The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-08
POLITICAL.
FOR THE. ENQUIRER.
No. L.


having at length subsidized into state of calm
satisfaction. the mind is left in condition to
contemplate with sobriety the actual situation
OF things, and to solve the question: whether
we have gained or lost by the war; II the
history otPast events can at any time prove
beneficial to mankind, that desirable conse-
quence is only to be obtained, by retracing
the steps by which Nations have advanced to
r,'n or greatness, and by learning from dear
bought experience to avoid the one and to
initiate the other.To an American, this sort of
speculation must be peculiarly interesting. The
annals OF his country are short, but glorious.
The first act which ushered her into exist.
snce, was bold and splendid. With ali the
fervor ofyouth, tempered by the wisdom and
dignity OF age, she resolved to be free and in
dependent; and having expelled the exter-
nal Zoe, she reared the proud fabric of a Con-
stltution, founded on the broad basis of E.oual-
ity' armed with every power, and guarded
by every bulwark which human wisdom
Could devise. to render her respected abroad
and happy at home. Still, however, this Con-
stiiueion was but an experiment Its birth
was accompanied with the malignant pre-
dictions OF the enemies OF freedom, and with
the wishes, the hopes and the fears of her vo-
tarles. The former were delighted to dis
cover that its parts were too discorslant, and
us Executive too weak. They said that there
s.
TEN, to keep so many distinct bodies revoly-
ing around common centre. IL any thing
were necessary to aid in the destruction Of so
oisJonted mass, foreign intrigue would &c
complish all the rest. They therefore ant;ci-
Patedlts downfall and the restoration of the
venerable pile, which had been so rudely de-
moiished by sacriiegious hands.
To all this, the friends of America opno-
sea the most coSent arguments but their con-
vlCtion was by no means untlisturbed by cloubt.
ihey knew that time alone can test the eff
cheney OF any form of Government and that
however beautiful its machinery nv appear
in theory, its actual operation is he onlv in
taili6le criterion They entertained little
doubt, indeed, that the government was ad-
equate TO all the exigencies of Peace but
they feared that 1t would not stand the. shock
OF "0T. his apprehension seemed to gain
strength during the many years of tranunli-
~ which we have enjoyed. ALTHOUGH Com
merce and Individual wealth have in that
time made astonishing progress although
eur Populason has INCREASED IN unexampied
rauo yet there were many circumstances
which Justified the belief that the bands of
our union were greatly loosened. Jeaiousics
between the North and the South, artfuliy
fomented by wicked men the rage of party
sPrrt and the foul abuse poured out nnon
those whom the free voice of the country
had placed at the head Of our affairs. flied
sie "iihd Oh the Patriot with dependency aud
alarm. Even honest men were transported
ny tic neat OF party strife, to approve mc a.
surss; winch, IN their sober moments they
woald nave abhorred. AS we approach the
period OF the war. we find this spirit of dis,-
mon speaking holder language until at
tehsth, encouraged by the calamites of the
country, 1T threw off the disguise altogether.
hese disscnsIonS we're no longer confined to
individuals without character or consequence 4
they were adopted by Legislative Bodies, and
puoiisned to the world by partial confed era-
Clos. Inc otates were marshalled against
tne Senerai government /; and that piinci-
pie OF dBunou which was once deprecated
by the federalsts, was now nurture,i Inv their
appreciation and invigorated by their sup
port. Ii was manifest that crisis was fast
approaching, which would either bring death
10 our pohuCai institutions, or a renovation of
their health and .vigor. If the government
mad shrunk from the trial; if. oyerayed
by the threats OF few States, they had dis
honorabiy crept out of The War: a signal
example would have been givento the world
Vi tnS Iheiheacy OF free governments the
confluence OF every American would have
been destroyed; foreign aggression would
have been invited by our imbecilty we
should have been the scorn of Europe and
our catastrophe would only have been a theme
TO point moral or adorn t2' - The
opposite course of conduct was one full of
danger, but calculated TO animate every A
mer1csn bosom with the most ardent zeal.
Every thing dear TO man was 1T stake. The
very existence that Independence sealed by
the blood OF martyrs, hung upon their firm
ness. The prize was inestimabie, the strus--
gle great.
Nor ought it 10 be charged upon the Adj
mlnlstraticn, that they unnecessarily precipi-
tated so awful crisis. The combustjble ma
terials were already prepared the train was
laid the enemies of America were only
waiting till their plan should arrive az maui
rity, to apply the torch. Every day would
have added to the danger. Every day gave
strength to the plot. 1t was the will Of the
good Genius of America to detect machi-
nations so fatal TO berpe before they were
ripe tor execution.
The agony Is over. Our Peace is secured.
and our independence placed on ground
which cannot be shaken 10y all the efforts of
Domestic Faction or Foreign War.
10 make this manifesS, is the obiect If
the present address. In illustrating this NO.
sitlon, shall consider the subject under the
following heads J. How far we have attained
the objects for which we went to war. 3.
How FAR America has added to her charac-
ter SMong nations. 8. How far our Govern
Inent has acquired strength to rcpeI the as
Sa1lts OF as enemies from every Quarter.
Sensible of tho ;padenparx IS -. s........-.