The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-15


was wrong they produced alto an imprefiion
that 1t would be in vain on the fubje9 of our
differences with England, to aiIume a manly at
;itude towards her, if we became the panders
and caterers OF the luafu appetite Of France.
The queftion is now reduced to this point
whether the public fhall lead the fecret Journal
without understanding one word about it, or
thall read 1t inteligi5ly. Fort is impoflible to
decide how far the report of the felcd commit
tee is confident with the mef1age of the Pref
dent, unlefs that neifage is ALTO publiihed. A
difficulty may be raiied, by faying this is con-
fiden.ial meHage. But this is got over by the
publicity given to the proceedings on it. It
was confidential, becaue the proceedings on it
were 10. For inhance-let us fuppofe that the
U. 5. were preparing for fome Rrong and de-
cI!ive meafure againt Spain which it was poll
| tic to conceal from her tlltaken ; but as to a.
ny thing Deceive in the mefiaye no man can
contend that il contains any thing of this ma
| ture. When fpeak of the mefIage, do not
allude to the communications of the ninifter of
| the u. S. with the authorized agents of Spain.
| Though fee no reaion why even thofe lllould
not he publithed, as the negotiation has been
| entirely clofed by the abortion in which it has
| terminated. / however refritt my prefent mo-
tion othe meifage.
The public, from this vague and defutory
ketch, may acquire fome principles by which
to appreciate the condnd of members in this
| Houte. They will fee what members were diff
pofed to have adopted that conr(e which the
| mott authentic information from Europe recon-
rnended. They viii fee who were indifpofed
to acting through the Intervention of any foreign
power, and more Especially in the fhape of a
bride, and when fuch courfe was not afked
for by the Executive. They will fee who were
| thefe members and believe there are now but
few who would be willing to take the refpon-
hbility on themfelves which properly belonged
to another department of the government and
to do all the dirty work, which would other
wife have foiled their fingers. They will fee
| and beware.
Mr.. J. RANDOLPH concluded by NOV
ing that the mef1age of the PRECEDENT OF the 9th
of December laft be printed that it be Inherited
in the Journal of the fecret proceedings and
that new edition of that journal ihoud be
| printed for the ufe of the members.
/ Mr.. JACKSON. think it highly probable
that majority of this Houfe will be dfpofed to
take off She injunction of fecrecy, not only on
this document, but on all their proceedings /;
that the people may be enabled to judge for
themielves whether the approximations made
from time to time are correct but iubmit
whether it is correct in point of order to act in
this way. What is the retaliation adopted by
this Houfe That the Injunction of fecrecy,
other commune atoms, fhall be taken off. This
is not the proper courfe to effect the objeet in
view. /, for one, am willing to 60 into con-
clave, and have the Injunction on the whole ia
Il ken off. 1t is not my with to fee the eyes of
the people hoodwinked any longer. 1t has
been declared by the gentleman who has offer
ed this refolutiou, that we have not an inch of
territory beyond the Iberville. 1t was there
fore that Iconiidered it all important to have the
. "a A. II ~
grefs did in the memorable inftance of the pur-
chaie of Louiliana. And it was the fear that ia
king off the Injunction of fecrecy might affect
the ifue of this all-important negotiation that
| induced me fome time fnce. TO vote apairft IL
But during the whole of the difcufion we have
4 had on this fubjcEt, no proof has been ad ;.,.
ed, that the money we have appropriated is tn
be given to France, although the gentleman
from Virginia has declared there is no Spain. no
Pyrenees; althoughh he has declared that Spain
| is confeiiedly merged in France althouph he
has declared France would not permit Spain TO
fettle her differences with us, and although this
has been adduced as an argument to fhew that
we can do nothing with Spain !; and although
the gentleman has further faid that if we E onId
, lee the dispatches of the Spanifh minfer. we
ihoold fee them Gened 'Charles Maurice Tai.
'eyrand - and although he has alledged that
anegociation could not be opened with o o.
! vernment reduced to mere nonentity. as
| did not anticipate the motion of nv COLLEAGUE.
cannot be expected 10 be prepared to go info
an examination of motives, as has been done nv
my colleague, which influenced the decilion
of the Houfe. This could not he done unle 6
all the documents on this fubjeet were printed
Some gentlemen appear to me TO have given an
importance TO certain document which it does
not merit aud it has been iaid it was withheld
until our vote was taken for the purpofe OF
trepanning us. have heard of but two gen.
tlemen who have declared i'll would have afeA.
ed their votes. On me it would have had diff
ferent tendency. / with it pubhed. I will
FAY for one, that think, had it been received
before the paiiage ofthe bill, it would have had
a tendency to encreafe the majority, ltupendous
as it was, becaufe-but ] am not at liberty "a
fay why. l hope the Speaker will decide thi.
queftion not proper to be difcuGed with open
doors.
Mr.. J. RANDOLPH faid that he had TO hi,
aftonifhment, found detailed report on the
Journal, which it was not ufuaI to enter upon
it. He found alto three mefages, and this was
the only intance in which meaage was not en-.
tered upon it.
| Mr.. LEIB afked whether it was confident
with the rules oftbe Houfe TO have the meGage
now read IF it were not, he could not concur