The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-09
j. GOVERNOR STRONG

The legislature of Massachusetts assem-
bled on "Wednesday last in Boston and the
fiouS Governor of that state sent them a
message, in which he congratulates them
on the success of federalism at the last cleo
tons, and advcrts tn the affairs of Europe
and this country in the following remarks :
&" Although we have no agency i'm con
Quoting our national affairs, we must view
with anxious concern the important chan
ges which are taking place among the pow.
ers OF Europe. One OF its sovereigns, un
der the pretence OF giving freedom to the
seas, IS Carrying war and desolation into
regions remote from each other, and seems
determined, by fraud and violence, to sub
Jugate or destroy every civiliz,d nat -
Thus tyranny has in all ages assumed the
fictitious garb of liberty. In the calamlties
& dangers OF Europe we are now unhappily
involved; but as the principal alledged cause
OF hostility against England has been re-
moved by the repeal of the British Orders
III Council, and desire has been evinced
to keep the way open TO reconciliation, we
can hardly suppose that the war will
be continued, to frotect in our merchant
vessels the seamen Of Great Britain against
the claims cfthat government /; or to con-
quer the adjoining territories, the acquisi-
sition OF which must be expensive and of
very doubtful advantage land still less to
aid the triumphs and support the usurpa-
lions OF the unrelenting oppressor of man
kind
If his excelency knew that he had no
agency IN conducting our national concerns,
he seems not to have been sensible of the
:act when he took upon himself to disobey
the constitutional requisition of the Presi-
dent on the militia of Massachusetts. From
his conduct in relation to that subject, he
have ed IN ,nnc oil -, La,
per tribunal by which the federal consttu-
ton could be interpreted AS far as he
had the presumption to usurp the powers
of the general government, he did usurp
them and in doing so, he assumed to con-
troll the national affairs In the first SEN
tence of the preceding paragraph of his
speech, therefore, he has condemned his own
conduct.
We believe that the French ruler has ne
yer Concealed his tyranny under the " &c
ttious sarb of liberty" His despotism ap
pears in the most undisg used fern. Ii
however, Governor Strong and the other
demagogues of his party would advocate &
defend the rights and interests Of their own
country against the tyrant of the seas.
they would have ample employment
Let them not aid rho triumphs and rsur-
pations of the unrelenting oppressor of Ame-
rican citizens and American commerce. : let
them defend these, before they thrust them
selves before the world as the champions
of mankind against the despotism of Bona
parte. We shall doubt their devotion to the
liberties of the rest of the civilized world,
until they manifest some regard, some SEN
sibility, to the liberties ofAmerican seamen,
If they are incapable of feeling for their
own Countrymen, they are equally incapa
bic of setting any Ealue on the rights of
other nation. Their sympathies are limi
ted to the " bulwark of our religion %
Governor Strong has falsely and wilfully
insinuated that our government continue the
war TO protect British subjects. He knows
the insinuation to be destitute of the slight
est foundation. But it is only by the most
cespicable deep ion, that he supposes he
can sustain the popularity of the Essex
Junto faction in New England.
Bal. american