The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-05-27
EAQUIRER-oFFIcE, May 81.

EMpUIRER-o OFFICE, May 81.
To the Editors Of the Federal Republican,
Printed in George 7ozcn.
GETTLEMEE,
1t is au old and trite remark that ev-
cry good has its concomitant evil Hence,
it is inferred that We must submit to the IL
centousness, in order to enjoy the liberty of
the press. There is, perhaps, more OF so
phistry than oflosic in this conclusion. But
1T is not my intention to discuss that point at
present. am rather inclined to lay down
broader principle, and to Srrmi8e that
the freedom of the press, like many other
fancied good things, is but a name. 1t ex-
lists, indeed, in legal sense both here aud
in G. b. (ous no where else,) SO far as an
an c.remhfien from aH legal restraints may
be considered as constituting its existence.
But in philosophic and moral eense it ne.
yer did, and probably never VII exist in
any country. Magis optandun st'quam
ur9uam evenire potesl." Like population,
il meets with a check every where. In
countries that are not free, It is checked BY
power. In countries that are free, by popu-.
| larity and the bias of party spirit. By these
| latter causes it was checked in the city of
Baltimore last summer where your press
was overturned.
At that outrage, thousands became hon
estly indignant, and. acting under the i'm
| pulse of the moment rather than under the
| guidance of sober reflection and know
ledge of mankind subscribed TO your paper,
! instaDter, without any regard to your me-
rits. was one of the number. The feel
/ ings, however, by which we were then ac
tuated, though far from having subsidized !,
are very much moderated and we are be .
ginning how to estimate your worth accord
ing to the rules of political justice. Amongst
! these rules--the rule OF "detur digncri."
sanctioned by tbs laws Of God himself, is
beyond all condensation, the first that ought
to be observed by a virtuous and republican
people. VIII this rule operate in your IA
vor Can you conscientiously Believe that,
according to this rule, you are entitled TO
any further patronage from the public, OK
cept from violent and furious partizans like
yourselves When calumny and distrac-
] tion, and malice, and hatred, and all un-
charitableness blacken, with tlingy coom,
almost every column that issues from yecr
press, can you consider yourselves as enti-
| tied to rank among the IS digRiores' of your
| fraternity? |Ft" hp rt IN
Personal abuse has To connection with
patriotism :, But 1t is the proof Of a depra
we'd heart when it flows deliberately from
the pen and where the heart is depraved,
| there Can no virtue eitherpublic or private;
for every thing good or bad emanates from
the heart. In ethics and in politics as well
| as in law, the A." quo Amino Constitutes the
virtue or vice of all our actions. OF these
things you are not ignorant, for, when you
yourselves are the subjects of abuse, you
know full well how 10 moralize OH the mis-
chiefs OF Calumny, and how to retort on
| your Calumniators. Bot when you " are
shedding your scandal" when you are
celebrating and emitting your venom"
| you seem to forget all the dictates Of desc
| rum, all the precepts Of morality, all the
mandates 1T our religion, and that chiefly
which enjoins us, "not to do unto others
that which VIC wcEld not they should dc IN
to u.s."
An instance of the first assertion is af.
forded in your paper of the 18th, where
| you hsve inveighed against the Edi.
tor OF the Argus FOR his ca!umnies* An
instance of the last assertion will be found
| III your preceding paper, where you have
revived, against Mr.. Tench CoHe, of Phi
ladelphia, a charge notoriously known TO
| be unf0unded, and for the cruel purpose, as
it would seem, Of iujur;ug him & his numer-
Gus. innocent, and unoGepdiDg family,
| whom, at his advanced age, he is laboring
to maintain by an occupation rs honest as
your owH, and, in = patriotic point of view,
much more laudable-More laudablc, be-
NtihnN i4to hHtst - ~ port htt Jaws tlhQ
constitutions OF out Country, whilst yours is
avowcdly, 10 support party, aud that to,
at the expense of truth and dtceEcy.
IT is impossible, gentlemen, tnat you can
have any personal acquaintance with Mir.
The structures Of the r. Il. upon II. p. are as
wicked rs they are weak. Is there an honest man
in this city whose cheek does not Fash with niiigns.
ton at such gross attacks Is there party that
VIII not bear witness to TIE infamy or magnity Of
the slander The i6'n WIN not knowing the char
acter 81 snolIsr will thus depict it, is 10 I've rank.
ed amongst tie yiest of caumnistprs.-- The man
wins knows the character OF Mr. pieasants and ,st
asrepressn,5 hin thus, Il liar who deserves "a be
I" lashei baked through the woil1"--Thc FIR. Is
welcome g wlich eger side Of the demr1s is most
pleasing If these expressions secm hsrsi thev
are IT i:ast provoked. Tiaste Nigh. choose others
less pointed but I}ah remipds us that % Fl
you call Rose b. any other name, il - oud s1lrli
as sweet"
ID We were a'Led what wonld wish 10 iring =
pqrty ioto e0ut~tn'd, 40 shonid ssy " lot Wagner
.o,''e Tor pr.snd Pe~esius speak 20 Il the iiooi
Of Co.stess" Edifct