The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-10-24
GDe Gnauirer.
RICHMoMD, a4tb ocroBER
IMPORTANT FACTS.


Bolton Chronicle, to the pen of Mr.. Bdwel
OF Mahachufetts. Thefe fatements will be
before the public. Be it their province 70
judge between DECIUS and CATOl
On the leading principle of Decius, which
rcipeets the Administration, we have already ex-
pretied our decided difient. Subfeuuent renec.
tons have only ferved to confirm US Till more
ftrongly in that reelection.
But we deem the following facls of inelfima-
bic importance, in the deciiion of this fubea.
They are fubmitted without the leaf regard to
method, but with mot perfect reliance on
their truth.
it, 1t is ftated in the fecret meiIage, tha,
we nave reaton to believe, that fhe (Franc, J
was dhpoied to effect fettement on plan a.
MALICIOUS to what Our miu;Pevy rad breboGe8. -
To this paf1age, Decius fuhions note, expla-
natory of the plan on which, he fays, our mi
nliters were dilpofed TO &c effect fettlement."
But Decius's explanation is incorrect in two
material points.
l. 1t is not true that " our minifters had pro-
poied to /nrrerder cur claims'' for fpoliations
committed by Spanifh CRITTERS as well as for
French fpoliations carried into Spanifh ports.
he truth rs, that our minitters were inftruSfed
to make no treaty in which thofe Spaui6 claims
were not provided for at the fame time they
were not authorized to abandon thofe upon the
fFench government, though t:iey were permit
ted to be Fient with re%peet to them.
9. 1t is not true, that our minitcrs, in agree.
ing 4" TO etabli!h the Colorado as the Weffern
boundary of Loufiana," IS had been Obliged to
exceed the authority of their izyqru6ious.'' Our
ute was contidered good as far as the Rio
bravo; yet IN proportion to what they could
obtain EgRzVara of the Mif1iiIippi, our minif
tiers were authorized to relnquiib 70 much 70
the NsfzOard, and in this manner Esccs6f,s "a.
crihces were marked out, which were not to
be limited even By the Colorado itfelf.
1t is certain, that tboje infruGtions were ne
yer eWCiaIp communicated to Congrefs but it
is equaliy true, that they were the fube6t of
concentration at Warrington during the laf (ef.
lion Of Congrefs, and that they were known RI
thoie who had required explanations upon the
fubieGt. '"~
pad the mediation of France been accent
ed; had treaty been concluded upon terms
analogous TO thoe propofed by our mir:i,-
tiers there cannot exit adoubt, tina, we n,ould
have adJuited our claims nbon Stain in all their
extent; that we ihould have EXCHANGED a nor
non or Louiiana bordering on Mexico. for
lone OF the territory on the EAT of the Mif1if
hpPi aud that we ihouid have acquired the
rehdue by parchafe. In the words of the fecret
fnenage, we ihould have executed plan of ac-
commodation &c 70 comprehensive. astn r.r,,,y
FS'A'S'N s''S G'Oui!uS OF IAfNre [OIIgfcY
ana confroT'eCyy on the Eaftern as well as WET
ern iide of the Mifilfippi."- Yet are we gra1,e-
y toio' that all our proportions to abandon
every clam tor previous injuries, as well AS the
ia'reit ana argeit portion of our late ac1aaftion
ana all this too without any eguizaleut, had
been " rejected by the court of Madrid with
Thus, fays Decius, ended the negoc;ati-
on ,, true: But does it therefore follow that
an neeociation was at an end that beeauie
one mode OF adjufting our differences was re-
Jec'ed' there was no other which could be
properly proPoied or would be readily accent.
ed f! Can it be fairly Affected, that ,l,srS efort
to negotiate had completely failed, becanCe the
court OF Madrid was unwilling to exeEo1es
the ao6Ole OF their poi1eitions on the EAT of the
MiiliiPpl tor territory on the Wet though
they were fill willing to evcbange part and
toJeHthe remainder ?-As 10 this lztfe- n, ode
OF adjuitment, 70 far as it relates TO the CON
duct OF the a6minjRrufion itfef, the reader
ihali hereafter have the true hiiory of the tranf
action. "~ ''''''''
end. Mr.. Randolph is reprefented to have
oeJected lin his converfation with the Pref.
neht) TO the appropriation of two millions for
the purehale Of Florida, becaufe {" Great. Pr.
tain, with whom we had fcrious MATS - -
controversy, would coufder our flnnIvinc her
enemies with money as breach of our neutral.
lty." To this paiIage, Decius fubioips the
following Note " IT is believed, that the Lon.
mana treaty was Gnteaatel to obviate this We.
rv d'ihcnity. Ifmoney, why not warlke flores,
or even fleets and armies ?''
AS to the PRINCIPE itfelf, which ia involved
IN this objection, we deem the anfwer of Cnro
a tuifcent refutation. "It is not eafv for me
TO conceive how payment of auo1ey to oge he'll
Hgerent, tor the fair PtrebaI Of lard for his ozp,
ule, could interfere with our neutral obligation.
any morethan to pay money for exiting debt,
or the pnrchaie Of merchandise, which has no.
VfT been conidered, in theory or practice. in.
eonhFe7t with neutral character. The firm.
pulous delIcacy q. the ol,ie9or, on the for
OF neutrality, was excrcifed only towards nv.
OF the belhgerents. Notwithstanding his eyer.
tons to convince the Houfe that our paving
money to France or Spain for boua.fde our.
chale OF territory, would violate our neutral du.
ty, he appeared willing to make important "a.
crl1ces OF the rights OF our leamen and rom
msrce to Great-Britan, becaufe fIe was rho.
cling for her exftence, and fighting the battles
ct the world On tint fde, he difcovered mo
)Htb delicate /c,Hble5 about ncutralitvD
AS to the fad itfelf, which Decius aIludes 70.
1t IS an " airy nothing" The Louifana trea'
ty was (h0f) annotated, left Great Britain
ihouid confider our fuppIying her enemies with
money as Il breach of our neutr,litv - En1.
nc z'ety eVordj of the treaty had been agreed
upon, 1t required fome intermediate tine
perhaps /o-s day., to make out all the
copies in that very fplendid ollie, in which Pc.
naPartes treaties were always tranfcribed