The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-20

have now inhibited more of the military fpirit
A deiire for territorial and commercial conoueil
lw'll begin to mingle itielf with their reflections
on the policy of our government. The love of
peace, national economy, and public improve
ments, will ftiil prevail, but their influence will
not be 70 active, 70 continued, & 70 universal.
|. Betu then avoid iuch important iicrfices,
by determined adherence to- the maxirns of
peace, where that peace may be preierved GU
honourable terms. Let us carry into our ne
gociation withthe Court of Madrid, the fpint OF
rnidnef' and in fat, when we cannot obtain
all that we demand, let US make flch concilia.
tory concefiions as may purchaic peace, e. that
they preferve onr honour.
! Infurrnountable mpediments may however.
oppofe the wiihes and interefs of our country.
pachcation with Spain may be impoifible to
be obtained without the ncri.icc OF our ec,u;ta-
BILE rights, or the violation of our national no.
nour. War, that mot horrible mouaer, which
has inflicted more deadly calamitics upon our
fpecies than all the other plaques Of fociety ex-
cept perhaps it be the fpirit of defpotiim,
may now be advancing upon us with an
inevitable aim. For a moment then let
us paufe, while we re;s:cc ;;S$.e objects which
, we propofc to obtain, and etabliih foine
principle, by which its operations ought TO be
conducted. IF war tfelfbe inevitable, fill there
! are many of its calamities, which may DC eafly
and honourably avoided. We may war With
nations, but certainly we fhould not contend
, againh the principles Of juftice.
When nation engages in war; its iirft rrn.
cpIe nloud be, that The object for which ii
fights is legitimate; and the fecond principle
fhould be, that it thoUld employ iuch expedients
only as may lead to the N0rfeR and fureR attain
ment OF this object. Theygotowar, becauie they
do not, like individuals, poffefs common and
impartial tribunal, whole Judgment NAV decide
their differences, and whole powers may enforce
its own DEGREES. What they are permitted to
purdue is therefore, no more than what they
might fuppofe an impartial tribunal would have
awarded to them, had fuch tribunal sxired.
But ihouid we engage in war with Spain, we
ihould have no fyftem ofexteuiiye and progreC
five ACKNOWLEDGMENT to purfue. We hould be
inpelled by no neceility of Gripping as much as
we could, the refources Of our enemy. The OBJ
je6ts for which we ihould contend, would be IL
mlted III themieives, and their general outline
would be dricerniole to the meaneft capacity.
They would be 70 obvious indeed, that with A
few preliminary refearches, we fllould be able
to eXprefs them by fomc fpecifc number, &
by fome definite geometrical lines.
We fhall not contend for large acquiitions of
territory, to which we have no equitable claim.
We fhall not contend for new privileges of
commerce, or for diltant colonies, over which
we may extend the reign of monopoly.
1t is from no fear that the exiting Balance of
Poqver fhould be defroyed that our own re-
fources may be becoming too fnall, or ano-
theirs too extenfive.
We fhall contend for more equitable and lefi
important objects. We ihall direa our efforts
to the attainment of two obvious defderata the
extenfion of the Eafern boundary of IouiGana
to the Perdido river, and the recovery of claims
due to our merchants, for Illegal captures. By
theie two iimple objects therefore, let us regu-
late the principal operations of the war. Let
us purfue thoie expedients only, which NAV
mott fuccefsfully lead to their attainment. :
Far be it then from us to enft under our BAN
ners the mercilefs iavages of the Spanifh from
tier.
Far be it from us to equip large and expenfive
ornaments at fea; or to levy Numerous & pow
erfu' forces on land. Let thefe expedents be
PotPoned, until the procrafination or lofIes of
the war ihould require more energetic exertions.
Far he 1t from us to engage in any entan-
cling alliances" with any of the powers of Eu-
rope. If we are to engage in hoitiIities, let his
depend for iuccefs upon our own peIfevering
exertions.--In fact let us hold this language to
the Spanlih government, and let our conduit
rupert our projections: &c We are efficiently
acquainted with the calarnities of war. We de-
rive our knowledge not from cold hiftorical do.
cuments; but from pertonal experience of its
destructive effects. II was in our own fields.
and by our own countrymen, that thefe memo
rabie calanities were fcen and felt, and will
not foon be forgotten. We have no inclination
to review thofe melancholy fccnes. They ra-
Their infpire us with an ardent delire TO prcferye
the enjoyments of IN honorable peace. Grant
us our equitable claims, and we ihall iheathe at
once the fword of defruttion. Let all the eat
OF the Perdido be yours: we have no with TO
pofiefs it, but by fair and peaceful negociati-
on. We have land enough already for our
wants, and our ambition does not extend TO the
acquiftion of Mexico. '1'is true we may over.
run your territories but it is not from the in
fame deire of making conquets We f1all hold
them merely as the efe6tual hotagcs for the full
hlment of our equitable claims. We have al
ready. demonftrated by our conduit, that VIC
have fufficient magnanimity to vindicate our
own rights: We have now no deiire to demon.
ftrate, that are Indifferent to you,- interets.
Comply with our juft demands, and from that
moment our hoftilites fhall ceafe, and we fhsll
once more reiume the deiirable relations of
friendihip."
TRx RAINBOW.
Number 10, which appears in this days paper
concludes the firft ferries of the enays under the