The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-02-17

the refolution was loft in fhe Ienate ~ yor vote
believe It to be true, that that vote, will b,
Imported but by. finall minority in Virginia
itmuft be admitted then, that in bringing into
the view OF the fenate, the conduct of the ge
| neral government, you could have had but one
object, and that object feems to be, to withdraw
| therefrom, the affections of the people; certain
| ~, hr, the language you have ufed, whatever
| might have been your intention, is calculated
to have no other effect, and if this effect wa.
produced, our lives our liberties, and oul
country would become ferioufly endangered
and federation might once more rear its head
upon the rams Of Republicanim.
am far from charging you, ir, with any
ferrous deign to weaken the republican intereft,
but mutt be INDUCED with the opinion that
the courie you have adopted is wei! calculated
to produce that fatal confequence.
have not attempted, FIR, to follow you
through all Your argument, ifI were to do that,
and give to every part the reply which it merits,
newspaper would contain but fInall portion
OF this addrefs but cannot take my leave Of
you without noticing one of your afIertions
which feems to be founded in the grofIeft error,
and which ought to be explained to the people
IN order to do away the imprefIion which you
have endeavored to make upon the public mind.
Speaking of our Spanifh affairs you fay that
the knosving ones very unjutihsbly undertood
the Prehdent's meflage of the 9Th Dec. into a
demand OF two millions of dollars, aud that this
ium has been given to Spain for the purpofe of
buying her friend!hip-If this is not, virbatim,
your language, it certainly the marrow of it.
Now, FIR, ihall attempt to- thew that the ma
Jorlty, or knowing ones of Congrefs, gave very
proper contribution to the mef1age of the Prefi-
dent, and that the two millions of dollars have
not been appropriated in the way you have
ftatet-In rderf ~ - H.
to quote fome part of the meffage alluded to-
After explaining the f.uaton in which America
and SPAN food towards each other, Mr.. JEFF
ferfon iaysi Formal war is not neceIiary, it is
{" not probable that it will follow, but the pro-
teetIon of our citizens, the fpirt and honor
T" ct our country require, that force fhould
I" he interpreted to certain degree. 1t will
!" probably contribute to advance the Object of
"a" peace. But the courfe TO be purified will
require the command of ,neans which it be-
longs to Congrefs exclulively to yield or de.
ny. To them communicate dvery .fal7,
" material for their Information, and the Goea-
=" ,ienfs neceiiary to enable them to judge for
2" themfeves. To their wifdom, then, look
for the courfe am to purfie, and will pur-
{" Tue, with fincere zeal that which they fhall
" approve"
Now, Sir, what are the means, and the facts
and the documents, here alluded to-Why MIR.
j. had received dispatches from our Minifters,
which, altho' lfrom the very nature of govern
ment,) he could not publilh to the world, yet
he laid them fully before Cougrefs for their con-
liberation. Thele are the doeumentJ alluded
to by Mr.. ]. and one ofthe fats contained in
theie, is that it might probably be expedieRt
to purchafe the Fioridas and the meanJ there
IN recommended for that purpofe are tsvO milf
on Of aoilar5-Our minifer recommends this
mode of procedure, becaufe much difficulty
was found TO exit in defining the boundary
line between our government and his Catholic
MaJefy, and becaufe it would mott likely
prevent the dreadful consequences of war.
MIR. J. does not recsp!ulate the remarks ufed
IN the dispatches, becaufe they are before Con-,
greis for their perufaI he very properly refers
them to the documents (meaning the difpateh--
esq and lays, "to YOU, gentlemen, look for the
courfe am to plrfue, - 81 you FAY wconght to
give 7,oos,seo of dois for the Floridas, vote the
appropriation. and will ufe my excrtions to CT
feet the object; but in the mean time, as the
Spanifh government feens to be difpofed to
trehpais upon our territory, and as fome time
will be taken up in negotiation, l would advife
that "force lhould be interpreted to certain
degree," not for the purpofe of making formal
war, but merely for the purpoie of protecting
our citizens until the negotiation was ended.
This, fir, is obviouny the meaning which the
gave to his language the proper contribution.
But, FIR, you would have the people believe
that although we mould be unable to purchafe
the Floridas, the 100000 of dollars are loft TO
the government thereby inducing the people
to believe, that the government was fporting
away their money, and giving it to s pain in or
der TO prevent her from repeating her infults to-
wards US. Surely you ought to know, that if
our negotiation for the Floridas fhould fail, our
minifter will honealy account to the govern
ment for the money he received /; and furely if
you have confidence in our mnfer, and our
government, you ought not to have uled the
language which you have done upon thi, occa-
ion. ] lament, fir, that / have had caufc to
pen this addrefs, with indeed, that the fubiet1
could have reted in oblivion, and for me, it
might have repofed in eternal Humber but for
motives, unknown to me, you have again bro't
it before the public, and with the fame indepen-
dence which you delivered your fentments to
the ienate, now deliver mine to the people.
am, Sir, with refpea, &c.
n Freeko'der Of Amciia.