The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-10-28

for the purcbafe of Florida, as the moff prooer
means of removing all occaiion or future cof-
troverfy, as well as adiufting presnf difference
Another objection, Gmilar to that which we
have lat been coniidering, was, that neeocia-
tion for Florida, after the total failure OF our
late attempt to adult our ddpues with SPAIN
would be "a protration of our national honor
at the feet of our adverfary." But the MAORI.
ty could not be perfuaded that the true honor
or the interea of the nation (Which are always
tnieparable) would be profraied by renewing,
before tinal refort to war, the attempt to eff
feet tettlemcnt by negotiation, and that &C on
a plan analogous to what our miniiters had
propofed," which embraced fatsfaction for
paft injuries, /" and 70 comprehensive, rs to re-
move, if pofii5les the grounds Of future COLI
non and controversy on the eaftern as well as
weftern fde of the MifliIipp:." The doctrine
that when one effort to negotiate cofsipromifr
OF differences with foreign government has
tailed, no further negotiation on the flbie6
can be offered, confidently with national no.
nour, but that an appeal to the fword is the
only honourable refort, might compoyt with
the ancient fpirit of chivaIry, but is exploded
OF the good fenfe of modern times, and is GER
talnly not congenial with the pacific policy of
a republic, in which the great Object of govern
ment is, not the glory of ambitious rulers, but
the haPpinefs OF the people. Peace ought fure
~ TO be purified, by perseverance, in all rea-
ionaoie means of accommodation, until war
becomes indifpenlibly necefary and that ne.
ceiiity fhould be feen aud felt by the nation,
who are to bear its burdens and caamities, as
wei as by the government, which is to conduit
its operations. In the prefent cafe, the enlarg-
cd object OF the prepofed negotiation was an
additional argument in favor of 4 new attempt,
II a Purchafe ofthe remaining Spanifh terrific
RES on this fide of the MifIifiippi could be eff
tected on reafonable terms, it would be an ac-
quihtlon univerfall-. admitted to be highly de-
hrabIe. If the effort ihoud not be crowned
with iuccefs, and war, after all, prove iaevita-
oie' we ihould have the fatisfattion of having
difcharSed an important duty the money ap.
propriated towards the purchafe would remain
IN our treafury unexpended, and the nation,
iatIsf1ed that no rational means of paciication
mad been neglected, would unite their energies
IN proiccuting war thus impofed upon them
Tor the defence of their violated rights
We have now, fir, examined the principal
objections againf the meafure adopted by Con.
greis. The arguments in fsvor of il have, in the
courie OF the examination, been incidentally
and very partially exhibited A more detail d
view OF them might be uieful, but mutt for the
Preient he omitted
The final iiiue of the neafure is UNCERTAIN.
The unexpected and unprecedented opDelitiou.
winch II had to furmount the protraction Of
ITS paliage, until, perhaps, the moit favorable
crlns for negotiation was thereby Ion the pre-
mature difclo!ure of the fecret proceedings of
the Houie of Representatives. the ncwf5aper
puoIcations, which followed, and the national
irritations hnce, occafoned by various circum-
tances, have all tended to timinih, the expec-
.atlon OF fucceis, which might otherwife have
been re"iouabfy INDUCED The event is in the
hands OF an over-ruling Providence.
CATO.