Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-10-17

I vi
france aud freedom--or enrol themselves in the
ranks OF the enemies of bothl Let US, although
out OF the order OF time ascertain the sentiments
oil the father in the first place, and then consider
the conduct OF the son.
In little more than year, after Washington
ldefvered the foregoing address, MIR. John Adams
became PRESIDENT, and, before the end of two
years, he involved the sister republics in hos
uiilies! To sustain his popularity, series of ad
dresses were got up from various parts Of the u
nited states, and in his replies TO them, Mr.. A
dams induiged IN the most offensive inyectivcs
against our "inasnanimous allies" II he had
cohhneo himself to census upon the public agents
oi France, the friends Of freedom would not have
hau 80 much occasion TO complain; but he assaulted
! not only The French revolution, but all who APP
proved OF Tin his reply, in 1898, to address OF
certain citizens of Vermont, he said
I" have seen in the conduct OF the French Ma
:; tion Tor the last IL years, repetition Of their
character, displayed under Louis XIV. and lit
ue more-except the extravagances, which
have been intermnged with it, oil the widest
! philosophy, which protested in this
world, since the building of Babel"
mus Mr. John Adams wrote in less than years
amer " ashington had exutcd at the origin, pro-
Sress, ana END OF the revolution in France: Wash.
ing'on saw IN that revolution. oppressed people,
un!urhns the banner of freedom-Mr Adams saw
IN At an extravagan philosophy, like the building of
| Daoei; Washington saw i'll, the resistance OF
france against the armies OF the allies, the bril-
/ 'iant exploits Of brave people fighting for liberty
I Mr. AIams considered the triumphs of the
French as no more than the ambitious projects OF
! despotic King,
! -. Can any Que doubt the political principles Of
ashington. who reads his address. Can any one
uouot The nature of MIR. Adams principles, who
contrasts his replies with the address of Washing
,"n 1'et us now enquire into the conduct OF MIR.
y. q. Adams.
The natural consequence Of the reform OF
ABUSES III France, was 10 call the attention of the
people In England, in particular the corruplions
mat had crept into their country, and pro
.
them The celebrated Dr. Price, the steady friend
Oh America, and the emil hteued CORE spondenlo
Hrahhin, was amongst the first TO proclaim 10 his
co"n'ryinen, the Importance OF reform in Britain
I'm the fth Nov 1889, he delivered his discourse
on The love Of country" in which he maintained
tiie doctrines, asserted in the Declaration OF Amer
ican indepcndcnce--that the end OF government is
ie happiness OF the people; that all civil governors
pie have right 10 cashier their agents. and
choose o'hers-and that they have right to frame
government for themselves.
In il"o, Mr. Edmund Burke published his Gre
hechons on the French RevoIution'-a work. in
which al,nost every principle, avowed in the A
merican Declaration OF Independence and Consti-
buttons, is scofied at and denied II is irnmaeriaI
70 our purpose to refer TO the opprobrious
manner III which Mr. Burke spoke OF the ;
French people what we have to do is to show the
insounduesS OF his doctrines and 10 do il is bare
~ suiiicIent to cnumerate them: He contented, |
mat the people OF England had right TO alter
England did not derive their right to the crown
from 'he choice OF the people, and not res
PonSlbie to themthat at The revolution of 1858 the
people mad abdicated Tor themselves and posterity
all right TO elect their Kings-;hat the principle of
hereditary succession was sacred--,hat g the very
" idea OF the fabrication of government was Il,
enough TO fill one with disgust and horror that,
an established church was essential part OF go
vernment. ]
10 this worl; of Mr.. Burke, replies were pub |
lishcd by DR.. Priestly, Mr. Thomas Paine, Mir. /,
Capel Loft, and others, in 1880 and 1891
1t is with very sensible regret" says DIR. Y
Prestiy, "that find Mr.. Burke and myself on the
" opposite sides of any important Question and es.
&c peciaily that must now no longer class him a.
" mong hef iemds IF tchat deem to be the cGusei
merry, c'rt and religious, after having, in q !
pleasing occasional intercourse Of many years, !
" considered him in this respectable light. ina, /
4" an avowed friend of the American yevo,u,ion :
" should be an enemy to that OF the French which .
- arose from the same general principles and in
" great measure sprung from tits me unaccount-
4" able" !
Mr. Thomas Paine, in his 'Rights of Man, re-
asserted Tie principles, avowed by u. Price and
which had been controverted by Mr.. Burke: in
comparison between the French and English sys-
TENS, he gave preference 10 the French cons,i ]
tunoh, because 1t guaranteed civil and religious Ii
oeFty 10 all men, and the freedom speech and of
the press il took from the crown the power TO
make war, without the consent Of the legislature
II abolished game laws, monopolies and seignories
~ ueeiaeu Iie people 10 be the source OF all au-
thorlty II secured The trial by Jury il prohibited
ministers OF the crown piacenien and pensioners
from holding seats III the legislature it abolished
Imprisonment, except by due course Of law, il es-
tabiished the principle, no taxation without repre-.
sentation.
80. Such, gentlemen, is a very brief exposi-
uon oil the controversy produced i'll England by
The French revolution: The wings Of England.
headed by Earl Stanhope, MIR Fox and Others cor.
daily congratulated the French upon their poIiti-
cal reformation, and advocated correction of abu-
ses at home: The tories, headed by Mr.. Jenkin-
son, afterwards Lord Liverpool, Mr.. Dundas and
Others TO arrest REFORM plunged the nation in war
against France In short, there were then as there |
are now, but two parties, the liberals and the az
sOIufeS
What part did Mr.. ]. O. Adams take at that
crisis' On his question he has shown sensibiity-I
he ieeis IL is tender point--e appeared in tho.
pubic newspapers, upon this topic in l322-he ad-
United uiat hc did take part, writer OF III let
tiers signed Publicoa: but denied any design to Oh.
pose the rights Of man if he had pleaded youth or
inexpcriencc, could with propiicty nush the
MISTER further; but he made no excuse and as.
serts now, what ho asserted in 1871.
. 10 answer the question. what part he took tits
simply enough TO assert, what no one can contra !
dict. that there were Burke, Pitt & Jenkinsou on
one side--St Price ,Priestly & Paine on the other
ii the principles, advocated by the latter had been
supported by Mr. Adams, he would have said so,
aid every body would have given him applause: |
but he gould not say so, for he had actually taken
part with the former. DIR. PrestIy ceased 10 re
gard Mr.. Burke as friend TO liberty as sOon A. |
Mr.. Burke's book appeared; Mr.. Adams did not en-
ter the lists against Burke, but against his anaro-
mist Paine--and from that moment was obnoxious
to DIR. Priestly's objection.
No can with truth controvert what cve
here say--the evidence is in all our own respoc
l. t...0 - T.