The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-18

boundary, would render US 1eis i,a6le 10 altsCx
IN what is now deemed the mott valuable part
of the Union"
The confiderations, that by purchaiing the
floridas on favourable terms we fhould fink
the claim of Spain to the contefted territory,
and that we ihould acquire Zip of land 10
ehential to our PROPERTY and peace, have al.
ways led us to believe that our administration
had long tince attempted TO found the court
OF Madrid on this expedient for admitting our
differences. When the doors of Cong-efs
were cloied upon the nation, their delbera-
t'ons appeared TO Us TO relate to the fame OBJ
leet, being cloied in the fame manner during
the FELTON, of January 1898. This conjecture
does not however req upon the bare expedi.
ency of the meafure propofed for fome cir
enmitances have iince occurred to give it adj
dltional plauiibty.
In the debate in the Houfe of Reprefenta-
tives OF the esd January &c on the defence of
our Ports and Harbors." Mr.. Mellon made
TINS angular declaration eve know that the
houie has already appropriated comfortable
ium more than il will probably have at its
dipoial, and that they have refuied 10 continue
a Certain tax."----Mr. Mellon probably mig hit
have alluded TO the Mediterranean fund.-" Mr..
Macon (fpeaker) was forty TO interrupt the
gentleman, but he would fubmit whether, in
the remarks he had juft made, he was in or
der. why was MFR. Mellon here called to
order by the Speaker! Was i. not that he
was revealing Io:ne circumstances which had
occurred during the period of the clofed doors !?
In tact what appropriation has been made,
with open doors, 70 comfortable, as probably
to exceed the FUN AT the difpofal of Congrefs !,
But tor what purpoie cond this appropriation
have been made? 1t could not have been to
faciIitate the fettlement IF our tlifputes with
O. Britain; bccaufe the meaiures propofed
with regard TO her, have not only been brought
out IN open doors hut they conft in non
importation act, or in other commercial ref
trictIons, which do not require an expenditure
or appropriation of money. But if this appro-
PrIa'Ion related to Spain, it could not be for the
purpote of carrying military meafures into
effect, tor the principal meafures of this fort,
iuch as preventing the expectation of arms,
and authorizing the PRECEDENT to call out 90, 900
militia, either require no appropriation ut all
or one which is made equally public with the
purpofe, to which it is to be applied. To
what other Object then was this comfortable
appropriation to be applied, but to the profe-
cution OF pacific meaflres ? And what mea-
ture 10 likely to be efficient, as the purchafe of
the Florida5?
Some confirmation is given 20 this conjecture
by the following paragraph in the Wilmington
Federa'ift of Feb. l2; paper, in which we
mutt however candidy confefs, that little con-
tidence ought to be repofed:
"Ihe SECRET Bill for pnrchaline the Flo
r,das Patied the Senate on Friday laft and was
carried by the fecret committee, TO the Pref
deaf ON Monday. Yeiterday Mr.. Randolph
! Zone OF the fecret committee) reported 10 the
houie that Mr.. leferfon had very GRACEFULLY
| received it.-As foon as we hear of his lignjne.
| our readers will be informed
| That other meaiures have been aeitated. du-
ring the iecret fittings of Congrels, we have no
hehtation III believing. HoGile meafures we
have no doubt have been recommended and en-.
forced with zeal, perseverance, and ability
Whether they related to the immediate fsizure
OF Cuba or flofidas, we do not pretend to az
fert; We. we can with much greater confdepc,
afert, that ON this queRion the republicans
have been divided in feutiment, but that ma.
| jority of them have been in favour of paciEc
meafures. We do not believe with the Edito,
4 of the Aurora, that the "meafures of the Elk
ecutive have been thwarted bya little faction OF
which Yazoo is a vital principle" On the
contrary we believe that the policy approv
ed of by the administration has received tn,
fupport of a ftrong republican majority anc
inftead of Yazoo being the "yita principle
which has animated lis opponents, that mer
the mott qvarnafy ATTACHED and The nof zvarn,i
obtojed TO the Tazoo Speculation, will be fount
entitled under the fame banners. Let time how
ever decide upon our conjettures!
! DUNCAN M'FARLANDi A Representative
in congrefs from the fate of North Carolina
has lately made fome figure in the public prints
a figure, it mutt be confeifed, not extremel,
well adapted to infpire the world with muci
refpea for his character. After having ac
quired or deferved the opprobrious epi,het O
! Hog -fteaer, he was thrown into Jail in his owl
fate on charge for forgery, and charge 70
perjury. To enable him to execute his no
nourable Office of a member of congrefs, he ap
piled to the judge for an immediate trial o.
thefe charges. The Judge refufed. The queftio
was referred to the legislature. The legillatur
alto refufed to interfere. Atlength, however
Mr.. MFarland has been delivered from his con
finement, 1--WE preiume by giving baiD and ha
taken his feat among the augnft councillors @
the nation. He made his firt debut in con
grefs on the 10th inf. Obferve now the iniuri
GUS imputations which are thrown on the re
publican caufe, by the acquiftion of fuch
member! Duncan MrFarland is faid to be
republican he is fiid to be worthy of his par
ty: and the faults and vices of an individual
which mould always confiitute an exception t
the rule are in this cafe erected into a ftandar
of ch1ratler for the party to which he is faid t
belong.
Is this liberal mode Of proceeding ; TIL