes'
What are che causes OF our public dissen-
| tons Let us ascertain them. and apply a
remedy. 1t may require full view OF the
subject, but Will render them the most essen
tai service to our country
When,as colcnists. our charter rights were
III inged, and political connection with G..
81 was no longer compatible with the public
safety, we united in common cause, and de-
termined to die or to De free. We DREW the
word, and THREW AWAY the scabbard.-
L le conflict was with q SOVEREIGN, vino
had injured us, TOO much 10 FoRCITE u.s.
Inc GOD of Jnstice commanded our armies,
nd crowned them with victory.
Congress, placed by DIVINE PRovI-
DENcE on untrodden ground, attempted, at
N early period, a national constitution This
vas IN the form of the confederation. 1t was
| = feeble chain too feeble to preserve the u
Mon.
At the time wien that project was formed,
the patriotic officers OF cur army ,unrlvalled in
merit, but Hire uired for their services, eX-
tended rneir views to hereditary hOnors.-
- proposition to this effect, was presented to
the Commander in Chief. He had recently
received the plan of the Confederation !;
which to them was then unknown, & which
preCluded that measure. Justice demanded
a generous reward for the officers, & Con
bress decreed it. This was unavoidably dis
charged by unfunded paper. 1t deprecated
u an extreme, aud did not remunerate the
omcers lney again scared TO rewards OF
honor, established the order OF the CinCin-
II u, and ii was farming 20 the states. 10
iuiet these, alterations were proposed, but
alled Of adoption. The States viewed the
system, as bed, thick strewed with the
srets of MONARCHY. Ibis was an e-rOfic not
{ ngenial w th our Climate Incompatible with
the views OF Gen. Washington, & with those
OF great majority of his officers. But the
ASSOCIATION Commenced, and with it unfortu-
natcly, but Internationally on their part a
SPIRIT OF PARTY 5aCh was the conse :
guencc OF an u .juhded paper medium, ever
lprolihc OF bad effects and such the result
of TN ewarded merit. But it viii ever re-
dOund to the honor OF the CINCINNATI that its
measures have been confined to acts of 6ene-
Uolcnce & charity.
the Confederation, in its origin doubtful
experiment, soon evinCed the necessity of J.
mendments, OF of another fOrm of govern
ment. a Federal Convection was called \
preferred the latter. The existing Con
,titution was reIerred to the states foIs rati-
hcation, and obtained it but produced great
eXcitements, and propositions from majo
rity OF the States for amendments. Man
af these, when Uotiihed were sanctioned Dy
Congress, and united the People. That Con-
vcntion had officiated as a HQilonai commit
TEE, and had reported TO the STAGES, The for a.
of the Constitution. This, Ike other legis-
lative reports, was discussed, and ike them
when adopted, ought forever to have precIu-
ded ANIMADVERSIONS. But in derogaton OF
the rights and wisdom of the advocates o.
amendment, the happy mean of restoring u
mon, they have been necessarily assailed
with reproaches, TO PERPETUATE hheRame
lfPARTY.
ther epoch, and fertile of events une lualied
III preceding annals, could not fail deeply tc
involve our national, state and individual in
terests In the destiny of France, was in
Guided that of Europe ; and our citizens, ac-
cording to their hopes and fears, were a.
gain arranged in pciitcal battalia, & were
copiously supplied with int]a nmablcs,t to nou-
rish and increase the spirit of party.
In the pursuit OF this subjec,, II IS an un-
fpic4sant, but a necessary task, TO revert Ia
the period, which proceeded the revolutions
ny war and in which existed "A small, DUt
an active uHti-reVotItioAary party. Wncn
( hostilties commenced, a portion of it ad-
hered to ther king, and Quilted the ON
! try and the residue remained 4 5ngst G5.
| OF the latter, Z htrt CoDiGctCd nant,t!ly,
/ declared their opinions against revolItiOniry
measures, whilst pending and supported
! them when a-ioyted. such men nertcd APP
/ plause. Som, less active, were stil moi
| fcnSivc In politics aud were rre1tei WITH
i.ihera IT, and Kindness. But Dthers, md
many 0s their descendants have been and
cOdtinAe to be, the secret enemies Cf the go
vernneut which protects them. Ot the Re
/ fugecs, Il fr7D nave been commissioned by
their king, AL admitted by our Sati mai
Executive, in a-pu5iic capacity. Same have
returned, discharged their a.legianCt to our
governments, and been received with friend
ship. Whilst others, in ttc trac sti's IF bold
intrUHcrS, nave increased, il possible, their
cnmity towards us. Are not these lislf
fected refugees, residents, and their de-