The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-18
COMMUNICATION.
THE srcRnr PROCEEDINGS OF coxcsr


The Houfe of Representatives having now taken
off the injunction of fecrecy from their late confideu
tai proceedings, tappears that they related to the
Spanifl territories
With Spain we have two important points of diff
ference, reulting from our relations with France.
One IS the auction refpeing the extent and limits of
Loniiiana, which was coded to us from France by a
deicrpton referring to prior felton,, or recefion
IRON to France, and ALTO the ancient French
po!ieiIon of the province. FROM want of eeogra-
Phicai certainty, dpute has arien, with refpea to
the lonthwettern boundary and, from imiar caule
together with the relative terms of the delcription
there has been difference of opinion and claim. az
to the eatern extent of the ceilinn. While the ter.
ritorial limits thus unfetted, our government,
has ATTAINED from taking poelon of the difpu, ed
tract of country, changing the exiting fate Of
things The other fubiet of controversy is the claim
we make OH Spain, for French lpoliations committed
within SPanfh urildction previous to our treaty of
iettlement with France. If Spain is liable to us
France may be JULY reiponGble to Spain. So far at
ieat France is concerned in the difpure and BEING
IN an alliance oFenCve and defeniive with Swain. i
is uPPoied mutt, upon the principles of that alliance
IN Gale Ola rupture between us and Spain take part
in the againlt us.
The territorial controversy not being fetrled our
vefles have been (uble@cd to duties on their pafage
down the Mobile, and certain perions under the
Spanh jurifdaion croGed the line of our acknovled
ged territory in riotous plrfait of family of the
name of Kemper.
The PreIident, after strengthening the adjacent
pots by jndieous arrangement of our troops, laid
the iubect before Congrefs for Legislative confidera
ton. wo leading meafures appear 70 have been pro-
poled. One was to rafe fuch an additional aanding
army, as the Prefdent might deem fliicient mot ex
oesding troops /" TO protc5l the fouthern from
tier ot the United States from Spanih inroad and in
iult and to chalt:le the fame" The object of this
A n,,,f.
live, aganlt the Floridas In principle it feems to
be ilm'ar to the proPoition Of Mr. Ros in the cafe
or the violation of our right Of depoit at New Or
leans. 1t was oppoGed unnecefary and dangerous.
leading dlreay to with Spain and with her allv
France and 10 an eventual alliance with Great Bri-
tain. majority of the Houfe rejected IT,
The object of the other meaiire, which was pro-
poled and lnally adopted, was as il is expreGed on
the journal to procure csfion of the Spanil ter
ritcrles eaward of the river Miiippi by purchaie
and by an appropriation of two millions of dollars.
"to s1lble tine PRECEDENT, in affecting fuch purchaCe
20 iecure to the United States, the mott advantageous
terms 1t was imilar to the act, which preceded
the acquion Of Louidana. Indeed the policy Is the
fame, and the hint appears to have been taken from
tnat cafe. In oppofng this, the Federalas aed con-
htently with their oppoitiou that meafure. The
principle objection agan9 the propofed purchafe.
eeus 10 have arllen from another quarter that France
has an undue influence over Spain, and by her 7redi
alton viii coerce Spain to make the cefon in order
that by fome feere liquidation between them the pur
chaie money may be eventually fecured by France.
This has been repreieuted to Be dhonorable and nv
the aid Of 0rong preudices and heated Imagination
has been wrought into topic Of vehement inveeive
and defamation. 1t has even been pronounced bri-
bng Of France to bully Spain. Whereas the fnple
truth is, that Spain being an independent power j,
IS as 20 us, both in moral and political view per-
feetly immateral, in cafe of a celIon, how fle NAV
think proper to difpoie of her money.
Rejecting the proper time for removing the in
junction ofieereey, there appears to have been DIFF
ference Of judgement The contribution and the rule,
OF the two houles have provided for Confidential pro.
eeedlngs, wheneverit may be neeeary, as in cafes of
foreign rela ions The reafons are very obvious Il
is not to conceal the meaiures Of Congress from the
people OF the United States, but from foreign nations
with whom we have occaGon TO negotiate. In the
PFeient cafe, the queiiou was whe,her the proper