The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-06-24
Prom THE NATIONAL lNrELLIoENDrs.
LETTER OF Nh. z. M RANDOLPH,
no HIS CONSTITUENTS.
(coNcLUDEp.)

TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.
(coNcLuDED)
Another was Immediately brought forward, to put
FUN OF money Into the hands of the executive to
open negotiation with Spain for the purchafe of the
Tloridas, which contain, beGdes the nip of country
claimed by the United States, lying eaitward of the
Miihldppi, feparate province Of comfortable ex-
tent and value, and of nealculable local importance
to the union. That province, Florida, contains
an iniTenfe body of unlettled land of good quality,
in wholefome climate, which admits the culture
C the mott valuable kind of cotton throughout, and
on the eaftern extremity, is fad even that OF cof-
fee to advantage. 1t has great extent Of iea cca
along which the whole trade of the MifiGpppi, pro-
milling very foon to be much the larger portion Of
the export trade Of the union, NUT pafs AS long
asthis coat is held by another power that trade
may be annoyed by public private CRITTERS of all
izes, from the frgate the barge, which may ride
with fatety and convenience in its harbors or Turk be-
hind its reefs for that purpoie. Blu, when pofelTed
by the United States, gun-boats alone will be fulfil.
cientto place the fame trade in perfect fafety. The
United States have claim upon any part of this
province.
Welt Florida, which was originally part of Loui-
fana, and is claimed as fuch by the United States.
contains no great quantity of valuable land. BY its
Poon, however, it ieparaes 70 completely the ter
ritory OF Orleans from the MiiIppi territory, that
the mails OF the United States cannot be carried BY
Spaniih governor. Il includes the only outlet, TO
the fea OF the north weern part of Georgia, of the
eaitern, the central, and than half the weRern
part OF the NhiiipPi territory, which are watered
by Tome OF our belt rivers. One of theie affords the
only ready and convenient route for the return trade
OF the country of the Ohio the TenneiIee, the Milf
1ouri, and all the upper branches of the NIiffppi
The object OF thofe who brought forward this propo-
ltion, was to offer liberal price for the province 70
which the United States had no preteniions, yet
wonld derive in,renle benefit from poifeling,
upon condition that the province in dpute hou!d be
given up in the bargain, and that boundary be-
tween The two nations on their fouth-weRern from
tier itor'd be eifabhed upon JUN and equal con-
ruetion OF the terms Of the treaty as explained bv
The evidence of hifory. The claim for fpolations
wenld OF eonrle be urged in the new negotiation *
could Be readily provided for out of the money to be
paid fer Eae-Florida.
Their epponsnts declared the plan to be NOTHING
ieis than buTing again what had already paid for
and at lett ronennced it to be dgraeefuI lcheme to
purchaie peace. They fad that the money would
he employed IN bibss the French court to induce
that power 60 tohiPel Spain to acquiefe in our views
They declared it Infamous to form any contraa of
that nature with Spain, while France had 70 much
control over her councils, that he could ne, exercie
free Will They laid hold of an expreGIion which had
been uied IN unofficial converlaton by an eminent
member of the executive branch of the government
mediation of the differences between ne and s,a;n
win the view TO produce another purchafe of terrific
ry for the benefit of their ioint-cnffers They nro
nonnced that France had dhonorahle views of on
tanning money at the expence of Spain, and that the
proportion TO purchaie was an ignon,;niou. concur
renee with tnole views On oar part, produced by the
threats OF that power This a aiiertiop !, founded
foley civil and candid anfwer given bv the
French nniler Of foreign affairs TO auction Of e..
r1ous nterett, put TO him by anhaador al Paris
whether france would take part in the war in cafe
OF hottilities between the United States and Snain
to which the reply that The would ofcourGe give
aid to SPAN merely an ayovTal chat connection
as intimate exits at prefen between the two nations
as that OF the ancient family compact, through the
force of which and its effects upon other powers.
Spain was brought in along with France to our aid in
the itruggie Tor our independence iirnple confeE-
lion, which could not al the time have worn the az
peel of menace, becaufe expreions of regre. at the
ferrous appearance of the differences between Spa;n
and the United States the finoerity OF which there
was no fure reaioa TO doubt had been previouflv IL
fed But the fonndeR Judgment, the beft under
Handing, and the mott ingenious moral difpofition
may not always guard warm and quick teu1pers in
the glow OF ardent debate againh preciDitancy and
inconlilency, agaiiG unfound view. or upwarrap,ed
differences and contfruaions. They fugqeGed that
we thouid pay our money upon a rifk for .he title
made by SPAN, under the Influence of France might
va :" "SN"hoi bG ISNOEeu by the former
power, when her government fell into the hands of
other men, That it was u fIcrice Of our future
repoie as well as our honor to efcape preieut dfd
Guilty.
They did not fnceeed, however, in communication
their Plnctiiious ieDnments to the majority of the
liouic The members competing it could not under
iand why, as France was bond Join in the war on
the part OF Spain, if the affair came to that ue. he
might not with propriety ue the influence over her
councils which naturally aroe OUT of that obligaton
TO procure meatures which would avert war They
could not Zee how, under fach circumRasce. ,be
title made TO US by Spain would be rendered onea
onabe by the ezerciie Of that influence They would
not admit hat We had right to take into conGdera
tion the probable application of the money by Spain
after nc had given us her receipt for it, They would
not concur in the unjuG fufpcion that j, would b
employed Tor Infamous purpoles in Paris, and that
there was probability of its being daipaed there.
without attaining the end contemplated They per
flied in thinking that if we could get our u r;qht.
eisablihed, procure territory of grea, Importance
TO US, and eeure peace at the fame time by maknc
regular purel,ale Of Eait-Ferda at liberal price
although It might he after~ard faid fon,ehnG had
been allowed to exrguit the claims of S,ai, mon
Wet"Florlda, and part of fouth-veaern 7 o,,:G.,,
yet that the peace not only could not be an ignom
NOUS ODE, but that the termination of the dirnnts
would be entirely honorable and latsfa&orv. The
law no humiliation to their country In ofer;ro, -,
France and Spain combined, the alternative of aCTed
peace and generous price for Florida or RI. mani
fet rik, from inevitable collilions of war viii l.;
certain coneqUences the invaliop of Mex;ro and a.