Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-19


whom we should have offered more willingly 10 :
foreigner IS specimen OF the meu whom Amer.
ca can produce.
Still we think that his fine qualities were sha.
deG by what 10 as was great defect, though 10
some IL may appear proof of his wisdom. He
wanted just faith in mans capacity of freedom,
at least in tha degree oft which our institutions
suppose. lie inclined TO dark views of the condi-
t,un and prospects his country. He had too much
Of the wisdom Of experience. He wanted, what
may he called the wisdom of hope. In mans
past history he read too much ,yha. is 10 come
and measured our present capacity of political
good too much by the unsuccessful experiments Of
former times. We apprehend, that II Is possible 10
make experience too much our guide; and such
was the fault OF this distinguished man. There
are seasons in human ailairs, OF inward and out
ward revolution, when new depths seem TO be
broken up ia the soul, when new wants are uu-
folded in mu!titudeS and new and underlined
good il tlIirsiet Tor. These are periods when the
principles Of experience need TO he modified .
when hope aud trus. and instinct claim, a share
with prudence in the guidance oil affairs, when in
truth 10 dare Is the highest wisdom. Now, in the
distinguished man of whom speak, there was
little or nothing OF that enthusiasm, which, we
confess, seems 10 us sometimes the surest light.
He lived in the past, when the impulse OF the age
was towards the future. He slow to promise
himself a0y great moderation OF human affairs; s.
whilst singuiarly successful in discerning the ac-
tudl good, which results from the great laws Of
nature aud Providence, he gave little hope, that
a man, the issue OF the French revolution was
confirmation of the saddcst lessons of history, and
these lessons be applied too faithfully 10 his own
country. His influence in communicating scepti-
cal, disheartenng views oil human affairs, seems
20 us 10 have bees 80 important 10 form part OF
history, and it throws much light on what we
deem the great political error of the Eederalists.
That tho Federalists did at period look with
unworthy despondence institutions, is
true. Especially when they the country, by
.la.lAr nf nsf Enor IL,
link Itself with that despotisn which mcnaced the
whole civilized world, their hearts sunk within
them, and doubt not that ia some cases, their
mixed anger aud gloom broke forth in reckless
speeches, which, TO those who are ignorant Of the
workings oil the passions, might seem to argue a
for the confederation and for all its blessings.
80 iar they failed OF their duty, for good citizen
TO despair o. the republic, never to think
freedom lost cause.
The political sin Of the Federal party we have
stated plainly. In the other great party, exam
pies OF uni3hfuluess 10 the Union might also be
produced. Whoever reVerts 10 the language OF
Sigs iuia ON the subject of the Alien and Sedition
laws, o. to the recent proceedings and decia-
Taoas OF Georgia in respect to the Indian terrific
Tics within her jurisdiction, or TO the debates and
resolutions oil the legislature OF South Carolina AZ
its last session, will learn, that sense OF the sa-
Credness OF the I uon and Of the greatness of its
blessings, is but family apprehended, even by tina,
party which boasts of un!alering adherence to it.
IN closing this article, we are aware that we
have said much, IN which many of our fellow Cit
izens will not concur. Men OF al parties will pro-
bully dissent from some OF our positions. But has
not the time come, when the vsssaaSe of party
may be thrown o.? when VIC nay speak Of the
past and present, without asking whether our o.
inion will be echoed by this or IAat class Of pol
jtcians? when we may cease TO condemn and JUS
lily in the mass? when Il more liberal and elevated
style ot-discussion may be introduced? when We
may open our eyes OH the faults OF friends, aud
may lock al uhjeCts which involve our country's
welfare ia the broad clear light OF day? 1 his
style sf discussion, we are anxious 10 promote /;
aud we feel, that whoever may encourage and dit
iuse IT, win deserve place among the most faith
-ful friends OF freedom.
.Iotc.-In the remarks made in this article on
the restrictive SYSTEM our intention was, assert
The general principles, which. in opin;on, ought
10 have guided our Legislators from the beginning,
and which ought 70 guide them now, fur ~
obey be applied III consistency with the past
measures Of Congress-. Whether by these mca-
sures the government has not contracted an obi
cation 10 the citizen, or whether, after imposing
tariff for the purpose oil encouraging certain
branches of industry, il can justly withdraw pro-
lection, is question, which did not come within
our subject, and which is TO be determined by a
Si.ercnt order OF considerations.
Note By the Editors Of tie Enquirer.
We have thought it due TO the writer OF the
preceding article 10 lay the suhOie of it before our
readers. But we cannot subscribe to all its state
ges in particular, from which we beg leave 10 eX-
press our Iissent-lst, his views OF the Fedora.
court; End, o.. the Federal Party; and 3gd, OF the
Republican Party.
We would remark, upon these two first topics,
that the Author does not notice the strong defects
by which both the Court aud the Party have been
characterized. 1t is the tendency OF their princi-
piles to produce consolidation OF the powers OF the
OEiOn-and thus 60 excite those very contests and
heart-burnings, which this Author points out as
al nf
Compare the powers which the Federal P drty
have claimed for the U. s., (anI when did the
Court ever refuse 10 sanction any such claim as
US brought before it, by their most solemn deci.
s!0nS?) with the clauses oil the Constitution itself
OF examine them by the lights which are shed up
on them by the Proceedings Of the Federal Con-
venon, and the Alarming tendency Of their doc
t.iaes towards usuTpatioD, and extending of the
powers OF the government beyond the letter or
theory oil its character, strikes with Irresistible
force Is theCourt, then,sO contradictions TO which
The Author could SO confidently entrust the COM
plete " conservative power among our instiu-
uons'?-And how comes it TO pass, that when
stating his exceptions TO the principles of the Fed
eral Party, he should have overlooked the Alien g.
SeditiOn Laws; those monstrous consequences
flowing from its extraVagaT ncipes!-T hese
laws shew the dangerous lengths to which their
errors prOceeded-they were calculated 10 pro-
duce that division among our citizens, which this
eloquent Author so powerfully depicts.
But in the I'd place, the Republican, Party were
not hurried even by those monstrous enactInents
into the excuses which the learned writer ascrbe.
to them. lie is lnistakenThere is nothing in tue
Language OF Virginia the subject of the Alien
and Sedilion laws" which Indicated any insensi.
Lilly to ''tho sacredness OF the Union and the
greatness OF its blessings" The celebrated Re-
port, penued by Mr.. Madson breathes Throughout
the warinest love lOr the Union, and protests a.
gainst these acts, because they struck at the prn
ciples Of the Constitution and the interests OF the