The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-01

signs, the merits and dement's Of our parties
can be tried, our reasonings about them
must be equivoCal and inc6nclusive.
would exclude from the description of
the genuine republican character all vehe-
ment attachm nts and antipathies 70 Par
ties, merely as Parties, all STRONG PARTIAL.
ties & overweening confidence in the Lead
ers OF Party, all burning zeal, without know
ledge which Promises bnt All unstable exis-
tence, aud Unfortunately asperses every
thing to which it stands opposed.
The genuine republican character can a
lone subsist In certain moral habits of senti
ment and thinkiag, which produce the firm
adoption OF the following { analogous
maxims
sf,,st shs fre et,o,p .sra c-.s.s..-.s,,;e ses-
sistence of the People at large, is never to
De sacrificed in ttte, but always to be
preferred to the ambitious claims of the
powerful, the shining accomplishments, the
thcial distinction or the splendid opulence
Of the FeSo that the people ought 90 ex-
ercise as much poitica, power as can pos
s'biy Consist with the order aud security OF
society that the range of their power
ougat to be extended in proportion as Intel
iIgenCe, Sobriety and Industry prevail
mong them that it is one of the highest du-
ties OF Rulers, Teachers, and of the most
enlightened members Of the community, to
/
sruction to the people by all the means
they respectively possess that while the
benefits OF Instruction are necessarily pre-
sented to the people, il should be no less
earnestly impressed upon them, that in pro-
portion 20 the prevalence of Ignorance, Idle
ness and Disorder, so must corresponding
restrictions be laid on their power-so must
coercion and penalty in the hands OF their
Rulers be increased, or society be surren-
dercd up to anarchy and crime; that i'll a
certain stage of popular degeneraCy, there
is no remedy left for the disorders of
the State, but in the assumption of arbitra-
~ powerb by the Rulers, with all its sad train
OF aouses and expressions.
An ordinary degree OF unbiased discern
ment may easily perceive how ar the pres
ent state of the public spirit and passions
tall short of this description, and what pre-
sages obey afford of Our future moral s. po-
htical chalacte
For causes merely accidental, our factions
have not yet added to the catalogue OF tu
muits, assassinations and massacres, which
dcform the history of the Grecian, Roman.
and later italian republics :(a.) bat the spi-
rlJ which actuates them, seems no less uu-
Just, raICorous & impiacabie. The gross
ness, talsehood and malice OF the Language
in which it is often clothed, exhibit a per-
version OF the Liberty ut the Press, OF which
: 40 oil,er country affords a parallel. and e
lQaa(i, Condemn our morality and our taste
n psrNerSion as opposite To the salutary
| freedom of thought and utteraDce, as lS the
( License OF the most shameless prostitute, to
| Le ibc inter use be ween the sexes,
| which forms the chief ornament and Charm
| of polished society.
| The rapid degeneracy of party zeal. into
tho fouiness ana bitterness OF faction is too
appare.t to call for much illustration. 1t
| is OF much more Importance to trace the
origin and designs OF Faction, that we may
not verge to destruction hood winked, but
openly and fairly calculate the probabilities
OF restoring social and political harmony, or
of exhibiting to Princes, Mobiles and cir
Creatures, one example more, OF the inca
pacity Of man, TO be the Guardian and SAFE
keeper Of his own freedom and happiness.
The Republican party certainly embraces
a vast majority OF the pe opie of the UNION.
The simple ructure OF Society, the great
predominance of the agricultural class,
sound principles Of Liberty, der Sed IN part
from the mother country with 4 clear eX
empUon from her hereditary Royalty, her
privileged orders, and many other sources
Of injurious inequality IN society, rendered
the people of thi, country, as soon as they
thtew Il the British tominIon, essentially
Republican, Principles were Accordingly
adopted, ana nhDitS and INSTITUTIONS cStdD-
lisheO, III entire conformity with that charac.
ter.
Does then the Republican Party exclu-
siveiy and uniformly act upon these prnCi-
pies and these habit. 50 essential to free
dorn and happinesss To answer inthe aihr
NATIVE, wsuid argue weakness and AFRO
gauce. In that great mass there is sound
ness enough TO give the whole tOlerably
healthy complexion, but it its parts be ex.
amined with accuracy, we shall fad a
good deal 70 com end, something TO la
ment and something to loath.--We shall
find much OF information, but more of
ignorance, di@intsressed patriotism by the
side OF selfish pride, sacrificing principles
personal ami oSites, or Of an AFFECT and
ifiCc->eeklng spirit--we may here and
there f. d nt0lerant zeal, shocking che
principle, it sincerely loves, or dark in
trigue, sapping he foundation ofinstltutious
lIt plauds and hates.
II then, the condition of the Republican
Parry calls strongly for the utmost vigilance
temper, good sense and virtue, in order tn
urf ST he progress Of faint and decay, to
( ,ieserve the sound parts 10 heal the d,seas-
ed, and to remove the incura le, is it not
extreme weakness TO be heedessly hurried
along by the self confidence and vain glory
! ST triui9phant Party
The Federal Party from its origin, mum.
/ b"rs, and pr bable objec s, merits the ap
pei alton of faction. much more than is
-.