The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-18
E.NqUiRER-OFFICE,
RICHMOND, Cvs.l Msrh is, 1915.
THE ELECTIONS.
FOR THE EyvQUyRER.
To Doctor Hiuian. Rice Of Aahtar.


on tho occasion. IL is important that those
who stand in the relation OF candidate and yo-
ter, should understand each other, and this
purpose can only be effected b. fran,sness and
plain dealing.
With persuasion that you possess talents
Of a very respectable class, and that your
private Character is free from reproact--
with no other feelings towards You personally
than OF entire good-wil, yet am opposed to
you as my political representative. But be-
fore state my objections, allow me TO exa-
mine those high pretensions to foresight and
sagacity on winch you en- to rest so much
of your claims to public favour. There is in
deed nothing in your catalogue of dis stc,s *
disappontments which, was not, with a GOO,
deal besides, predicted and iweit upon wv ev-
cry federal newspaper on TIE Contiuent.
But as you are we'll entitled to share that
praise of prophecy which may belong to your
party, will consider it as if it were personal
ly and exclusively your own.
il rightly un ,erssOO the grand objection
which the federal party have made for many
years past to our retalia.lng the injuries re-
ceived from Great Britain, 1t was that she
was contending tor the independence of the
civilized world against the overwhelming
power OF France, and that it beloved us as
well from aprudent regard to our own safe
ty rs from humane and liberal sympathy for
mankind, To aid in resisting it's destructive
sway. The sickly visions of Fisher hmes.
exhibited to the world in all the eloquence of
genius aud ardent feeling, gave the tone to
public opinion in New-Eugland, the great
parent and nurse of federal politics, from
whence it was transmitted throughout the rest
OF the states. 1t was in short, the too great
power OF France and the comparative weak
ness OF England, which were constantly ,ug-
ed by federalists, (snd among them, think
by the citizen Of Ealifax) as reasons for our
forbearance. I will here take occasion to
remind you, that some OF the democratic par
ty insisted that your fears were ohimerical-
that It was morally impossible to forr last
ingunior OF nations dissmilar in manners. laws,
and above all in Language, that the vast ia
brio of power, reared by the valor ard arms
of France, and directed by the genius and
good fortune of its ruler, would break into
harmless fragments at his death--Whiist
there were others OF the same party, who
were alarmed at the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
rance, and sincerely regretted that Great
Britain would not suffer ustoreIpaip in amity;
out. by the most itin.s ;f
err on the ocean, nritated the pride and vio-
lated the rights of the Apcrican people 1t
was this policy which checked the ardor of
the nation to avengs the attack OH the Chesa-
Peake, which protracted the negotiation of
that affair, until the satisfaction We received,
mad more the air ofan act of spontaneous ,e-
nerosity than Of reparation to our wounded,
honor and which finally forbore to insist on
the punishment of the officer who had thus
committed an act of war on the United States
1t was this same pacific temper which, as
defence against the orders in Council that
TOOK away !rc::i Us even the shadow OF iirie-
pendence, resorted to an embargo, and nom
intercourse and Don-importation laws, hv
VI xtye.x =
on ourselves for the sake of inaicting one on
our adversary, and which at last put It in the
power of Great Britain to have involved US in
a war with France merely by revokng her
illegal edicts
1t your party did not foresee that
France was TO be brought back to her ancient
limits. and that her power was soon to become
lnnocuous III the hands of Bourbon, then
they did not foresee that event to which we
may ascribe the most aggravated evils of the
war. 1T IS owing to this singular revolution
OF power that Great Britain has been ena-
bled to send large achievements of her
choicest troopsto Canada, the Chesapeake,
and New Orleans-to harrass our coasts
with predatory incursons, and to put all our
ports and harbors under close blockade
objects tcr which, but for the unexpected
peace III Europe, she could not have furnish
ed either men or money.
But if you limit your cisims TO the charac-
ter OF a political prophet to your having fore
told that the war should require heavy taxes
would occasion much suffering and privation,
and that we wanted military skill AMI expo
r ence then you might with as much prrprie.
ETY. set up Ter soothsayer for telling us that
the leaves will put forth in April, and fall in
October, or that the days will be LONGER in
June than they are now in February. I'll,
advocates of the war, i'm common with all
others, foresaw and Z, preciated those things
and 1t is their pride and boast that they
thought 1t less evil to encounter them than
longer to endure national Insult and injury
Though much has been lost, much also HIS
been gained. The war has shewn us the
sum OF our strength and has Instructed us
in some particular points of our weakness
Above all, it has given birth to deeds Of va
Tor, patriotism and selt-devotion, on which
the pOSterity ot this hgh-destined ma
ton, in the brightest era of it's future annals
will look with exuItation.
Having thus examined the recommends
ton, on which, in yonr address to the dis
trlct, you rely with undsguised compacency,
will with the sincerity which trust the oc-
caslon warrants, state to you my reason for
refusing you rny vote at the approaching e
lection.
First. Because in those newspaper essays
signed A citizen os Iialiftx," which have
always been attributed 70 your pen, you exhi.
DIT rather TIE talents Of theoretical and
speculative politician than those of practi-
cal statesman.