The Enquirer

There are some Documents, which attract attention, not from the ability which they display, nor from the lights which they shed upon their subject, but from the times, the places & purposes, of their production.—Of this nature, is the very curious Report, which has been recently adopted by the Legislature of Massachusetts.

Let us consider the man, by whom this document was written—the body that adopted it—the place and season, at which it was conceived—and the purposes for which it is ushered into light—The world will duly put all these circumstances together; and will not fail to enquire, whether reason can be expected from such passions, and truth from such prejudice? But take this composition as it is, and test by its own merits only. The result will probably demonstrate, that the means which have been employed, are not less feeble and false, than the motives of this literary achievement are vile, factious and contemptible.

Judging from the views of the party who conceived it, and the times in which it was produced, what would any candid man expect on such an occasion? He would expect, that all the aggressions of France would be depicted in most horrible caricature—that the multiplied insults and wrongs of G. Britain would be sunk in oblivion—that the impressment of our seamen, the murder of Pierce, the burning of the Philadelphia, the outrage on the Chesapeake, the wrongs of the Orders in Council, the late rejection of all our propositions, would be buried in silence—that no resentment, no indignation, no resistance would be shewn to their favorite Britain—that all our rage should be turned against France—and that Congress would be solemnly invited to "arm our public and private ships" against France only, "and unfurl the republican banner against the imperial standard"—Such, to the precise character of this garbled Report—Such is the general spirit, which runs through it.

Strictures on this Report—in our next.