The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-16

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GLIDING negotiation, which had been delayed
by caufes not ofa fufpiciousor unfriendiy nature.
II we had rcafon to believe that the delay was
IN Intentional generalization, for the purpole |
of deluding US, or for gaining time to take adj
vantage Of events. it would be fufhcient OBJ
lection to any fufpen6on. But he Jaw no ground
for fuoh a fufpiciou. They were ahUred. that
the negotiation was in favorable train and |
prcmifed refult mutually advantageous. He !
would, therefore, give full time for its concu- |
fion. Neither of the objeels propofed by a
fufpenGon, however, required 70 icpg time |
as until the lar OF Decembet. Bo'hof them |
would be ls,i-i.ea by carrying the fnipenfiop, |
to the firh of. July. The intervening period |
would, after making allowance for all ordinary
ohftacles. afford fifficirut opportunity for the
al to be tranfmiited to London, to produce its |
due effea there, and admit return of the re- |
fut. More than that ought not to be allowed. |
It would be going beyond the Objects of the |
fufpenion. : 1t would, in the event OF a failure
Of the negotiation, give an unnecef1ary pro-
traction to the operation ofeur prohibitory law.
1t would egince an unRable or doubtful policy,
and excite falpcion Of our lincerity or at
leaf Of our capacity to enforce the fyRem we
have adopted. BY a fufpenfion to the irft OF
July, we fI,ould admit the !prng impor,ations,
and thereby ihew- proper attention to the in
teteRs of orr merchants, without permitting
".
in the meaftiohe, might he provided for by
feparate claafe in this bill, or, which he fl,ou!d
prefer, by afepara.e acf; to be pafled, if nccef-
fairy, before the clofr Of the felton,. For thefe
Trafons he hoped the motion to fill the blank
with the STA OF Dec. would not prevail, but
that it would be filed with the firft Of July, a.
greeably TO motion, which had been made,
and withdrawn, but which he took the liberty
to renew.
MIR. SLOAN fid he hoped the motion to fiji
the blank with 70 late period as the slR of
Dec. would not prevail. He hoped alto that
the Houfe would take up the fnbjett with that
ierionfueis which its magnitude required. He
ihoud not recaptulate the oaufes which had in
duced Cosgreis at their lat frIion to pats the
prohbitory ad, as they mutt be in the rec ollcc
ton of the Houie. But he would afk gentle
men one queftion of ferrous import. What
facts had occurred to induce the Houfe to fuC
pend this ACT "A friendly diipo6tion mainifrft.
ed by the miniffry of G. b. This was the nj.
mof extent of the ground on which il was pro.
pofed to legllate. He would ak whether il
was fufficient ground to induce fufpeniion for
10 long time! He was willing TO meet friend
ly difpofitions on the part of Britain by friendly
d,fpohtions on our part. But did it appear that
any thing had been done which was permanent
or binding No-They had not been inform.
cd that \ Jingle preliminary article had been a.
greed upon. 1t was true that there was for
the preient a fufpenion of aggreifion on our
commerce and feamen-he therefore in IA
vor Of fufpeniion of the prohibitory act for
very fhort period. But he hoped that both
the motions which had been made would he
rejeeted, and an earlier day, about the clofe of
the iri.on. be introduced, and that the Pref.
dent might be empowered further to fufpend
the act, If occaiion fhould require, until the next
meeting of Congrefs.
Mr.. CROWNINSHIELD faid he could nc.
but regret that the gentleman from Virginia
after the vote IN the committee of the whole
hould have withdrawn his motion 10 fill the
blank with the 3oh day of Jane. When he
was up yefterday, tomc expreflions had Drop
ped from him of the confidence he entertained
with regard to the friendly difpoftion of c.. 3.
in her commercial relations with this country
Though that was his opinion, grounded on the
information contained in the mefTage of the
PRECEDENT, he had always confdcrcd the mea-
fures of O. B. as founded on fyhem of policy,
hottie to our growing commercial greatness.
IF ihe found our policy wavcriDg, it was very
poihble the might renew her former depredati-
ons on our commerce. 1t would be recolcet-
ed that 1t was very long period after the re-
mOnitrances were made by our minfters, before
any attention was paid to them, or they receiv-
cd an aniwer. Several months at lean eiapfed.
il had always appeared to him that the con-
duG of @. Britain had in this initancc been
governed by the ftate of the continent, and
that ihe had been controlled by continental E.
vents. u muh, too, be acknowledged that flne |
had never feriou1y entered into negotiation
with us unit! the paHage Of the prohbtory act.
Mr. c. faid it was his opinion, If we had not
acted with fpirt, Britain never would have ne
gocisted with us. Such being his opinion, he
was in favor of continuing the prnhb;ory law,
or offufpending i, only for a Mort time. Hell
was therefore oppoieh 10 filling the blank with
the soth Of Dec. With regard to his owD in
diyiduaI opinion, ne did not know whether he
ihoud be for making the fufpenfion go beyond
the prsient ieffion. For if events fhculd favor
new coalition, it was very probable her de.
predatons would be renewed. Although ap-
peaYances were fstteripg, fhe was undoubtedly
governed by events, and might in future change
her conduct. He could not agree that we ought
TO be Influenced by fome clouds in the weitern
country embodied by another nation. II would
make no difference in bis condud towards @.
3. ifthe country we've invaded even to Waih- |
ington. He would fthl perfft in tho fame poll
cy. There was no doubt that the u. s. could
re6t a combination Of all Europe, G. b. at
prefert appeared TO be friendly, and the nego- |
ciations might i1ue in iome commercial arrange
nents; but which might not prove satisfactory
TO the 1unfe. He did not therefore with 10
give up the law for 20 long time. He might !
agree TO it's fufpenhon 10 the fra of July. He !
did not think the iuieTef of the merchants !
ought 20 be coufideted' with regard TO their