The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-13
EN- QUIRER
RICHMOND: ~
SATURDAY, OCTOBER Is, 1904.
ss'~~e~c~c|>rrSr~
VIEWS ON THE RUBIcoN.
No. I.

The negotiations between Spain and the u. States
have hitherto been concealed from the eyes of the
people Speculation indeed has been bufy, in attemp,
ing to dfcover the origin of this dinention and two
cauies have been inggeted which appear adequate to
the effect: LIT. The difficulty of adiuling the ean
ern boundary of IouiGana, and 2dy. The refufal of
the Spaniih government to ratfy the Convention of
1902, which was intended to provide for the paw
ment .ot claims due to American citizens From the
relative condition of the countries from the in
Vulnerable rumours which have arrived from Spain
from the tenour of the papers the iignatre of
GRAvIoRA MAEENT, which appeared in Phila-
dephia paper, and which has been alrnoR exprefslv
acknowledged by the Spanfh Miniaer in his late let
ter to Mr.. Madfon; it is extremely probable, ths,
thefe lectures have been correa, and that the two
original fources of dhIenton between the two conn
tries have been jutly pourtrayed. But the prefent
tate OF this negotiation is not yet unveiled to the pub
lie eye. For aught that can conjecture, new
Phaiis may have been given to thefe tranfa aions
new modes of reconcilenent may have been fggeffed:
and more friendly arrangements may have been pro
roied and adopted We. know from the experience
Of European nations that in the progrefs of fnilar
negotiations, they frequently aIume new fhapes and
aipeds that meaines calculated to adult and bar
monte the Earring nterens of two countries have been
fortunately fuggefed, which had at frft efcaped The
confederation of the eontendng parties, bounded and
crcumfcribed in their views by the immediate four
ces OF diention. When two nations, like two indivi
duals are iincerey dpofed to peace and frend1b;n
when they Narrated by no fpirt of revenge, and
himulaed by no defire Of territorial and commercial
conqueit the Of Cancellation are accefIble h
various AT this moment perhaps, the difference be-
tween Spain and the United States, may have aIum
ed new afpea, and the mon friendly arrsnyements
may have been ianctoned by the lat dfpatches from
Ear. Pinckney, to our government. Perhaps the
itate of the negotiation may be extremely different.
Keo =. Il
merican miniiter may have been announced; his pro-
poitonsmay have been rsjeSted and the derolatiops
OF war may be approaching with refiftlefs Reps
Until this cloud of darkness fall have been diEpej
led, the politicians Of this country will no doubt wan
der in uncertainty. Conje6ures will be framed,
which have no other fouree than the imagination Of
their author and the NOT probable calculations may
be fet at nought, by the ifIue of the negotiation
Such eoneeural views however are not without their
ute. They lervs 20 awaken the attention of the reo
pie to the real ferries Of events and to the important
meaiufes Of the administration. The mind when il
has Prevouiiy formed fuch views, is infprcd with an
mutual ntereit and eagerly watches the incidents as
they pats, for the purpoc Of comparing and correa-
ing its own autieipations At all events thefe con-
lectures be they 70 improbable may ferve TO in
create our moral determination. Though they NAV
be completely deficient in truth, they erve 70 excite
reaioning powers, and to fix ard afcertain our
principles Of action. They are like thoie imaginary
cafes IN Arithmetic or Geometry, which as well as
the Profoun6e truths contribute to exereie the mind
and extend me application Of its principles to real ca
ics whenever they occur The man, whole contern-
Pis,ive views of the prefer fate Of things may be
completely falsc,ous, viii have not reflected in win.
He vii mot. probably have obtained diftin9er
views Of TIE relations Of limited sta,es to Spain.
he VII certainly have formed more charged IDEAS Of
the n,srcs Of this country, and the duties of its 90
vssaTsnt wren hnila4 ast. Of things ihsll here