Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-11-18

we had, declares war. The scene /,
now changed that which France refus-
ed to our intereessions she was now COM
PEELED to grant from mere necessity
War took place l believe about the last of
March, and the treaty was signed soon
afterwards. AS long rs l retain the
small share OF understanding which God
has given me, shall never believe that
it was owing in the smallest degree to
the efficacy OF, diplomats REPRESENTATION.
The mind, Of that Great Man is not
made ofsuch soft materials as TO receive
an impression from the collision Of every
gentle hand stern collected and inllex-
ible, he laughs toscorn the toying arts
Of persuasion. His soul is stupendous
rock which the rushing Of mighty waters
cannot shake from It's place. Most had
itnot been owing 10 this happy coinci-
dence of circumstances, the personal
solicitations of our ministers would have
been regarded with as istless an ear a. if
they had been whispered across the
ocean. ~.s'. y
But whatever may have been the eaus.
es switch produced the treaty I win vote
for it not ON account Of the advantages
which we may promise ourselves from 4
sale of the INDICATED land within the Ter.
ritory. believe that from that source,
We cannot hope for Reimbursement, a.
there is no doubt but that the most valu-
able parts have already been granted ~
way BY the Spaniards and BY the French
to their own citizens nor do see any
restrictive provisions in the treaty which
would prevent the court, of Paris from
continuing to issue patents, up To- the
date of the exchange Of rati6eations. ~
There may however be other advan-
tages or there may be disadvantages,
which, shrouded as am in the gloom
Of uncertainty for the want of those means
ofinteligep<e, which perhaps othersmay
resort 70, but which has been withheld
from u.s. am unable to discern but
which may be observable to those who
being more eminently situated, command
a larger and clearer prospect. II the
claim which we have purchased be invest
ed with any latent endorsements, if
our possession should be opposed, or If
our right Of property should hereafter be
contested, let the President look to
it g.: He and he only viii become ~Fes-s
ponsible for every drop Of American
blood whiehSmay aow in consequence Of
such contests. For, II the French have
not performed the stipulations efthe tTea-
~ Of ST. Idelfonso, respecting herecog.
milton of the late king Of Etrlria, and If
such failure on their part has aroused in
the Spanish court any spirit Of opposition
to the transfer we have Obtained, We
ought TO be possessed of information,
that our discretion might be regulated
accordingly. As we have received no
information respecting the existence Of
such spirit Of hostility on the part ofthe
court Of Madrid to this treaty, Twill sup
pose that none such does exist, and in
this belief will vote for the treaty. I
would even vote for a larger appropriate
on than is now demanded for its effeetua-
ton, and Iwould do It for the same rea-
son that a man would give an exorbitant
price for a piece fland adjoining his own,
in order to prevent the settlement Of a
neighbor who he feared might
plumber his property or burn his inelo-
sures and If this vote was the last pub
liz act of my life, would sink into the
grave under thepleasing impression. that
as far as it regarded our posterity. twas
perhaps the best. .-..