The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-10-09


FROM THE NATIONAL INTELIGENcrR,
Whilst the question Of war was i'm ag'at-
ON some months ago, and before it was de- 4
ciared, it divided tb. minds of men in tins
country at least as much as any Other, tbat
has been agtated during the Republican,
Administration of this government. Il was
a cue sticn CT which public opinion might
well be dividrt and on its decision per-
haps as many the Republican party dsap-
proved as oi the Federal party approved the
measure. 1t Is not our purpose now to ana
lvse the NERVES OF the dissentients from ei-
Their party on this great question. Some of
| the republican party very honestly prefer
red the restrictive sy stem. some we're doubt.
less actuated by medley Of M ivCs, and
some were unquestionably Influenced by
considerations which ought mt To have been
su!fere d To have weight at such IA thoe.--
On the ether hand few Of the federal par
ty as honestly preferred wal to co:;iimua-
tion OF the restrictive system; others seri-
| ously deprecated a ar under ANY state of
| things but far the greater part of these
wholead IN the party caiied Federal, AZ
well as that description Of politicians which
rallies under the opposition banner WHERE
YER found. laid on their oars until they had
| entertained in what way The Adn.inistr;tti-
| on steered the vessel of state. and then ru ~
ed directly contrary course.
| This state of things was So notorious do
ring the late Scssin IF Congress, that>it
was subject ct doubt tn the last momens
| whether certain prominent political cha.
racters IN & out ct Congress were tor peace
or tor the war and il is well eslibiah~
ed fact. that some members of Congress
who rame to Washington in November l.sx
furious as roaring lions for the fight. and dis
dainng DELAY, did. after six months inter-
val OF preparation and armament, put off
their savage natures, and cougrcgase witn
lambs of reacc. Such were some Of the
circumstances preceding the declaration Of
war. After that it was declared, after the
sense of a majority was clearly ascertanci
and decisively expressed, we did not indeed
| expect, we did not even wish, that opposi--
| ton should cease ; but we did expect 1t to
| assume chasteretl character such as be-
came freemen jealous of their country's no.
nor, jealous for her success, and ambitious
tor her glory. The resuli has shewn that
we were not mistaken in our anticip ltion of
what would be the conduct of men Of honor.
probity, OF personal character * intellectual
worth Such chowey CT is not The conduct IF
all such, we are sorry TO say, is not ,he
conduct or many of the public prints from
which we are in the habit Of collecting the
sentiments OF the federal party. To prove
this, were our readers disposed owade
through the disgusting detail, we night pro-
|
tatlon, which excited these reflections, sur
fee for an example--it is a fair sp .cinen Of
the language Of thesr prin.s-.' Uthrehar-
. cd in emery Ingredient Of svar, n'kess, in
" deed, 7ve make an e.;-ceEtion in .fapor Of
THE LOWEST, THE MOor BASE
4" AND VINDICTIVE PASSIONS, hostil-
" ities have scarcely commenced, before dis-
sc aster, defeat and disgrace have oyertakea
u.s.. Yes, reader, YOUR eyes do not de.
| 10 vn,l Fhal lou ri, hoe
vindictve passions are declared to be the
only ingredients of war i'll which this nation
was prepared. What shall we say, what
shall we think, of iii Sc who thus ilou at
the most noble and generous feelings ,f
which our nature is susceptible What are
the feelings or passions" md r which a
free people go forth to war un Ter which
the Repr natives of this P pc have de.
ciared war! They are,s, love the ccun-
try which nurtures them. regard or is
rights and honor, and courage t. deteno the
one and maintain the olher Il csc feelings
1t is that prompt resistance to fer ign in
suit and oppression-these are the noble
principles which were the germ of the re-
violation of which this nation was the off
spring-thcse are the principles which
breathe in every line OF the Declaration of
fndependence-and which a politician Of
the present day holds up as the most base
and vindctive passions One would think
writer applying this expression was spea-
king of gang of murderers, at least Of
| desperate wretches, the outcasts of society
never, sure, was greater insult offered to
a nation, or, what is the same thing. 10 the
majority Oh the people composing d nation.
than this. 1t is language which could not
have been used but by those disposed to-
submit to every indignity rather than resist
| by iorce-to purchase an ignoble peace BIZ
the sacrifice ct the honor and independence.
but more particularly of the maritime rights
OF the nation. 1t is such writer's as these
| and their coadiutors. who, by ritlic uling eve
ry thing like honor and patriotism, whilst
they profess to belong to part cular party
bring that party into disrepute, and nevita-H
bly, cunsgn it to insignihcance. \
There are, we know, among the Fe-
deral party, and among the pa tywhich for
want of more appropriate appelation we
will call .Non-descriftS, many Ten of high
mindsSIhUnordJe feelings who could in he
service of their country q in defence of its
! rights as freely as any lavish their blood &
! treasrre-but there are too many among
tie same party, and Of course among their
Journalists, who, destitute of senst lily tn
their cDuntfy's honor, or, what is worse. af-
fecting al apathy they do not feel, in = ola
in the diSs"ace their conduct justly ent Ills,
those who tho they ratronise their prints.
despise their s!avish doctrines. The Ian
guage OF some, not all, Of these edit, rs is
even grOsser. and more unmtnly than their
doctrines. They rake the kennels for vul-
garity and filth with which not unlike