The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-08


ties with her enemies your hands are tied up
from taking againtt them. any fnch u,eafures as
the one propofed they are to be admitted on
the terms Of the NOR favored nation. This is
probably one of the principal caufes Of eiifpuft
to England. Again, fhe made an offer to repeal
her discriminating duties, if you would do fo
too to trade with Hs upon even terms. BY
mercantile clamor You were deterredirom meet
ing her half way moreover, you have refufed to
ratity treaties with her, after they had been
tigned by your own miniRer. No doubt you
had the right to do 10. But can you be fur
priied under fuch circumstances that a naughty
commercial rival has been irritated. After
your citations to France, who Cannot receive
a Jingle pound of fugar, ar coffee, but under
cover of your flag, who is dependent upon you
for fervices which fhe cannot render her.elf, who
Is n2f your rival in commerce, what can you
expect from jealous competitorin trade who
itands not IN need OF your navigation-whofe
every advance towards good understanding
has received Notifying repulfe ! Sir, you
have at this moment negotiation pending with
G. Britain. You have no caufe to defpair of
its fuccefs (; far otherwife. The plain queftion
is, will you await its iffue, or will you peuIenfe
lite, precipitate yourfclf into meafurc, which
mutt put all negotiation aide, (which NUT e.
ventuate in war. If you want war. there is no
doubt that you may have it. Great Britain
will not fubmit to al! the hardlhips and miichefs
of war, becaufe you choofe to call it peace.
She will prefer open war to war in difguife and
!, iir, have no heftaton in faying that am for
no half neaiures. Begin that fyftem when you
will, war. or difgrace mutt grow out of it.
am for neither. The gentleman indeed fiys that
this, which has been denounced as a war rnea-
inre, is meafure of peace. L-tus have no more
7aaSi wars. befeech you, iir--no half meafures,
no intermediate tage, but open war or peace. ]
abhor this political quackery. Give us war or
negociation--if you refort to the one let us a.
baadon the other. But we are afsed if Ameri-
can virtue will 70 far degrade and debate itfelf
as to treat with the old and corrupt govern
ment OF England. There is plain anfwer to
this. You have treaty with her now, with
every government, ! believe, that would make
one with you. But whit we boat of our viz
tue, let us beware that our own fins are not caft
| into our teeth. Let us fee, how far thefe
punttilios are warranted by the conduct of our
| own agents. Look to the management ofthe
convention of Paris, of the 3oth April, sos.
You have all feen the cafe Of the N. Jerfcy,
Nicklin and Griffith's fhip. It has created a
general fenfation. And yet what is the fact.
Compared with others, they have almoft mo-
thing to complain of. Bad as that cafe is, it is
amongR the leat exceptionohle initances of
mifcou'imd in your minifry at Paris. 1t is true
| Nicklin and 0rifhfth's claim was cut down, I
believe one half, bccaufe the fun appropriated
| would not otherwife Git was feared) be faf1icicnt
| To anfwer all the drafts of chicanery upon IT,
Thefe men were, therefore, multted fifty per
cent. They are rich merchants-ablc to make
their cafe known. 1t has been heard, and has
! rung through the continent. There are hun
dreds of cafes even worfc than this. The claims
| intended TO be provided for are fet aide. WHY !?
Becaufe government has been Represented a.
broad by unfaithful, difhoncft agents. Have
they been called TO account for their conduct |:
Three millions feven hundred aud fifty thoufand
dollars ftipulated TO be paid, to bona ide Ane-
rican citizens--where have they gone Into
the pockets of Tenegadoes and the bureaux
of Paris. Yes, the traders in neutral charaete
have divided the fpoil with the harpies of the
French bureauX. TheCe are they, in whole
favor the bills have been drawn on the treafii-
nv of the u. States by their own mniher.
Take the cafe ofthePigou-there was no queffion
indeed as to her being American prperty--brt
fhe was captured fagraute 6eLo :--(vhen we
were taking the Infurgente and Berceau) fhe
WAS therefore good prize, and condemned ac-
cordingly. Yet the decilion of the inferior
court was reverted by the council of prizes, &
this cafe Brought within the convention-to the
evolution no doubt of bona fide claims for neu
frai American property captured and condemn
ed, and for which the convention was intend
ed to provide. This is fprcimen Of the mode
of doing buhnefs at Paris. IF gentlemen doubt
upon the fubieet, let them call on the fecretary
of Rate, for the correspondence of the commit.
6Ouers. Let them call fer John Mercer, one
Of thoft commilIioners, a man inferior to few
in point of talents in point of character to
none. Put him to the bar and examine him.
Painful as it is to me, mutt defend my prin-
cipies and thofr of my friends. Open your
ftatute book-wtat does il fay That the flores
aud waters of the bay and river Mobile fhail
form diftriGt-I brought in the bill myfef.
The executive had informed US, that we had
purchafed from France as far as the Perdido to
the eaf-We leg:flated upon it-Whence have
aricn your difputes with Spain-From Penfa-
cola or St. Augufine /! No-from the very
country which the aatute book fays is yours.
in your own collection diaritt are Spanifh du-
ties esaeted and paid-from this very quarter
incuriions have been made into the old United
States. Do gentlemen believe that this fact
will be Ion en Great Britain? But we are ak
ed (by Mr.. Smiley what has fhe to do with diff
ferences between us and Spain !--What right
has ihe to interfere, to enquire, even to know,
tn feen CONTIGUOUS of what has pafIed in that
quarter Is this intended as a ferrous quefti.
on! Becaufe you have ciapped paddock up
on your own mouths and wilfully fhut your
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