The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-01-18

through 4 course of years, have pervaded
every department of Government, and spread
corruption through every region of the State,
when these are clothed with the forms of law,
and enforced by An Executive whose will is
their source, no summary means of relief Can
De applied without recourse to direct and o.
| pen resistance. This experiment, even when
Justifiable, cannot fail to be painful to the
good Citizen, and the success of the effort will
DC no security against tae danger of the ex-
| ample. Precedents of resistance to the
worst administrations are eagerly seized by
those who are naturally hostile to the best
Necessity alone Can sanction resort to thi,
measure and it should never be extended
| IN duration or degree beyond the exisency,
until the people, not merely in the fcrvour of
sudden excitement, but after full delibera-
ton, are determined to change the Constitu-
| ton.
lt is truth, not to be concealed, that SEN
timent prevails to no inccnsiderable extent
tnat administration have given such construC
IONS 20 that instrument, and practiced SO
| many abuses under colour of its authority,
that the time Tor a change is at hand Those
VINO SO believe, regard the evils which sur
rounc them as intrinsic. and incurable defects
IN the Constitution. They yield to a persua-
! sion, that 40 change at any time, or on any
occasion, can aggravate the misery of their
| country. This opinion may ultimately prove
to- be correct. But as the evidence on which
IT rests IS notyet conclusive, and as measures
adopted upon the assumption of its certainty
| might be irrevocablc, some general conside-
rations are submitted. III the hope of rcconci-
| ling all to a course of moderation and firm
ness, which may save them from the regret
| incident TO sudden decisions, probably avert
| the evil, or at least ensure consolation and
| success Ill the last resort
1 Thu. Copstit,,r;o, 6 - TI.....l
| der the auspices of wise and virtMous adj
nmistration, proved itself competent to all
the objects of national prosperity, compre-
hended in the views of its trainers. No paral-
| lei Can be found in history, of transition SO
rapid as that of the United States, from the
lowest depression To the highest felicity-froIn
the condition OF weak and disjonted repub-
iios, to that OF great, united ana prosperous
| nation.
Although this high state of public happi-
ness, has undergone miserable and aifiict-
| ing reverse. through the prevalence of =
| weak and prohigate policy, yet the evils and
arilcsions which have thus been induced up
| on the country. are not peculiar to any form
| OF Government. The lust and caprice of
| power, the corruption of patronage, the op-
| preston OF the weaker interests of the COM
nunity by the stronger, heavy taxes, waste
ful expenditures and unjust and rainous
ways, are the natural offspring of bad Adj
nlnistrations, IN All ages and countries 1t
| was indeed to be hoped, that the rulers of
these states would not make such disastrous
haste to involve THEN infancy in the embar-
easements of old and rotten institutions. Yet
all this have they done; and their conduct
| calls aloud for their disnisson and disgrace.
but to attempt upon every abuse Of power 10
| Change the Constitution, would be to perpetu-
| ate the evils Of revolution.
| Again, the experiment of the powers Of
the Constitution, to regain its vgour, & of the
| people to recover from their decisions, has
| Deen hitherto made under the greatest possible
disadvantages arising from the state of the
| world. The fierce passions which have con-
| Nised the nations of Europe, have passed the
| Ocean, and tinding their way to the bosoms OF
our citizenS, have afforded TO Administration
tue means OF perverting public opinion, il,
| respect to our foreign relations so as to &C
Gnire its ;.d IN the indulgence oe their aninos-
I tues, and the increase Of their adhcrents--
furthcr, a reformation of public opinion, re-
sulting from dear bought experience, in the
Southern Atlantic States, at least is not 20 be
| despaired Of. They viii have felt, that the
Eastern states cannot be made exclusively the
| VICTIMS OF capi-ious and unpassioned poll
| cy. they will have seen that the great and
essential interests Of the people, are common
70 the south and to the East. They will re-
! alze the fatal errors of Il system, which
| seeks revenge for commercial injuries in the
sac'ihce OF commerce, and aggravated by
needless wars, to an inmeasurable extent,
the injuries 1t processes to redress. They
| may discard the Influence of visionary theo-
rists, and recognize the benefits ola practi.
cal policy. Indications of this desirable revo-
luton OF opinion among our brethren in those
States are already mantle Sled. While a
nope remains OF It's ultimate completion, il:
| progress should not be retarded or stopprc
| ny exciting fears which must check these
favorable tendencies and illustrate the ef
forts OF the wlsest and best men in those
states, to accelerate this propitious
| change.
Finally, il the union be- destined to dissolu
on, by reason ofthe multiplied abuses Of BAG
Administrations, it should, if possible, be tn,
work OF peaceable times, and deliberate con.
sent. Some new form Of cOnfederacy shoulc
DC substituted among those states, which
Shall Intend TO maintain federal relation {,
each other. Events may prove that the eau
SIS OF our calauitles arc deep and permanent
hey may be found to proceed, not merck
from the blindness Of prejudice, pride of OPT
mon, violence Of party spirit, or the confusion
OF the times but they may be traced 20 i'm
pacable combinations of individuals, or o
states, to monopolize power and Office, and
TO tra1nple without remorse upon the right
and Interests Of commercial sections Of the II
mon Whenever it shall appear that ties,
causes are radical and permanent, a separa
ton by equitable arrangement, will be pre-
fer;ilJle TO an alliance by constrint. anon,