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

nations declining at any time TO a..er. Il RICH.
was tantamount TO the abandonment. of inc.
right. This would be mott dangerous doctrine
indeed for it would 60 to this, that natior
fhou,d in no cafe take advantage of the oprrati-
OH of chances, that it il,onld not delay for any
considerations OF policy the altrtion Of right,
but at the r;R ofloiing The right altogether.
With refpe3 to the nature OF our connivance
in the payment of the fubfdy to France, it was
clearly underfood to reit upon the performance
of certain conditions on the part Of Spain thore
were the ce!fation of ali ornaments in the
Spani!h ports, and the prohibition of the march
of any French troops through the Spanir, ter
ritory. In cafe of a ftriet conformity to thefe
conditions, and alto the prevention OF ra!c Of
prizes in the Spanith ports, the Spaniar,!s were
to enjoy the advantage of what he would call
fufpenion OF hoftiIties, fill bearing in mind,
that we never gave up our original right of war,
ifthofe conditions hould not I've fulfilled. The
different denominations given to- the agreement
were really of little confeuuence. NJ Cevallos
called tia treaty OF neutrality, although Mr.. FIRE.
re, in the letter of the 2sth of February, pro-
polling that agreement, defcrihed it as propofi-
iion OF forbearance. M. Cevaos in his anfwcr TO
that letter of the 9th of March, termed i.
convention of neutrality, but the name was i'm,
material if the offence of the thing was obferv-
ed. There was, however, fome difference in
the conjunction of this agreement, and upon
that point the learned gentleman who fpoke lalt
would inhft, that the contribution fthe Spanifl,
Government ought to have been received, but
this he denied. To us, from whom the PROMO.
.iion originated belonged the right of defining
it. 1.-THE Spanih government wifhed for dif-
ferent arrangement, it was competent to them to
propofe it, out they could not alter the contruc.
ton Of that which we offered. Ourswa finn
pie proportion of forbearance upon certain fDe
cited terms, but the Sparifh Miniftrv thought
proper to term Ii a convention of neutrality
This term was, it was to De prefnned more
grateful to them, and it would he captious to
quarrel with them about words. We told them
that we ihould content 10 forbear for definite
period, for a definite purpofe, to their advance
of the fnbfdy alluded to, which purpofe, if not
aniwered, our forbearance mum ceaEe. As TO
the principles Of national honor and good faith.
which had been referred to in the courfe OF the
debate, and which Tome gentlemen aferted had
been outraged by the manner OF commencing
the war with Spain, no man was more anxious
TO maintain thofe principles unfiiaken than he
was-and he would ever contend that there was
not the iightet violence of thoie in the conduit
purified by minilters; but, on the contrary,
that they were religioully attended to.-What
was the Gale between this country and Spain
Very early in the negotiation we ftated, that we
ihould look upon any hottie ornaments in the
Spaniih ports with the utnlot iealoufy, and af
forwards, left there fl,ould be any difpnte as to
the nature OF what was to be conlidered holtile
armament, it was brought to this detercoiuate
point, that there fhould be cefat;on of all ar
rnaInents. This was acccded to BY Spain, and
It was obferved, that it was humiliating con-
citIon to require Of what fome gentlemen
thought proper to call neutral power. But
this was character which, from the treaty of
lldephonto, did not belong to Spai'. He would
admit that it would not be competent TO any
fate to make fuch propoGtion to neutral
power, becauie finch power might well anfver,
eve are arming TO fave our neutrality" or nate
other reafons that would be deemed iuficient
a neutral power Spain was not 10 be conGiered
by his country, for this plain rea.on that, from
her Peculiar petition, any armament that might
be prepared in her ports was Liable, by the con-
iroihpg power of France, 10 be converted at a.
ny monet into an hottie armament againlt us.
o put atop to fuch armament altogether,
therefore, wAs necefary to our fccurity, and
Span conientd to do 70, as part of the condi-
tons OF our defining to make war upon her.
That TINS formcathe condition of our forbear-
ance' according 10 NE understanding Of Spain
herfrlf, he need onl!refcr to the feveral diff.
patches of Cheyacr Ce,alos 10 NJ. d'Anduaca,
and the notes of the later TO our MiniIter for
Foreign Affairs, refpeetingsur complaints rs 70
the preparation Of certain ermamcnfs in The
Spaniih por;s.-Thefe arrlauen;s. notyy;tb.
itandng the NOT poiitiYe engagement TO the
contrary, il was notorious were;o nrrnaration
at the time we proceeded to that, 3. which !,
was faid we Gould not have attemp.d vi,hou,
giving previous notice of hofility. b. that no.
tice, he maintained, Spain was not e,.tIed ~
look for, becauft her preparation Of an, ar,,.a-
rOent, without previous explanation TO, tb;-
Court as to- the amount and object ofGucE' .r.
inament, was an act of abfo'ute hoailit Non h,r
part.--'The order, therefore, which wa$Gueo
by Mniters on the receipt of Admiral Och.
rane's dispatches relative to the armamcntNt
Ferrol, was perfectly juaihable. 1t had BEEN
iaid !ha. the Object of that armament was not
hoh'le to this country but, if not, if it was
merely meant for the conveyance of troops TO
Biicag. as was pretended, Why was rot the pur.
poGe Of it explained to This country before the
preparation OF it was commenced This was
required by the terms OF their agreement but
Il fact was, that not withdrawing the preten-
c. aliedced, there was fomethng peculiarly
myherious in that misunderstanding tn al
cen 20 this hour had not been satisfactorily ex.
planned.
From all Appearances. and the Information
whch Gus gover',,rpt received, it was an ar.
maneM that he thought could not have beer
made without hottie purpofe. II even ncu
ira! po@er were preparing an extraordinary ar
mament, the Object Of which fflc ihould on APP
t,iicatiou decline 70 cxDIan. tte ;,owcr aoolv