The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-05-07


~ and moderation, yet with vigilance alacri-
| ty and iirmneis; and therefore that gentlemen
were not TO fatsfy themielres of the truth of
iuch allegations, left they mould damp the pub
lie ipIrt, he felt himfef called on to enter more.
at large into the ubiect, and in he lirt place TO
enquire if this was really the fituaion OF that
houie, that if mininers choie 70 plunge into 4
war on unjnftifiable grounds, they were not en-
TITLED 10 enquire into the caufes of it, Left in 60
dong they fhould damp the fpirit of the coun-
try. If this was really 70, ne il,ouid Win to be
| informed for what reaion they lat there, and
what was the meaning OF the bundles of papers
in the hands of the members and lying on the
table of the houfe? The difcuiIion by which
t..'s war had been preceded, were flid By thofc
who diiapproved of the way in which he
thought, TO have been marked by uncommon
torbearance, and, at the fame time, by visour
and energy. There was, however, within tie
lait century. but one war in which this country
was engaged, in which the integrity of Great
Britain had been queftioned and that was war
aGainit Spain. From this very realon ought we
TO have been particularly cautious of common
cling hoiilites againft her, unlefs on the ceareft
and mon nndeniable grounds, left our motive
fhould be quettoned. Spain was at the time
to which he alluded more generalization than
The was at pretent, and the more were we call
ed on to guard againit our integrity being fuf-
peeled.
When country, like Spain, rich in pillaee
and weak in power, was about to engage in war
with powerful fate, il was natural to feel fuf-
picious that her riches and weakness might have
contributed to involve her in that ituation: and
If 10, was it not for the honour of the country,
that the caufes of the preftnt conteff ihouId be
Investigated, and our INTEGRITY eitabliihed
When the laft treaty of prace was concluded,
he h Il a.. 4
the recognition of it the fubGitence of the de-
fenve treaties between France, Holland, and
Spain, and had fubmitted now far, while iuch
treaties exifed, we could, in cafe of new war
with France, regard thofe other two powers as
in fate OF neutrality. Mnfers then made
light of that objection, but they themfelves fart
cd it in the beginning Of the prefent difcuhion.
The learned gentleman then went through the
different points which lad formed the fubeGts
OF ditculions in the cour!e of the correfpond-
ence and contended that on none OF them had
our government put things in 70 clear and regu-
Var fate as to make them the legitimate flIb-
ietts of war. By the waverirg policy of the late
adminii}ration, or by their weakness and inbe-
ulity, or by what other name the prefent mi
filters cho'e to term it, the country had unquef-
tonably been placed in difagreeahe fituaiion
Bit had the preient niinifers eXtricated them
ieves or the country on. OF it, or had they not
rafer added to the antiquities and doubts
wlch formerly exited, Others Of a more extra
Marry and more fatal kind.-Lord Hawkeii.u-
rIEad, in mis- communications with the Soaniil
mHhiter, recognized conventions or communica-
til which were now Gated never to have had
AMI exittence; and for the refu!t of explanati-
onl for which Mr.. Frere had been referred by
th3 Prince of Peace to ri. Ccvallos, rlnsters
wttld now refer the houfc to letter dated the
dal before Mr.. Frere had Gated his intention of
applying for the explanation at leaf, If not to
be kund in that letter, nlinihers did not know
wh1e fuch explanations was 20 be had. The
qul1on then which remained was, in what f.
tual pm the faith Of the country food, in feizine
on E Spanllh ihiPs, without giving any init
maj n to that effect, and without any declara-
tory hoitilities? 1t had been maintained by
the frned gentleman on the other fde, that
thoJ b no poGtiye declaration of war had been
mad there might be conditional one. In IL
luitrt1on OF this opinion, the learned gentleman
had (ferred to the infeance Of capture of fome
SPafvh Hips made by our fleets in the year
l757pefore the declaration Of war this, how
ever,l Ias an act for which, by the bef inform
ed tlmolt leaned men who are accuRoncd
to jun on matters of this kind, our govern
ment that day are highly cenfured, to ufe no
hariht cxprefiion. The learned gentleman too
had al led to an embargo laid on that time
by tbt ,aHiards on our Hips. He wilied the
learne ntleman had read the words in whicl
that er rgo was noticed, as it would he
fhewn it took place fubltquent to the Ip-
ture of .Spanilh vefIeis by our fleets, AZ was
ftated a ing the reafon of laying on e EN-,
barge, ring, at the fame time, tha'f would {
be impa e ever after to truft lis org eve OF I
a war. is fhewed the danger :. throwing .
the hon ,,of a country on extr9| binary rules c
of law (; l the learned gentls,"m. "TuIp re- '
coiiect, 70 fupport his ar-'nei'f' ne mutt Il
have be, cible to thew seI.itany exceptions
from theV neral rule, w. ~" ua'e ne nao u
cited couA lone be cong'red, as wouid them c
felves ma rule in e/or of his argument. h
He ,vo,,Ip 81, cnd - ttbeauthor on whom he +
+chieav bn nc C,,1,1tinSlis ideas of the law, Q
foeaLs onv in ~ paGaf alluded to by the f
Iearned ,,a .so,z. of extrne cafes, and in se- f.
reraIJavs "Butl people and all To- II
vere;cns M snanimitvill not wage war II
,yb;cS L,s =. Seen deded." The learned II
gent,emay kSbooed, WI not win 10 deprive II
This conty ~ the fofgn of this country, Il
of tbe Tac = &c malimlty; though, in. d
deedfe COZ '.Ged thdDions of the learned :,
ee, man, taten tohe !tdudard by which n
~ conduc ,as 10 eu'ated, would have G
At effect IA . suIleEi5e fenfe of the ex- u
,reflion. ;.
The Matte PC the faid, that he would Z,
'ais by thoie r;nts. which 10 much had o
,een laid by leaIiend, who had jun e
ut down, and ottlemen in the courG. =.