The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-10-24

opinion, uncandid aud uniuf. According ia
the recollection of other gentlemen, Gen. Var.
ram did not ufe the word ferrt, on which you
lay tuch emphafis. He faid, indeed, that il
was conformabe to the Prelident's wiihes. IL
the courfe of the debate, Mr.. ]. Randolpt
CHARGED him with having communicated to the
Houfe the /eeret wiihes of the Prelident. Gen
V. by way of explanation, complained that he
was mifunderfood by the gentleman from Vir.
ginia, and declared he had ufed no expreflon
'S"ded to convey, and, he believed none 4
dapted to convey fuch an idea, and added ex.
plcitly, that the opinion, which he had given,
was not founded upon any private conversation
with the Preddent, but was inferred from his
official communication to the Houfe. Had
Mr.. K. agreeably to the etablilhed ufage, in
fuch cafes, admitted Gen. Varnum's explanati-
on of his own meaning, he might, indeed, have
loft the opportunity of difpaying his eloquence,
on the favourite topics of fecret influence, back
fairs communications, irrefponfible agents,
double fet of opinions, &c. &c. but how far it
was conhltent with parliamentary decorum, or
even common candour, for an opponent. yto
had undertood Gen. V. in fenfe different from
that which was explained to be his meaning, to
Pcrfevere in irnputing to him fentiment thus
folemnly diiavowed, for the purpofe of wanton
inveetive and defamation, let candid men of all
parties, let an impartial public decide.
Referring to Mr.. RS puneilous argument a.
gainf purchafe of Florida, that it might be
coutidered violation of our neutral relation to
G.. B. you fay, in a marginal note, &c it is believ-
ed that the Louifiana treaty was antedated to
obviate this very difficulty To fuch gra-
tuitous iniinuation aganft the honor of our own
government, as well as of the other party to
that treaty, it ought to be satisfactory anfwer,
to FAY it is believed that the treaty was not an
tedated, tor that or any other purpofc. You
have aligned no reafon for your belief and it
is to bs prefumed you have none, which could
be aligned. If you had any, it was ncum-
bent on you to produce it, and undoubtedly
you would have done it; for there is no appear
ance OF difpotition, on your part, to conceal
any ground OF reproach againlt the adminiara-
ton.
Theie remarks are applicable ALTO to your in
limitations contained in another note. Where,
tlr, is your proofthat our mnhers propofed to
1urrender the claims of our merchants for Span
lfh fpoliations? Or that, in offering, on certain
conditions, to eRablifl the river Colorado, as
the weftern boundary of Louilana, they not
only acted without fpeciic inftruNions, but al.
10 exceeded their authority?
Your lealoufy, or want of candour, is evinced
by the iuggefton, that dispatches having an
important bearing upon our Spaniih relations,
were purpofely concealed from the Hou(c of
hhtu Tue Tor the
purehaie OF Florida was pailed and gone beyond
the control of the Houfe. The fimple truth is
that, on the 18th of January, the PRECEDENT fent,
not to the Houfe Of Representatives in particu-
lar, but to both branches ofCongrefs, two mef-
fages, one public and the other {ecret, Rejecting
our differences with Great Britain. The fecret
one, which was afterwards made public, was as
follows
- ana iiouJe OF Representatives., Of
tie United States.
Ii inc'oled letter from the minifer pIeni
potentiary OF the United States, nj the Court
OF London, contains interefting information on
the iueleets of my other mefage, of this date.
1t is tent ieparately and confidentialy, becaufe
ITS publication may discourage frank commu-
nications between our miniters, generally, and
the governments with which they refde, & ef-
peciaily between the fame minters.
TIL: JEFFERSON."
January II, 1906.
For the obvious reafons here fuggelted, the
letter itfef was not publifhed. Being from our
minliter at London, it refpltted our Britfn re-
Iations. ltcontained no Information, and only
an incidental obiervation, concerning our relati-
ons with SPAN. But, unluckily, it happened
TO be communicated after the Houf. had paG-d
the appropriation bill, which, however. was
before that bill was acted upon by the Senate.
1t does not appear that in that branch, Mr.
Munroe's letter was thought to affect the fub-
Ject OF the bill, or to have any material bearing
upon oar Spanifh relations and it really re-
CURED an effort to believe any member of the
Houfe could be in earnet in attaching to the
caiual circumltance of the time of its communi-
cation an air of Importance or defign. But
y trt'ies light as air are tothe Jealous confrma-
tons iirong, as proofs of holy WRIT truth
not leis applicable to political than TO matrimo-
NAL jeaIoufY.
have now, fir, performed my promife. ]
have, in plain terms, pointed ont fevera inftan-
ces of what confider Partially, incorreenef.
and want of candour in your ttatcments.
(7o be concluded in our NEXT