The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-08-26

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ment of thefe publications, which induce us
to lay before our readers their rnof important
! contents. Such is the intercit they have excit-
ed IN Kentucky, that they have been reprinted
IN all the papers of that Gate. even in thof.
which pronounce them tiiIue of flanders. The
impreiilon appears to be general, that it is time
that the charges they expo(e tnould be brought
tolemnly before the bar of public opinion. and
receive the award they merit. When, indeed,
charges OF 70 deep hue thus widely diff
minated, the beft chance of obtaining an inipar.
tial & jun deoiiion on them, is to lay before the
public the materials on which TO form il by fut
fering them to hear all that can be faid on both
ildes. BY this courie il may be prcfumed that
IT the charges are founded in truth, tho!e they
implIcate will feel the weight of the public
ceniure and ifthcy are falfe, that iuaice will
he done to the Innocence of the accuted We
have another reafon for this courte Having re-
ceIved communication from arefoe6table cha
raeter in Kentucky declaring fome part of the
t'tements given in ,he Wcitern World incor-
rect' we cannot with any propriety infert this
communication without prrvioully pubiiihing
the ftatement TO which it relates
Let If, however, be undertood that in repub-
'l'hng thcfc pieces, we mean rot in the leaf
degree TO ianclon their truth. At prclent we
tcelit duty to ftand alpof from either fde
and we hail maintain this neutrality until we are
better Informed on the fubeGt than we are at
prefent.
There are, however, fome important facts,
winch our readers ought 70 know, as, without
them, they cannot fully undcritand the iuhett.
About the period when the Kentucky Spanih
huociatlon is faid TO have been formed, an in
tere!ting negotiation was depending between
this country and Spain relative to the navigate
on OF the Miiiiiippi. MIR. Jay, who was then
rtnifer TOR foreign affairs, condu ;ted the nego-
Grafton on the part of the u. S. with Mr. Gar
doqu', the Spaniih mnaer. 1t was well un-
ueritood that Spain was extremely averft to
yielding to us the free NAVIGATION OF this imp n
tant outlet to the productions of the weitern
country; and it was apprelieuded by the pco-
pie OF Kentucky and their nei.hbors that the
Atlantic itates were criminally infenible 10 the
magnitude of the Object. \ convention was
actually entered into between MIR. Jav and Mr..
Gardoqui, by which the U. S. abandoned the
navigation of the Miailippi for twenty-five
years, after which it was to be free TO the inha-
bitants OF both countries. This brought the
feelings of the people of Kentucky TO a crhs.
lhey perceived in this meafure, ihould il be
ratified by Consrefs, the grave OF their profoe-
10y il il, intieed, atrutn, winch cannot be
denied, that it would have been death blow
TO their greatness. It is but too probable that
1t would have led to an open difnenberment of
t"S u'Iobs vi Il idltIll aNeIlatiOn or Kentucky
from the U. s. In this point OF light it was
viewed by Congress, who, after long and pro.
tratted difcullion, rejected the convention.
During this dfcuiiion the party in favor of the
convention were very near effecting their OBJ.
lJect, no LET'S than ieven ftates, If we are cor
rectIy informed, having, in fome preliminary
oueitions, manifefed their frendlinefs to it.
/ ne preient federal contribution was about this
time unlimited TO the feveral ftates for ratiHca
ton. Kentucky was fill politically part of
virginia. When the convention Of the latter
tate met, it was foon difcovered that, 60 far as
depended on her vote, the contribution hung in
awful intPenfe. In the progrefs of the debates
turn fnB Ba tfhatthe yotesfrom Kentncky would
thai we are to afcribe the animated debates tina,
aroie n-elatve to the navigation of the MifTii6n-
pi. 1hoie who were hottie TO the contribution
endeavored to convince the Kentucky DELEGATES
'hat, under the new notifications of power
ana MS d'trihution among the different fates
the ealtern itates would have it in their power to
enter INTO compact which would (scrifice their
intsreits while, the friends of the conHitu,on
WIN more correctnefs, argued that the interefs
OF Kentucky, as well as the finaler hates womb
be rendered more fecure by the new nrnvifors
or the contribution. On the efabl;fbm,nt IF
the latter principle the Kentucky votes f,,rned
and on thofc votes the ratification of ths con
ttuton entirely depended. The(s faf1s dc
montrate the fenfbity felt, at that time. bv III.
people OF Kentucky, on this point, and the de-
gree OF alarm produced by the recent meafures
OF the then exiting government.
~ Extracts from the L" WeGern World ,v;ji ~
pear in the next Enquirer.