The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-10-24

l v, w
inteyeR of Grcat-Britain herfelf to ann him.
srd. Where are the proofs of that /" double
iett OF opinions and principles the one oReu-
we, to go upon the journals and before the
public, the other efficient and the real motives
to atiion," on which MIR. Randolph 70 fully
expatiates. The Prefident Informed the le
giilature of the evro.gS committed by Spain,
and recommended that brsanrotions fhouid BE-
made to repel them by farce, if farce Homd be
aofoluteiy neeeGlry. But as it might ftill be
poiiible to effect fettlement By neyocintio1,
the Prelident afiled for fuch means from Con-
grefs, as might enable him to meet the nepocia-
fion, under what fhape it niigbt a Time. He
communicated the 6rt part of this fvRem
pn5liely the fecond priVafely. But both were
equally official both equally involved the ref
ponibility of the Executive both were equal.
ly 4" to go on the journals"
4tb. But it was anerted by Mr.. John Ran
dolph, on the floor of Cougrefs, that the PR
e6ale OF Florida was in direH oppejftiOn to the
Ihdent's o57cial communications" But the bub-
he mefiage of the PRECEDENT 70 far from recon-
mendng etnr, has gone no farther than to re-
commend that we lhould be pretarelfor il bythe
adoption OF certain defentive mcafures flich as
the Qualification of the militia, the contribution
Cum Boats, and the fertilization of our Ports
and iiarbours. Thofe very members of Con-
ereis who were bett acquainted with the iudi-
z'id0ai opinions of the PRECEDENT. well knew
his ooboEtion TO ofeAfve meafures.* As to the
priT'ate metlage, it is obvious that the purchafe
of the Fioridas was perfectly in anton with its
expreiiions. II afked the means of negOciafion
III terms, which covered that proposition as evil
IDENTIFY, as it was either proper in itielf or COM
plimentary to the wiidom of Congrefs, explicit
!y TO declare.
5th: MIR. John Randolph and Decius have
boldly aferted, that Mr.. Monroe's t,ifpatcbes
OF the 18th and 25th of October, "had mott
important bearing upon our S6auiB relations"
The tlaa IS, that theie dispatches related almoit
entirely to our Brifi@ concerns. OF FOUR rela-
tons with Spain, MIR. Monroe knew nothing
particularly important, fncc he had left that
country. In thefe difpatches, therefore, he
merely exprefes his own opinion of our tranf-
factions with Spain, of which, he well knew.
we had received better information than he
could pofiby poiTefs Mr.. Monroe's opinion
was certainly entitled te refpeet.; but it was
no more than the undoCumented opinion of a.
ny other fenhb!e MAI. 1t was proper TO COM
municate thefe diipatches in company with the
BritjA papers and with them only. Had the
Prefii'ent withheld that letter, for the purDofe
ofinfluencing the deliberations of Conerefs, it
would not certainly have been fubmittcd to
their infpeeion, bef5re The Senate mad difoatch
ed our affairs with Spain, and Eef5re they had
received thefe very papers from the lower
Houte. But at the qsry moment, when the
Houie of Representatives, were ready 10 proceed
with their invehigation into Brill affairs, was
Mr.. Monroe's letter communicated TO both
Houies; letter, which related peculiarly TO
thnfe affa'rs. ard s!s;c! ogreiai, only as 1t
related to them. But it was at this brefi6 mo-
ment too, that the Senate was prepared to en-
ter upon our Spanfh relations
9th: 1t is mott ltronely intimated hy n
cius, that the Prelident wifhed to throw the
whole responsibility of that meafure on Con-
grets and yet on this point, did Mr.. Ran.
doiph venture to charge the cabinet Tor ra-
ther mo-eH6inet) win an intention of appro-
prating millions Of money, without anv pre-
vlous appropriation by law. Inftead of i'm
Phcitly relying upon fome vague infinuations
uttered by the fecretary oil the Treafurv " with
his characteristic caution," bad MIR. Randolph
amicably coniulted the Prefident on the truth
OF thefe inhnnations, it would have faved him
felf from the pain of having this cautious friend
exhibited, 10 very little to his own fatisfaction.
on the floor of Congreis.-But VIVA. is the
real hatement of the truth on this fubisct ,
THREE or toW- qveek5 before the meeting of Con-
greis, dllpatches had been received from our
mn'iters, announcing the difpslition of France
towards the pnrc6aje of the Fioridas. The
queition was Immediately tarted in the Cabinet.
whether our minfers Mould not he inftru6ted
to conclude a Treaty. The PRECEDENT himfelf
was willing to feize the moment for neeocia-
ton. But when it was fuggeHed, that a very
mort time only would elapfe, before the leeif-
ative body itieIf would be in geilion, it was
concluded to be much more reipec1ful to wait
tor their meeting, and to confult them upon
the iublect. Nota doubt was entertained that
1t would be Immediately taken up and aimof
imn'ediately nded on. Hozv mueb time qyof
nieleisly and fatally loft is wei known 10 every
man What is to be the concurrence Of this loC;.
can only be aicertained by the actual fate Of
the negoeiafion.
This fmple fatement will convince every i'm
paTtia man, that the motives unrenerouG, ar
cribed 10 Mr.. Jsferfon, are quiftoat exil,0ee.
One only suction can he formed and that is
mere quefton of policy. Was it beft for Mr..
jettertnn to coniult the opinion of conprefs,
before he attempted to conclude the trestv Of
purchaie? On hisquefion our own deiibe-
rate opinions are completely in his flvour. 1T.
Becauie the treaty mating power, which de-
wolves upon the Preident and ,wo-thirds of
the Senate the mott important branch of leyic
aton, is productive of much lefs danger, when
the II. OF X. is coniulted, and when they par
tlcipate IN the a3miion or rejection of thofs
meatures, which might be foyted upon them.
Where moncy is to be granted, their eoulsnt ia
indhpeniible; but they will certainly ad with
much greater propretY when the fubiect is o.
riginal than when it is nchoate. Had Congr1fs
been called upon (for inRancel to determine