The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-05-30
Neau-Tork, 92d January, 1906.

Neto-fWT, zz1 january, 1906.
Sir,
Onthe point of leaving the u. States allow
me to addrefs few words to you, to thank you
tor the attentions that you were pleafed to llhow
me during my tay at Warrington. The i'm.
portant concerns which then had the honour
to communicate to you, I doubt not, will re-
main profound fecret until the final refult of
that delicate affair (; have acted upon that fup.
petition here by conforming in every thing to
the intentions of the government, which hope
to have apprehended and obfe,ved with exaa-
peiS and ditcretion. The encIofed letter con-
ta,ns book which have promifed to the pre-
hdent ofthe U. States, and which pray you to
trantmit tohim. Have the goodnefs to prerent
my respectful compliments to Mrs. Madiron,
and to believe me with the higheit confederation
and eiteem, Sir,
Your very humble and obedient fervant,
(S.gned) FRAN. DE MIRANDA.
10 roe bon. James Madi/9n, efq. .~
Your memorable further RESPECTFULLY repre-.
tents, That theie letters were received by the
prelident and fecretary 70 as to allow ample
time for arrcfting the Leander before fhe had
left the port of New-York, if it had been the
Pieature OF government 70 to do, as the faid
mp did not leave the port of Ncw-York till the
fecond day of February lat.
from this ftateinent your memorable FRUITS
1t will appear that the fecretary of State and the
prefdent OF the United States had full know
ledge OF the intentions of general Miranda in
reipect TO the province of Caracas; and that
they alto knew he was making preparations at
this port to carry thefe intentions into executi.
on. That though the government would NOT
directly aid the enterprise of general Miranda,
yet they gave it their appreciation, and by their
| conduet encouraged your memorable to involve
hIm1eltin it. After this ftatenent of facts vour
memorialiit hopes that it will not be improper
1t ne adverts to the fate of our political affairs
at the time this veffel was equipped. The ore.
ildent, in his meffage at the opening of con-
greis, had in effect Represented the u. States as
on the eve of an inevitable war with Spzin :.
nay, from that meffage it did appear that the
mott fagrant and violent acts of hoftilitv had
been committed by Spain on the territorv. ver.
ieis, and citizens the United States, and that
10 far there was an actual war between the two
nations. AT the moment too that thefe prepa-
ratlons were making, congrefs were acting with
cloied doors, and in the opinion of the world
were occupied about our relations with Spain :.
at this period war might have been made bv
tne constitutional authority, and under that au
| thority the Prefident might have fanetioned a
noitiie military expedition, though there had
oeen no public declaration of war. IF congrefs
! mad leen ut to wage war with Spain, and il had
been thought proper to carry on fecret enter.
| prizes before the declaration was made, the exc.
CURVE would have been the organ through
which fuch enterprises mutt have been execut.
when therefore, your memorabilia was
certain that the pre6dent and fecretary of tate
aat t,s-.Hht Lnn,viedss &c Abs iut.rrfous of
neral Miranda, and that he was making prepa.
rat'ons to carry them into execution..wben
your memorable found that no meaf,res were
taken to check thofe preparations by the eye
cutive---and when in addition to all this. vour
memorabilia found that the bill for preventing
the expo cation of arms had been arrefted in ire
Progrefs, according to the prediction of the f..
cretary OF tate, your memorable could not but
conclude that the expedition of general Miran-
da, not only met the appreciation of govern.
ment, but that it was fanctioned by the laws.
Your memorable could not have believed that
he executive officers ofthe government, feeling
PREPARATIONS for an illegal enterprise, and poE.
ieiilhe power to arrelt them in their progreGs.
could calmly look on till the mitchell was com.
plete and then punlh the offence that thew
mad thus encouraged, and might have prevented.
Ii the object of government was only the pun(h
nent of crimes, fuch might be the conduit of
its ohcers; but if governments are inftituted
to be the guardians the peace, happinefs and
tranquility of fociety and of all its members.
then 1t is criminal in its officers to nurfe and
nourIif an offence, till it haIl attain its maturi
ty'that it may be fit Object, for giving effect to
the fanetions ofthe criminal code.
ITO be eonfinaed.)