Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-05-19
which might cloud the glores of his splendid life
The REIGN of Terror.


The Reign of Terror.
But no sooner were the name and influence OF Wash.
ngton withdrawn from the Administration OF the go
vrrmmcnt, ihan the anti Democratic principle under
the name of Federalism began TO show itself openly IN
practice. He was succeeded in the Presidential CHAIR
by John Adams an avowed monarchist. Within two
years from his accession 10 the Presidency, the calm
which had preceded and accompanied the retirement OF
Washington, was changed INTO 4 storm Of political ex-
element by the holiness and rcckessnesS with winch
the Administration attempted to carry into practice
the avowed prIncp of the Federal party Then, for
the first tsmc, the people of this country divided
by distinct party lines upon the principles which ought
to control the administration of governments di
VISION winch, with many mutations OF men and OF
names, and sometimes amomentary observation Oft those
lines, has existed to the present day. and will continue
TO exist as long as our government endures the prn
cipe Of evil IS permitted to operate in the political or
moral world.
Al lie first session Of Congress under the new Adj.
ministraiion, the celebrated Alien Act was passed,
which authorized the President to order any alien To
leave The country, when he should deem that the public
security required it, pain Of three years mprison-
mcnt
At the same session, the equally celebrated Scdon
Law was enacted, suhjecting 10 penalty Of not cx.
cccdng two thousand dollars and Imprisonment not
exceeding two years any who should ''wriie print,
utter publish, aid in the same, ''anv
false, scandalous and malicious writing writings
against the government of the United States or either
House Of the Congress of the United States, the
President Of the United States, with the intent to de-
fame the said government, either House of SAID Con-
gross the said President, to bring them or either
Of them into contempt dsreputc; or to excite against
them either any of them the hatred Of tho good
people Of the United States, or 10 STIR up sedon in
the United States, giving the Federal Courts iurisdic
ton over the press in such cases
Acts passed also for raising standing army and
increasing the navy, carrying The expenditures lar be-
yond the means of the government.
~. l..lr
laid, and stamp and excise duties imposed, and these
not heing sufficient, loans resoted 10. Although
these defended on the ground that war
with France was impending, the Republican party
now, for the time assuming regular organizations be-
licvrd, i. ultimately appeared, that France had in
cnaiion 10 make upon MS, and that the cci object
of all these measures, Of which they considered
unconstitutional, 10 break down the state autho
rites and tho independence Of the people for the pur
pose Of enlarIng the powers OF the General Govern
meEt and assnilatjng il TO the admired British model
Around tins Administration rallied all the monarch
lists and ars,ocrats Of the Revolution. There were
taking active part in that struggle who fought
for independence, but not for Liberty. They desired
to establish the Independence of the country, not that
the peopIe migM be fire., but that they might be It's
lers. They desired to be the titled mobility OF
monarchy be raised above the people and live upon
their labor III luxury and ease; emInencc they could
never hope II gain so long their country was ribu
lary to a foreign monarchy which kept them far from
the throne. They delighted with the Federal
Administration of the elder Adams, perceivng in its
measures a tendency towards the end they had from
the beginning Of resistance TO British power had stea
div in view These men were joined By most Of the
old Tories whose sufcrngs had inspired them with a
deadly hatred for the Republican principles and men
Of the Revolution and they now sought their revenge
upon the by contributing 10 the subrcrslon of the
other These combinations backed by the National
Bank the a lien and Sedton Laws, standing army
the cOun,pnancc and power of the Administration and
We may add willing Judiciary, were full of hope, in
solent and overbearng. For time, leading Republ
cans could scarce show themselves IN public places
in the streets of the capital, without being hooed al
and nsulted and that period in oar country history
acquired the appropriate Of "hs Rega IF Terror
s'No person., says Mr.. Jefferson, 'who was not wit
Of the of that gloomy period, form any
idea Of the affecting prosecutions and personal dign-
ties we had 10 brook
Startled al the bold usurpatiOns of the Federal Co
vcrnmen, and perceving in the establishment Of the
principles upon which it administered the certain
loss oal that valuable in the independence secured
hy the Revolution, the Republicans that day. the true
Wings of the Revolution, gIrded on their arnor and
rushed to the Of liberty and the Constitution
Seeking only ''thc greatest good Of the greatest
Lrr having adopted the principles of the Declaration
of Independence their guide, and with its great
thor, ssworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility
against every form of tyranny over the mind imam,
they took the field resolved to overthrow the barriers
which Federal authority erecting around lis uSur.
palinns Men oftaents and learning took up the cause
Of the people with the zeal Of apostles and the devotion
0fmariyrs. They filled the newspapers with able and
animated discussions and throwing themselves into
the Legislatures of the States through those organs in
powerful addresses and resolutions asserted the true
doctrines oihe Constitution After short but severe
struggle the Democratic principle prevailed, and at the
Presidential election of 1900 Jefferson and Burr the
Republican candidates for President and Vice Presi-
dent, received majority Of The electoral votes.
Federal Election Frauds of 1901.
scene then ensucd characteristic OF the Federal or
anti Democratic party According To the Constitution
rs ii then was person was voted Tor as Vice Presi-
dent The electors each voted for two persons Pre-
sidcn, the candidate having the highest number Of
votes was To he President and the next highest was
be Vice President. 1t happened in tins case that JEFF
lrson and Burr had each the number Of votes,
that il dcyolycd upon the House of Representatives.
voting by states, 10 determine which should be Prcs-
dent That both The people and electors intended that
Mr. Jefferson should be the President, there not the
slightest to doubt; yet in contempt ola vast ma
iorify ofthc people, the Federal party III the House, not
being able to elect Burr, and determined that pure
Republican rs Jefferson should not be elected dctcrmn
ed prevent election altogether, and provide by law
for the administration Of the Government This first
attempt of the Federal party to treat an election 'as If
had not been held, aud the means by which their
objects were tlwartcd thus described by Mr.. JEFF
f.rson in letter 10 Mr.. Madison, dated 18th December,
lS00, viz
"Thcrc viii he an absolute parity between the two
Republican candidates This has produced great dis
may and gloom the Republican gentlemen here and
cxnltation among the Fcdcrasts, who openly declare
that they will prevent clectIon and will name Pre-
sden of the Senate pro tenn by what they say would
only be stretch Of the Constitution. The month of
February will therefore present us storms OF new cha
racter.
On the Goth he says again 10 Mr. Madison:
"The Federalists appear determined to prevent an
election, and 10 pass bill giving the government to
Mr. Jay, ChicfJusce or TO Marshall, as Secretary
ofState On the 18th of February he says to Mr. Mon
roe "Four days Of baoting have produced not single
change of Ifhey could have been permitted to
pass law for putting the government into the hands
of an officer they would certainly have prevented an
election BIT zee Thought il best to dcc'are GPe"tg una
frmly one and al, that tie Gay sash an oct passed. ne
ndie States econld urn, and hat no snoh "sMrpaton,
ersn for single day rouid be submitted 70. This hrst
shook them and they completely alarmed Ut The
resource for which declared 10 vii, convention 10
rc.organize the government aud 10 amend It The
very word contention, gives them the horrors, as IN
the present Democratica spirit Of America, they fear