The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-03

TIN merchant veffclS by the French Frigates a,
that time IN New-York, requefted the Britiil
conful that force might be fta;ioned on on,
coat for the protection of the Britiih commerce
In coniequence of this requeit, the Leantier
Cambrian, SC. were detached from Admiral
Mitchell's fauadron, on the Halifax fation.
This quettion is curious but by no means 70
important as the one, which propofes to diico.
yer the mott effe6tual method of preventing
theie aggretiions for the future. War without
previous negotiation has been fuggefted BY fome.
Non-importation of Britilh manufactures has
| been recommended by Others. Another clafs
of politicians have admitted the necefIity of 2
n0z~i force to protect our commerce, and the
only enquiry with them has been, how great,
and of what kind ought this force to be. Few
OF them have ever extended their appreciation to
plan OF offence and on the principle that fyf-
tenn or d.fenee only was proper, they have pro-
cee,lsd to enquire, whether our naval force
fhouid coni'ft oflarger armed veilels as f,igates
and fhips of the line, or whether it fhould be.
confined to gun-boats. This latter plan of de-
fence ieems TO be the orc which is adopted bv
our government. We mutt refer the deciiion of
this important queition to the reiult of expert
ence.
One Of the principal Gources OF dissatisfaction
againit the preient administration, and the pre-
vailing fyltem of poitics,i To be found in their
connection with the political influence of Vir-
gnia. Negro Representation" and " Virgil
MA Influence, fill continue to be re-echoed by
the northern fcderalits. Il pamphlet has been
lately publilhed in Bottom, which profe!Ics to
vindcate the conduct of the MaIachufetts Lc-
glilature, in adopting Mr.. Ely's amendment to
the Federal Contribution. Few extracts have
appeared iii the public papers : but they breathe
ftrong fpirit of diicontent agaiDlt the fuppoii-
tious or real influence of Virginia. This fubie2
is defined to receive difcuIfion during the next
ieliion of Congrefs.
cannot conceal my aftonifhment, that the
Louiliana Remembrance has hitherto excited 70
little difcliiiion IN the public prints. The only
Ebay, which deferves any notice on this iubecf,
has the hgtiature f"Common Senfe," & think
evidently bears the imprefiions of Thomas
Paine's ufua fagacity. The fate of that new
country, Mr.. Editor, is more difficult prob
lem to my mind, than the quadrature of the cir
Gle, or the nature of the fubfance of the fun.
cannot iuppre1s my apprehension that for fome
time to come, the Iland of New Orleans will
be very tmiar to ancient Rome in its earlieit
itage; the atyium of thieves and vagabonds.
There the voracious fpeculator, the CUNNING
gamefter, perhaps even the Cstalinarian con.
fpirator may refort in queft of their appropriate
game. The companion may alto bold good in
another point of view. Like Rome it NAV be-
come the capital of the mott comfortable part
OF North America. will venture to fay, that
IT 1t Will not become remarkable for its power,
1t will at leaft be diftnguihed for its fiiperior
wealth. The town of New. Orleans combines the
two angular advantages ola fea-port town, and
OF town ftuated at the head of the tide wa
ter of a riter. This laft advantage will arife
from the extraordinary current down the Milf.
hppi. Hence New-Orleans will poiiafs the pro-
hts of an emporium of imported commodities
aswell as exported productions. Thefe Gneu-
lar advantages will be eteinaIly poneRed I can
not call them enjoyed) uneis fonle more favor
able fife for town is difcovered near the mouth
of the river, or unlefS fome imple and cheap
mode is fuggefted for ltemming its current.
STATE AFFAIRS. The principal fubjea of diff
cutiion in the different ftates relates to the Qua
LITIGATION OF the candidates for their own legila
lures and for congrefs. Connecticut alone is
engaged on queitlon of much greater impor-
lance; the propriety of forming contribution.
Two queftions have been agitated Whether
they have any contribution at all! And if thew
have any whether it is compatible with
the principles of republican government. On
the hrlt point 1t is ftatsd, that Connecticut and
Rhode Hand are the only ftates, which did not
change their form of government after the down.
fai OF the britiih power. The only conftituti
on which Connecticut can be fuppofed to poC-
ieis, is the charter of Charles III but accord
ing to the republican definition, this is no con-
fttuton at all as it was not formed or ra-
tilted by the people, or their fpecialIy de-
legated agents. According to this princi
pie, MIR. Editor, we ourfclves have no con-
Intuition; as the inftrument, which has re-
celved this aPpellation, was adopted by an or
binary legislature, endowed with no fpecial pow
ers. This is queftion, fir, on which the peo-
pie OF Virginia cannot ponder too frequently or
too deeply.
N D z X.