The enquirer. [volume], May 09, 1804, Image 1

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

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N UMBER 1-3
Richmond, (Virginia) Published by Ritchie cs V/orsley, opposite the Post-Office.... At four dollars per annum, / ayabic in advance. V
D NILS DAY MORNING, MAY 9, 1804.
[Volume 1.
r
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The i Hewing ORATION was delivered
on the 5th of March to a numerous and res
pectable audience in the Capitol, at Rich*
ifiond. The Author is willing to hope that 5
the close and fatiguing labours cf his professi
on. which have hitherto prevented him from.
• opyi*cnd correcting it, will amply apolo
gise >: iis appearing so long after the occasi
on which gave it hirth.
Xiislonond, Mr.j 5, Oi.
/■ f r or i supplementary half'
s'll ect, during the week.
S P E E C II
GSANNIVERSARY nr Mr 1F.F
FCa-JOX’S ERECTION, DEI IV£It
lii> ON Th£ FIFTH or MARCH.
Fclio-vj Citizens,
3EV..* •
of c. .j es:iou:- II • connected
wha the happiness of nations,
their emancipation iVom despot
ism, or their progress in civ iirza
tion, has bc< n the immemorial
pn.c ice of mankind. Nor can
any practice more clearly esta
blish its claim to veneration and
•Jfcpbscrvance, whether v,o con
(|Sulr the voice of nature, the
^principles of imnuttabk justice,
•* ^>r the records of history. A
midst tiie insipid and heartless
monotony of human affairs, events
occasionally occur, which kindle
into enthusiasm the latent spaik
or generous sensibility in ever,
bosom; at sight of \ hich the
rye of ignorance expands with
wonder, the miser regards with
momentary indifference his hoar
ded tre cure, the votary of ambi
tion averts his glance from the
“ bloodstained banner &. the bic
kering blade,” Sc ev en the rni-an
tlirO!>ISt IPplft tr inemivt ■ t /.f
benevolent emotion pervade his
reluctant sou!. I < > keep alive the
memory of such events, the per
rons who achieved, the motives
that prompted and the benefits
produced by them, is dictated a
Jike by duty Sc inclination. Yes!
v*c are prompted by nature, gui
ded by custom, and commanded
by justice, to hallow by anniver
Sc;ry festivals the ajra of events
wipr.stant to the happiness of na
tion;, or of mankind, to testify
our gratitude for the services,
oar admiration for the talents,
ou; ci.cration for tlie virtues of
a nefactors of society, not by
sense less clamour, bacchanalian
shouts 8c explosions of gunpow*
* der, but by the interchange of ra
tioml gratulalion, the expression
^1^^ ' aiiiy sentiments, tlie diiliisi
rm of generous sympathy, enli
vened by the festive board, the
[low ing bowl 8c joyous song. We
ire this day assembled to com
memorate an event which no en
1 i; ;hiened friend to his country,
to freedom or to mankind, can
recollect and contemplate with
out feeling his heart sw ell and his
im iginatio \ kindle with the gran
dest sensations, The elevation
of Jeff rson to the first magistra
cy of the American people cs pro
bably the purest and proudest tri
umph eves- obtained by theii'ieixb
of freedom.
Whether we review the evils
actual or imminent which this e
vent arrested anil averted, survey
the permanent and extensive be
nefits it has produced, or antici
pate the blessings it seems destin
ed to dispense and perpetuate
through all succeeding time, we
shall be alike convinced of its
claim to grateful and national
comm; monition. Under each os
those lights I propose to consider
this event, and although my ob
servations will be dictated by a
close and candid attention to facts
as I apprehend them, yet I shah
express my ideas with the since
rity and independence whic h be
come the subject, the occasion 8;
myself. Utterly, indeed, should
i be unfit for the task I have un
dertaken, and altogether unwor
thy of the honor which has been
Conferred on me, were I capable
of uttering on the present occasi
on anv sentiment other than the
clenr convictions of my under
standing, and the spontaneous ef
hear& In o <
to estimate accurately die magni
o-f the r*vc-r*t. V, ihU d, 7
u.ssemblccl to commfeinorate we
must revert our attention to our
previous situation.—The esta
blishment of indepc ndenco and
the organization of the federal go
vernment, realised in the new
world, a condition of society 10
which no parallel existed in the
records of history, nor ary proto
type in the speculations of philo
sophy. That a civilized society
should subsist in peace, prospe
rity and safety, without heredita
ry rulers, pri\ ileged orchis, an
established church, a permanent
standing army and navy, or any
modification of monopoly, poli
tics', ii iritorial or commercial,
must have been Viewed by a mind
lettered by historical analogy and
accustomed to contemplate only
Kuropcan forms of rule, as an t m
travagant chimera. Yet such was
the condition of society in ihc li
nked States of America. To the
United States of America, the at
tention of the Philosopher was di
reeled with anxious solicitude,
the philanthropist pointed with
exultation and triumph, whilst
despotism averted its eye will,
consternation & dismay, and felt
with instinctive terror the sub
lime sentiment of Mirabcau,
that if “ kings would not reign
over deserts they must relax their
chains.”—How long will this fair
fabric of freedcm and civilization
endure w as a question which all
were an ions to resolve? “Tisa
transient ebullition of popular en
thusiasm” exclaimed the minions
of monarchy. “ ’Tis one of the
splendid chimeras of i&iciful spe
culation unci philosophical delusi
on” cried the enemies of political
innovation. “Tis a wanton devi
ition from every principle illus
trated by the history and tota
'dished by the experience of man
kind, cried the venal and servile
tools of feudal usurpation. And
can any one entertain so weak an
imagination as that stick a fabric
is fitted for permanent duration.
Wait but a little time and human
nature to whose suggestions it has
not condescended to listen, ex
perience whose authority itdespi
ses cc defies will speedily avenge
their violated laws. The hr-fumed
American Republic after exhi
biting an affecting spectacle of in
testine divisions, bloody civil
wars and factious counsels, will
speedily disappear and y Ivc place
to some of those forms ci rnonar
cny or oligarchy which • r • alone
calculated to preserve tl c pea -C,
liberty and saft tv of ci\ iiizod so
ciety.” Tis to be feared that
■Uicse gloomy predicticns v, cie
not confined alone to the ve-r.tl
sophists and slaves oi regal tided
Europe. Tis to he feared that
the same inauspicious presenti
ments were indulged by many A
im rican citizens, and especially
by tliose into whose hand t c ad- »
ministration of the f ederal go-1
vernment was confide d, so n af-1
•don. The.'Establish-1
mem of the funding system, the
assumption efth.e state de bts and I
due ratification of the British tree- !
y, exhibited d isi\ :
ofa poiicw adverse to the soirit
•hut atchilved the revolution and
'.he principles consecrated by the
declaration of independence._
I he political system adopted i;v
Mr. Adams, evinced Ik rone! the |
possibility' of doubt, th • exist-?
unec o! a faction in die very bo- j
■■ of our country at A at diej
>-d;n of our j^nvCMfwho p
' ere determined to extinguish ?
tuc spirit and subvert the princi
jnes ol popular government, and
establish an oligarchy on the ru
ins of republicans in. Kven the
mask of modem! ion was not as
sumed. “ The politic well
wrought veil,; which dissimulati
on has worn to hide the visage
and conceal the cloven-foot of ar
bitrary power was thrown aside.
1} : anny in its mo.it palpable and
offensive shape stalked towards
mn—().Tices of emolument un
necessarily multiplied and cii >tri
biucd with the most flagrant par
tiality ; an act passed to invest
j the President with absolute pow
j er over aliens ; the organization
ut the standing army and the c
Cjiiipment 01 a licet, and i>v neces
sary consqucuccan enormous ac
cumulation of the public debt,
and an oppressive augmentation
in icvenue ana anovc all the un
hallowed attempt to invade da
freedom of the press, exhibit
| damnatory proofs of the profligate
ambition by which tlie leaders of
J the federal faction were ac tiinted,
and of their inexpiable hostility
to republican principles. Could
any doubt be entertained respect
ing die motives and objects of
the leaders of the federal faction,
three additional notorious and re
corded facts Mould be sufficient
to expel that doubt from evert'
candid and discerning mind. It
is well known that John Adams
published three large volumes of
elaborate sophistry for the pnr
posc of proving the Briti ,h c on
sthulion, composed ( fan heredi
tary monarchy, aristocracy and
an established church, to lie the!
grandest effort of human reason,
and the best possible form of go.
veminent, Jt is cciuallv notori
fous, that Alexander Hamilton in
tin face of the convention, assem
bled from every part of the union,
proposed to annihilate the state
governments and establish an he
reditary chief magistrate and an
hereditary senate. It is a fact c
qually well established,- ah' hough 1
1 believe less notorious, that the
. e Secr< ■ ty at \ Voi> Mr. Mc
Henry, expressly recommended
it to tiie o facers of the army oi.
volunteers, to encourage the tm
listment of old Tories. From
his inauspicious and disastrous
crisis, tile* selfish, the super iciai
anil superstitious augured the
subversion o’republican govern
mci f. The fair fabric of free
dom, ere • ed in a new world,
an cm incipateclration seemed a
l)out to v.mi: h like a pleasing vi
sion, and to leave its deluded vo
te: k s doomed to the darkness of
eternal despoiism. Rutin spite
of these gloomy forebodings end
this portentous crisis, the event
we are thi-: il.-y assembled to com
memorate, affords a memorable
and triumphant evidence of the
incomipubic virtue and incoer
cible energy of a nation ripe for
the rccvp jh and competent to
tonal lil
• lie people u-'-.d from
the supincr.ej-.s into v !,kh key
had been be Irav -1, !;•. "> c-f
pa'paote and •, -■ t»r * • ■ r.
Tlv.y beheld ii. - Muclamt :<al
principles of their f <. • ’i i:.i
ons violated t? ?, •: i '
sue reel rights ii.fi h
-lumCfcCiS Oi j t! ... i ■ : > i t'
tendency oi pin ■ •> i -
came topics ot am : ,1: a-s i
and universal scrub; ■ . A ■
) .
: .resistible force of i t;. A r:.i d
energy of eloquence, t ruud
ous machinations oi' ; c don : •
nant faction, and th rui:.<
tendency of their nice: i:; 'I lie
press by giving1 pubik othu;
speeches av/ahe ned t -.’isvici
on, roused the inchr- «■ /and
enlightened the u
of the people. Kv< idusionoi*
yen ;1 i ophistry - ■
very artifice of sacerdotal ini] os -
ture unmasked, < ,-\ act of op
pression denounced at the tribu
nal of public opinion,
of S;t cplt'ss and su mis scru
tiny hovered < v«.r every d o ri
mci.t and Matched even latent
operation o» the provciniiicnt.—
ll.e acts of the k f i;'attire, the.
decisions of judges, 11 to verdicts
<u ;u ies, aim e ven ti c public a
collocpiii;l ek Ci.irsl ions oi inf ■ k n
tial individuals on po;5i itai sub
jects, became loj;i- 5; oj‘ public
cm iosi y and anxious risen: ion.
I'n cry avenue and vehicle which
an has invented or custom
propriatod lor tlie diflusion ol
knowledge and the* intfrchontfc
oi' sentiment, were ircessauih
t mplovcd to diffuse political in
formation, 1 lie crisissutrge steel
motives calculated to mine the
sensibility of e ven variety ofcha
racter and every class of society.
1 he Umorous were alarmed \ \
apprehensions ol pansonal safe*
in ; the* sordid, by the augmenta
tion of revenue ; the opulent, by
4:ic peril to which accumulated
property is exposed in peri
ods ol public commotion ; the
briror, by the violation of rights
for the sake* of which they
w ere ready to die. The patrio
tic, by the sudden extinction of
their fairest hopes ami the melan
choly prospect of national ci< ^e
neracy. The nation became < Iis
tinct'y divided into txvogrci*-'par
ties whose motives, principles anil
objects were adverse as light and
A di •
ofthe American people ccmpo -. d
die Republican p?.ry, who lull.'V
i im: te contro I
over tlie administration ofthe ft. -
deral government, w re by f hei
unanimity, i nergy and electoral
influence, armed, wbh irresistible
power to arrest the progices of
u-urpation and oppression. A
decided minority of the Amiri-*
can people, formidable from their
concert, activity and talents, and
more formidable- still, from their
exclusive possession ofthe trust,
trer -aire and power and ;\itronagt
oi l he federal government, com
posed tlie federal or anti-republi
can party. With the objects,
principles and opinions of both
parties, the people were fully uc-,
quainted. The policy adopted,
and the prim iples avowed by the
leaders ofthe federal party, exhi
bited decisive evidence of their
hostility to republican govern
i'-.nt, raid of tlic ir determination
to subvert it. The uniform in
dignant and intrepid opposition
which the loaders ofthe republi
can party had made to every vi*
oiation oftlie principles and even
to f v? y dep*u 1:uref> om the fo: ms
office government, evinced no
ek'arly their inviolable attach*
. . tii to republican principles
and v (ir determination to pr* *
• -vc their purity urwullkd, and
*i-’• ■--K-rgy unimpaired, or pc
: rill. • a .cm; f. Loth 1 »nie<
;• em+cd'thj ckc.i ion oi'thr p »|cj
• ' • .
"• ,
! • he momen-otis erb-i, aporouc h,
■. Th< ides of I h 1
r<-\'}y became memo. ub;c in ^
ii: :l.'. - o« i. itoiy by the V. r • ?,
cide of Caesar, This epoch we*
. '.jut t.> wbness a spcitac-.e fat*
• ’ •
e ( .'.*>*• is. ,j j ; an Ci.-hiCo «
•. nr iar more benef xi tandylc.
• J OUS tS-lll iliV.' IlSSclS^I. t'.'lOl! f 1
\ li’ljt, ill COHlCP | ii.tli.r iltlS e<
vent, a sublime Poet lias ex
claimed with sublime enthusi.
l.ork then abr ad through nature;-to, tu*
r .i «e " *
['f pi *-ts, suns, and (ulan.atrino spheres,
Whecliv unshaken, thrush the‘voi.i ,\(l,
mer.se.
And ; . .k, O man! does this canar'euj
V, .'1i lit thv- kindling; mifesM-, .Hn-e
: hv r.>»';; e(,nce:>- ii, a* vriici D'U'i’a ros*
Hft''i;.;ent from • 1-. ■ ke of C • cirn fa t '
•'* 1 « cpoi d of pa-riot* j and his arm *
Ak'fre# er.din,.;, e ernal J.,ve,
When ptji!: brings down ihe harder, ca!h<4
t i i ■ *s name, and thook ti's cri’iuo^
■\ivi |.a ie the father of bW;v>un*i • .. l !
For 11 ! ihetyr ni pro. T - ou tlju dust;
Ar.J Horn a; a '.* • F < ■_
Ai .er.jk'i i /‘lifuuns ij the /ma^i.iation
Vhe event, we are iliis day as.
mbit d to eomr.n) orate, is far
more ^iiindrr;(l sublime whcditn
\vc cem 'dtT th< causes wlm h pro
duced if, the manner in vhi ■ h u
was «u hieved, or the consccpieii
ecs to which ii (?;•• cc hi: th. ‘'] ’ t}
i
a national act. The first was
pcrpeti Med by a hand of mufied
n.asi.ed assassins. i fie second
was the act oi a rover* 'yn p< <-■
illicitr the eye of Ktavtn Isnt
in the face oi the universe.—,
In the first case ihe tjrar.i
was indeed destroyed, hut tlx
tyranny survived,’ In the se,
c.ond, a system of oppression wan
overthrown, imt Liu? oppressor*
were spared. The assnssit.aiioj,
11 ^ ;’'sar was followed hv a oQn#