The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-07-22

bundanty fuficient for my purpofe than this fpeech
of Mr. Randolph!
It cannot be fuppofed that his maieny's nn;niaer
can with precpitatey to relinqulh our belligerent
rights pre,enGons this mott delicate cris, unles
from the fear that an immediate rupture with Anne
RIGA mutt be the consequence Of furthar delay but
furely rehetng mind after attending this peech,
publiihed, as well as fpoken by American political
leader of the firh eminence retain that idle app
PrehenGon.(5)
The occalion of Mr.. Randolph's argument, wa,
motion made by the n,oG jealous of the French party
for general non-imFortasion bill &c. for the pro-
hbition of importing any Britih manufactures, while
the diiPutes between the two countries unettsd
and the event of this motion decion in the
gative, by majority of 20 to I7-It appears there
tore that Mr. Randophs vsry pozveyful and eloquent
0rgHmenfs, were aheuted to by large majorty(6)
Afterwards, on the 9Th of March, a limited non
Importation reiolution brought in by the fame
party, and carried divi(ion of 81 to IS, in the
Houfe of Representatives blu. from the lateh ac-
counts there is reafon believe thar it was rejected
by the Upper Houfe or Senate.(T
The Oppohtion headed by Mr. Randolph, had de-
eated in former naances the violent propoals OF the
government party, rather of the French faGon by
which the government party itfelf was puihed
violent neaiures. (s) Yet thegovernment & the
French faction, did venture to propofe irnmedi-
ate war. When therefore we inffru6ed by this
ap'e ou principles ana views
OF the American oPpoGton; and perceive that
with this country would he moi powerfully oppofed
even in cafe OF hrong & acknowledged provocation
1t feems absolutely impo0ible apprehend that the
Congreis would refort that extremity, or to fuch
ofenve meaures mutt Inc vitality lead TO war; ra!
ther than admit Of delib crate or even tedious diC
euf1on. (e)
l with the patience of the neutraziug agents in
this country who under the fpecious name of Brit
ih American merchants may be Gecret,y importu-
ming government FOR deciion favourable to their
private views, could be furey relied upon. It is
not only in America, fear, that the fprit Of ava
ricous traffic" to ufe the words of MIR. Randolph,
oppofed to the national welfare.
If the people of the United States could in any cafe
be brought to iubmit TO the bur,hens of maritime
war, for the fake OF what this gentleman juy repre-
tents as an ephemeral and precarious commerce. it
mutt be at leat on an ultimate reual of redrefs for
wrongs, which had been moi fully invefi gated and
nconteitably eftablifhed
The authority of Mr.. Randolph is the more fatis-
factory on this point. becaufe he does rot directly
dilpuse the Juice Of thoe complaints which the cla-
niours OF the neutralzers had for a moment made
popular in America It is indeed eafy. to perceive
that this candid and enL5fene5 patriot faw the inur-
tice of the QUARREL in which felf-ntereRed men en-
deavor to involve his country But he was too WIFE
neediesy to oPpoe himfelf to thofe prejudices the
force OF which it was better to elude. He avoids
therefore the queion of right, and admitting for the
lake OF argument at leat that the pretended injuries
are real, atierts in of the mof abfo,utc aI-
rance, that the people of America will content to
avenge them by
will agree Gays hey to pafs for an ideot, if this
IS not the public fentiment and you will find it to
" your colt, begin the when you will"
1t is not, however, foley, or chiefly in regard
tc the quetion have in view, or the fafety
OF further dcuon, that the ffeech of Mr.. Randolph
is important.
invoke the declarations of this American leader
made in the hearing of Congrefs TO a,teR, tina. the
ttrctures the colonial traders of that country con-
tanned in my former publication, were in no degree
appeal his entin,ents o. on the true
interetts Of his feowctzens large, that they are
or the fame fide of this controversy with our own
rely an his opinion, and m on his irrefraga-
bic arguments, in proof that between that coun-
Try ard this would be but in flight degree noxious
to the commerce of Great Br;tain while its confe-
queDces would be ruinous TO America, and fuch as
her citizens would not even for brief period be
brought patiently to endure.
In word, quote this respectable authority, not
only as caution sgainf precpitated determination
but to ihow that timiI and ruinous conceion, may be
lately and finally avoided.
But what makes this very intelligent fpeech more en-
eouragng to the friends of peace & juice a. we'll as
highly deferving profound attention in both countries
is the correctness OF It's views the power and DO
icy of France. rejoice for the fake of America and
Europe, that there ffatesn,en in the new world
capable of 70 clearly difcerng, and 70 eloqently ex
polling, its dangers from French ambition and its inte
ref in the navy of England
And here let it be obferved, that when Mr. Ran
doPh addreiled fuch confderations to the American
Congrcis, the humiliation and ruin of Auilria, and
the other recent daters of Europe, but inlper-
feefly known beyond the Atlantic. The peace of
Prefburg, and the confsquen. mutlations of the Ger
manic empire, feem have reached the ears Of
this antigaiean Safriot Dmueh le coudhe know or
foreiee the perfdious condua of Pruiia the enroll
ment of that power, hitherto neutral under the BAN
ners OF French ambition, and the ercluion of Britifh
from every country hottie or neutral in
which the behes Of Bonaparte can by violence or ter
ror be enforced.
il thefe new circumstances Of the war had been
known to Mr.. Randolph, how much would his iua
approximations, from the preponderance of French
power, have been aggravated; how much groffer
would the im7ocyN2) of contributing to the ruin of
England have appeares tohim; how greatly would that
isne of the uce Of caufe which may be Inferred
from his language, have been fortified.
And here let notice, with fuch brief generality
as the urgent neeeity Of dpatch, under the fene of
which now write, prefcribes to me, new foundati.
on OF right which arfes from the recent conduct of
the eHemy.
Let it be fuppofed that all the argument. which
have been hitherto offered by my own far ADLER pens
defence OF the rule OF the 1856 are utterly
cufve; & thatthough unanfwered Except the CROFT.
Ell n,reprefentstios ofnotorous fas) they are capa-
bic Of being clearly refuted Ri we have new cafe,
on which il leems impoible that two different opini-
ons ihould be held.
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