The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-04-22

Chairman to write a letter to the Secretary OF
the State, for the avowed purppfe of knowing
what the government had done, twas doing, and
intended to do. After fome tin e Mr.. Madifon
has written an anfwer to this uiece of abfurdi.
u couched in very courteout and refpeetful
terms, and becaufe he has done 70, becaufe he
has not treated Thomas Farmar & Co. as they
deierved, either by contemptous filence, or
poiitive refufa to expofe to them the fecrets
OF government, they and their adherents have
thought fit to publih the mott difgraceful and
illuminating remarks.
Inc truth rs plainly this, Thomas Farmar
and Co. had no right to expect an anfwer to ficb
a ietter-the error which Mr. Madifon has com
mitteG IN taking fuch notice oft, has expofed
nm, to cenfurc, and all who blame for the man
ner, expoie themleves to ridicule and contempt
man, leis courteous than Mr. Madfon,
would have replied in a title like the following
The reader will perceive that il contains the
iuooance Oft letter, which the fertilizers fay
they cannot underftand.
TO THE MERCHANTS OF Nsw-YoRK.
!" 1t is to be regretted that the pending af.
fa'rs betweenthe United States and the bellige-
rent nations OF Europe do not allow the govern
ment TO afford the information which you ak.
You mutt certainly know, that while the
mott important affairs are undetermined, be-
tween France and England, and while our own
future relations both political and cnmmere ial.
depend upon the temper and conduct of thcfe
nations towards each other, it is not only I'M
ponibie, but highly improper, to make commu-
nlcations afluranCes, which, at the mott, would
depend upon contingency over which this go.
vernment can have no controul.
:" The people of the United States may be
afured, that nothing will be neglected or CON
cealed, which may tend to fecure our peace
and promote our PROPERTY"
SOLON.
The application of the merchants of New
York is no doubt an impcrtinent interference
with the affairs of the government. Were fiich
practice tolerated, it would foon become the
germ of that political economy, which has 70
long let the merchants and manufacturers above
the farmers of Europe. From being collected
together IN the fame place, combinations a.
mong them are eafly effected, for the exprefs
purPoie of advancing their own particular inte-
refts whereas a combination is rendered al.
mott impoiible among the farmers, fcattered
as they are, over fuch fpaCe of country. The
voice of the firt is ealy collected, and is there
fore readily mitaken for the fenle of the nation
the voice of the latter is feldom heard from
their cabins.
Had fuch an application been countenanced
by our government, we fhould indeed fioon be
governed by Mr.. Randolph's &c comptinc-houfe
politicians" Firtt the merchants wouId con.
iult, and then they would expect TO be con-
iulted by the government. The commercial
'nterett would be mifaken for the great ntereH
OF the nation {; and our executive like the
cabinet OF London, would find itfelf tram.
melled and tutored by committees from
New-4ork, Philadelphia and CharlcRon. !,
is even matter of doubt whether with all then
organized influence, the merchants of London
would dare to confut their government upon
points 10 Intimately connected with its foreign
relations.
tits worthy of remark, that the Trpolitan
,reaty upon which they confulted Mr.. Madifon,
has juft been ratified by the Senate. Str,nge
then was it TO expect that Whit thus nend;no
he would have veutured to give any opinion
upon it.