The Enquirer

(The Enquirer.

RICHMOND, MARCH 13, 1810.

FOR THE ENQUIRER.

TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!

THE CENTINEL.—No. II.

I said, that the minority were the authors of the federal resurrection: In support of this charge, I appeal to your own remembrance. At the time when this schism took place among the republicans, what could be more forlorn than the state of the federalists? Now and then, indeed, we had a volley from a federal press; but it had more the sound of a funeral fire, over the grave of their party, than a continuation of the political war. The mass of the party appeared to be sunk and lost. A few years more of union among the republicans, would, I believe, have left no trace of them remaining, except, here and there, a prominent, disappointed chief.

It was just at this point of time, when the federal party was thus rapidly hastening to dissolution, that the leader of the minority stepped out of his former ranks, and sounded the trumpet which recalled them to life. Look what follows! The blood returns to their faded cheeks—their eyes open, their hopes revive, their ambition is re-kindled and blazes with new violence, They re-collect their disbanded and scattered forces; they organize and discipline them; and are now carrying on their manœuvres not only with great ability, but with success;

You can scarcely believe this; look at New-York. I tell you that, in imagination, the federalists already have the government; already they are deliberating on their President and cabinet; already they fancy that they have your noses to the grind-stone of a sedition law, and are punishing you for your past prosperity.

I said also, that the federalists & republican minority were completely incorporated & united. This is a fact, which neither the body of the minority nor the federalists wish you to understand. The minority are as yet a little ashamed of their apostasy, and shrink from the imputation; and the federalists find their account in holding up the minority as republicans still; for it enables them to say, "if you will not believe us, listen to your own party." meaning the minority. Thus the minority are federal auxiliaries in republican disguise. It is proper, however, that their disguise should be stripped off, and that they should be known for what they really are. They have already had a false credit with us, too long: It is high time that they should be reduced to their proper standard.

I repeat, then, that they are federalists, fighting under the same banners for the same principles; and that it is an impudent piece of imposture, to attempt any longer to pass them upon us for republicans. What ground of federal opposition to the administration, have they failed to support? What topic of federal abuse have they failed to re-echo? Have they not evinced the same partiality towards Great Britain? Have they not set up the same defences for her conduct? Are they not now taking part together with Copenhagen Jackson against the government of their own country, concurring in declaring, in every quarter of the Union and in every circle, that "they have looked in vain for the insult which he offered to our government?" whereas; if Turreau had only curled one of his whiskers half way towards such an insinuation as Jackson has flatly and boldly expressed, repeated and reiterated, they would both have seen and felt it too, as quick as lightning, and if brooked by the President, would have proclaimed, with a voice of thunder, that the country was sold to France.

Do the federalists accuse the administration of hostility to Great Britain? So does the minority.

Do the federalists accuse the administration of partiality to France? So does the minority

Do the federalists declare the government indisposed to treat with Great Britain? So does the minority.

Do the federalists applaud the arrangement with Mr. Erskine and propose a vote of thanks to the President for making it? So does the minority.

Do the federalists afterwards face-about & condemn the President for the very same act? So does the minority.

Do the federalists charge the administration with imbecility? So does the minority.

Do the federalists reproach the administration with mismanagement of the finances? So does the minority.

In short, I might run through the whole catalogue of federal hostility and abuse, and return the same answer in relation to the minority. Now when I see two trees, both bearing crab-apples of the very same size, colour and taste, am I to be told, that the one, to-be sure, is a crab-apple, but the other a pippin? I may be told so; but I shall not believe it. No; it is by the fruit that I shall judge the tree. And by this test it is, that I pronounce the minority, federalists to all intents and purposes. I said, that the body of the minority did not wish this to be understood by you: Their leader, however, who has either more spirit or less prudence than his followers, does not pretend to conceal this fact—for on the floor of Congress he boldly avowed, that "there could be but two parties in any country; the ins and the outs:" And in a late publication, signed Philo Laos, which is, on all hands, ascribed to him, it is said, that "whigs in power become tories; and tories, out of power, whigs." This is at least an admission, that his party and the federalists are acting together; and an attempt to cover himself by the position, that the federalists, with whom he acts, are now republicans, and that we, by getting into power, have become federalists. Is this true? What were the old federal doctrines? Internal taxes, direct taxes, a national debt, large standing armies and navies, executive patronage, executive power strained to the highest key, a strong partiality for Great Britain, and a alien & sedition law. Which of these grounds have we taken? Not one. Which of them have the federalists abandoned? So far as their want of power permits us to judge, not one.

If, then, neither the federalists nor ourselves have changed our ground, what becomes of the apology, that whigs in power become tories, and tories, out of power, whigs? It vanishes; and the admission, that the minority are with the federalists stands naked and unexcused. Yes; their sentiments, their arguments, their principles, their actions concur with the admission of their chief in fixing on them the brand of apostasy—apostasy unprovoked, unjustified, unexcused and inexcusable.

Why, then, are we asked to continue our confidence in these men? "They were once republicans"—true. And Arnold was once an American officer; but I doubt whether he would have been at all the sooner trusted for that reason, after the affair of Stoney Point—On the contrary, if he had been caught during his invasion of Virginia, I suspect it would scarcely have occurred to his captors, that he was entitled to the more lenity, because he had once been an American officer. This may be thought a harsh comparison; and so it would be, if it were intended to run upon all fours; but it is not: I use it merely to illustrate the position, that the minority are not the men entitled to our confidence, for having been once republicans.

I do not concur in the sentiment of Cosmus, Duke of Florence, as implied by that desperate saying of his, "you shall read that we are commanded to forgive our enemies; but you never read, that we are commanded to forgive our friends." It is certainly true, however, that a wound from the hand of a friend cuts much more deeply than from any other: It is also most certainly true, that a friend who becomes an enemy, is, of all others, the most bitter and implacable; and that bitterness and implacability are increased in proportion as the injury which he has inflicted, was unprovoked.

This is the case of the minority; they are conscious that their hostility and ill treatment to their former friends, is unprovoked and unfounded. Hence it is, that they endeavor to drown, by their own clamor, the pain of this consciousness; and by the mere violence of that clamor, to induce the supposition of hidden wrongs, which they find it vain to attempt to designate.

There is another motive, too, which tends to inflame their opposition; They know that they go over to the federalists in a very questionable shape. They are new proselytes, and are aware of the strong reasons which the federalists have to distrust their sincerity and zeal—hence it is, that they think it necessary to give such extravagant proofs of both. I really pity this little party; frozen in the esteem of their former friends, they endeavor to collect a little vital warmth by basking in the beams of federal favor; they imagine that they are all in all with the federalists; that the federalists feel themselves so much flattered, and even honored by the alliance, that they will cheerfully put them at the head of the league:-

And the federalists are very willing to cherish and foster this delusion. Hence the caresses of federal men and federal presses to Mr. John Randolph, and the very gracious attentions which are paid even to some of his satellites, by the federal gentry.

The poor little minority plume themselves on all this, as proof unequivocal of their admitted sovereignty; and return all these caresses and attentions with the most condescending grace, and winning assiduity.

The federalists, all the while, laughing in their sleeves at this ridiculous mistake, resolve nevertheless to keep it up as long as they have any occasion to make use of the minority. If I may borrow an idea, they have no objection to mounting on the ladder of the minority; but once up and firmly seated, as they have no intention to come down again, the ladder will be removed to make room for better furniture. If the federalists succeed, the minority will remember this prediction. It is the case in every combination of the kind; see Sempronius's speech to his allies who were just about to be led to execution, in Mr. Addison's play of Cato.

When then you look to the sentiments which they express, the principles which they advocate, the conduct which they pursue, both in and out of congress, the altered current of their associations, the recent change in their personal intimacies and attachments, it is impossible for any man, in his senses, to doubt that the minority are federalists in heart and spirit; and, as such, if you are wise and care aught for the continuance of your own principles and authority, you will regard and treat them.