The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-04-23

rousiy. IL was TO resist the PRINCIPLE. or CT
you prefer the eXpressoal the abstract
right claimed By G.. Britain of taxation with
out representation--that revolutioned these
colonies. and those who opposed that rzgh-
feous rcar, used the same arguments and
nearly the same words that you have used
IN your circular in opposition TO the present
war.-lbey calculated e1pences. as you
have done--they lameuted the. sffusion OF
blood in the same docful strains that YOU
nave susg to your c0nstitucnts--tl:ey pre-
dicted defeat & disaster, as you have done,
and their predictions were realized rs vours
have been-they propbesied disgraceful
issue, as you have done and their prophe-
cies were false, as yours will prove. Here
the parallel between you must cease, and
the contrast coInmence--They had an oath
of allegiance which bound their consciences
to the opposition yuI have none. at least
none openly-they preferred loyalty to re
beiiion, you prefer submission 20 resistance !;
they were more attached to their tn en- con-
stitution-they would not contend for the
acquisition OF new rights, you will net main
tain those already in possession they were
mathematical as tories, you are tolerated
asa feJieralist.
A1iitions for defence, NOT a eent for tribute,
was acknowledged by Americans as first
principle in their political code, and every
TNhb 10 ISpGdI ~ Will dDDGOOa-
ton. 1t was the honest eEusion Of intlig-
nant patriotism, and the proud defiance of
an independent nation. How does the pu-
siilanimous doctrine with which YOU have
dared to insult your constituents, comport
with this? The evils of war you say are
greater than those we suffered prior TO its
declaration. Why did you not illustrate
your position by an historic example and
tellyour constituents, that Athens submitted
to have her citizens devoured by the Mno-
taur rather than to declare war; Shame
less as you are, this was too daring. You
thought, proper to administer the poison i'm
. way that w51id disguise without diminish
ing the effect of it's venom. The proper
way TO test an argument is to mark how far
and TO what it will eventually lead that up-
on which your circular is bottomed is sim
ply this--that q nation should never declare
war until the evils which she suffers are
more calamitous and destructive than an
actual state OF warfare. Suppose, sir, that
@. Britain should demand S50OOO6 and
1000 men from the u, States TO carry on
her wars in Spain, and were to threaten
non compliance with ar immediate invasI
on Now we know that war with Great
Britain would cost this government more
than 100000 and 1000 men, YOU would
then justify a compliance with her reauis-
s'uho- liiS S%ilpcho VI SIi)sllStEN LnSFG is
not SO foul an argument. In the fraternity
Of quibblers there is not so impus,en, a rea-
soner,
Did You imagine. sir, thatany deduction
from premises absurd, would have weight
with your constituents? Did you suppose
that you could gull them by SO paIpable a |
Pigment The intelligent citizens of this
district viii discover you. sir. They are not
Gas you supposed cropping IN night OF igno-
rance so profou nd, but that they can detect
the thief that walks among them in so thin
a disguise. What are we tn surrender
orr rights because it requires an esertion
to maintain them, Let it be remembered
that che eIertion is ruNmentary, but that
the rights tor which we contend are fixed
and permanent. five desert them. we leave
to posterity the mere ghost of liberty, un-
He wins advises such relin
is a coward or he is worse he is
a coward who is afraid to protect his own
rights or he is 2 traitor who has sold them.
You have your choise of the two, sir. have
dwelt longer on thIs point than intended
u suppose by this time you have become
sick of il / was sick oft from the begin
ming, but as il is the hinge upon which your
whole srgnment hargs-wken it is broken
your argument has fallen.
You have attempted to alarm your con-
stituents by q long catalogue of take. with
which Considering them ao you always do
as asses) you say they are sadded. You
have eAoeavored to alarm them by a pom
pous parade of arithmetical calculation. nv
insulating that the honest gains will be
wrung from the hands of poverty and
that misery and famine will peTqade every
hut and Cottage. Tbis, sir, is either the
madness of disturbed imapi-
nation or means for comprising the dark
designs Of a wicked politician. Is it not
kn6@n, sir, that the burthen Of taxation re-
poses always upon the rich and luxurious
while it touches lightly upon the poor and
frusai3 The fact is, that tliere is this great
and obvious good attending occasional taxes
in this country-by that means money is
drawn from the hands of the rich in which
it's accumulated, and extracted from the
Golfers of msers in which it is buried. to be
among the mass of the people
1t Is paid by the United States TO the solid
ery-yuur fellow Citizens--and by them II
is scattered .tbro' the whole Country: thus
the food gates which damned its circulation
in the hands of The wealthy, are drawn and
4 fertiiizing stream is poured upon the i'm
povefshcd ranks OF society. Besides. sir. #
this ;7ere not the case, the people Of this
country when they called for waf.-knew
tNai IL would require rsoney TO SUPPORT !,
ard we're prepared TO Contribute WILLINGLY.
Nov, sir, permit me to ask you how vGu
can dare 30 solicit The patronage of "A pe6ple
when yoa have attempted 10 impose tlnon
and 10 friShtenS How wfl you represent
trcCmen, when your sentiments are as SER.
vile as | have demonstrated tbern to he