The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-03-04

hug Ue2ty nan embaTrJfIed the commerce q
ttre great maritime powers, aud thrown into tn
bands OF neatrals an extraordinary properties
4 OF the colonial and carrying trade. The cti
zens ri the United States among others, hat
prohted by the opportunity, and engaged ex
iienfye!y IN this neutral commerce. But il hae
lheen the policy of Great Britain, the ftrongef
maritime nation among the beiliserents, to tn
ttefrhpt this intercouffe Of ncitrals. with ths
coiohies OF her colonies, "a if they had been he,
own colonies. Aferies of Outrageous proceed.
inss bad been the refuI,; fochas had excited
me mott lively indignation iagainlt then, from
| Maine to Georgia, and routed the nation with
one voice to relif and repeltnem. ,$a','
Dr. M. fId he wonld enbmerate few OF
thsie injurious principles and aeta. The great
and fuadamenth reguiition, which ferveti as a
y sss or ter plIaSipal part Of The .s,
hefigersnss, tlslids and ON sr count of the War,
ought TO be prohibited. The alump,ion Of
nth rule. IN contradiction of allthe practices,
az acknowledgements, and treaties, among civifed
nations, wasa dangerous innovation'iipon their
pubic law. II was, however, followed by a.
MOTHER declaration OF theirs, equally unfounded
IN truth anal reafon, and this was that as the adj
hererce to the principle was rightfuliy in them,
trey might relax from the obfervance of it when
they pieasrd; and that fuch relaxations were
always acts of favour and grace to neutrals.
Another of the extravagant consequences of
TINS doctrine was, that the belligerent might in.
quire into the intention of the neutral, as to-
colonial produce exported from his own coun.
try under drawback, and if he would not prove
to the fatisfatfion of the prize court, that fnch
produce was originally imported into the neu-
t.ai country for confumption there, without
the cetign of Tending It abroad once more, the.
't'p and cargo ihcuId be condemned Thus de.
claring that two dIitnd COMMERCIAL operations,
were one and the fame continued voyage.
30 1t has been pretended and inGftei by them
that 'venel which has efcaped their vigilance
on voyage from the neutral to the beliyerent
port, and has begun her return voyage loaded
with the productions (not contraband1 of the
latter country in exchange fort argo carried
th'ther, may be captured and condemned under
an al'' CATION that fuch outward cargo was the
produce of an enemy's colony. Bythis means,
the Certificate of origin as to French produce,
was made the evidence on which the condem-
nation was grounded in the BritiIh court.
The catalogue of grievances, be faid, was
long and odious: but he would mention the
|opprciiive manner in which the Britih exrrciicd
the right of fearch, the unjaAiiiable impeachment
or ieamep, wherever they pleafed to take them,
ana their arbitrary proceedings relative to
blockaded ports, as tending to wound the feel
ings of individuals, to excite national irritation,
and to revive thofe fentimcnts Of animoity and
hatred which had been dying away ever iince
the revolutionary war: and but for thefe re-
newed acts Of nobility would have rifsn
mere.
With all thefe difficulties in view, ftated IRE.
iteratcd from all the commercial cities of the
nation, the pTopoiition row under CONFEDERATE.
on, had been reported. 1t was in the nature of
an admonition to the Prefident, to make fur
ther effort to accommodate thefe differences in
a juft and amcabls way. The refoIve which
pailed the Senate unanimously yefteriay, COM
pretended total denial of the nterpolated
maxims, and the conduct which they authorif.
ed. The refolution 4ow before the Senate was
a coroilary from the other. 1t fprang from the
former as a natural inference. The two were
10 Intimately connected, that he confidered the
adoption of the former as favourable prelude
10 the reception of this. And having declared
hatunprovoked aggreilions had been made up
on the Perfons and properties of our citizens,
there was an evident propriety in endeavouring
to negotiate on the fnbjed, and fettle the DIFF
ferences by fair difcuili0n.
But an objection had been made, that the
Senate was about to proffer advice to the Pre-
itdent of the United States. The refoIution
certainly was written for that purDofe, and in
this there was the fritfea propriety. For by
the contribution, this body is the council of that
high exec utive officer. In queftions touching
our foreign relations, the Senators are declared
by the fupreme law of the land TO be the Pref
dents councillors. In urgent and arduons cafes
1t was not orly allowable for them TO exercife
his right, but 1t was their duty 70 do 10. By
iuch meaiure, there was no reflection on the
chief magitraie for il was well known he had
vigilantly and correctly done bis duty. He had
lett nothing untried that was in his power
| Now, however, when another effort was TO be
made, he believed the Preident, though firm
| in the performance of the important fruits repof
ed in him, would be comforted and firenethen.
ed by the approving voice of his contributions
adyifers. With this reiolution in his hand, he
| would fpeak to a foreign nation in bolde,
| tone, and employ the energetic language Of hi
united fellow Citizens.
DR.. M. did not think with the gentleman who
preceded him, that the adoption of the propo
| li.ion would hs productive Of diE.ord hut OF
the contrary would have happy tendency t.
promote harmony, by a candid and patriotic
communication of fentiments between thefe two
important organs Of the government.
OF the three refolu,ions reported by the feeS
committee, the feUond, which was the one un
der confederation, was foley of an executive
nature. The two others, to wit the fri
which had paTed without difTt nting voice, 8
the third which remained to be acted upon
| were of legislative COMPLEXION. Topethe