The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-03-20
GDe Guqu!cer.
RICHMOND, 2ofb MARCH.
BRITISH TREATY.


The federal papers lonely complain that Mr..
Jeffrrfon has not at leait laid the Treaty be-
fore the Senate ; although had he difapproved
oft, he would have certainly reiceted, even
though ratified by the Senate. Why then the
empty form ~oflaying it before them?
Some of them contend that he ought to have
approved it, though it were flent on the i'm
prefIaent of our feamen and yet, what papers
make fuch pompous projections of attachment
TO our eoMeree and our feamen?
AS to the Treaty itfelf, it is impofiible as yet
to ditcover all its provilions or Objectionable
points. The three following articles may, how
ever, ferve to cat fome light upon it. The two
hrt are from fuipicious iources the laft is from
the Aurora.
To tie Editor efhe ~. York Comuereiol ddorytifr.
The information which was given by the PreGdent
to a committee of the Senate, relative to the Britih
Treaty, having been incorrectly tated, / deem it my
duty to lay before the public, thro' the medium of
your paper, a faithful account of what took place,
and which is derived from a fouroe of unquenionable
authority.
AT IL o'clock, on Thefday night the Sd inn, the
Senate fent two of its members DIR. Mitchell
and MIR. Adams, with a committee on the part of the
Houie of Representatives, to enquire of the Prefdent
whether he had any further communications to lay be-
fore them. At this time no copy of the Treaty had
SN'4 " VIC +GNus.HC VIZ Hhiu n
Brittle M;niaer. had, however, received by the Ian
Brithh packet a copy from his Government, which
arrived az Warrington on Tuefday, and by him been
handed over to the PRECEDENT a few hours before he
was waited i on by the joint committee.
In aniwer TO the enquiry of the joint committee,
the Preiident replied that ne had no further commu-
nications to- lay before the two houGes; he would in-
form the gentlemen of the committee, however, rot
9FslHy but for their private fatisfasion, that he had
ieen 4 COPY of the Treaty-1hat it was 70 exception
able he fhould not lay it before the Senate-That it
contained no liquidation 10 pyoie7 ali 6oI6ns and pro-
pfrty Gifrg Rndt, tie Amahaa fsg-and that an arti-
Gle was added to the treaty, after twas iigned which
deelared-fbaf Dbe Unhed StoiHt Ebnired 10 fe block
aATg Geeree Of Beaapayfe, Great Britain referved to her
felt TO ccuntera6t IT'S effects by a full %exertion Of her
beiiigerent rights, any pr%ovifion in the Treaty not
withdrawing. in other conversations he is faid to
have declared that he hould return the Treaty to
London immediately for further negotiation.
In this converfa,ion, nothing was iaid refpe6ing an
9Feiai note from the Britiih to the American Com
miflioners, ftating the oourfe Great Britain agreed to
purfue relative to the impreGments,of our feamen, &
which was perfectly satisfactory to Mefrrs. Munroe
and PnCkney. A. b.
We have been favored with the following re-
marks upon the Britih treaty lately fgncd in
London, and believe that the view which the
writer takes of the fubjed is correct
The treaty will not be laid before the %fenate,
unlefs atistaGlory explanations fhou,d be re-
ceived by government respecting the point of
impeachment Of feamen out of American fiips,
which is not mentioned in any Of the articles Of
the copy of the treaty, received by Mr.. Err
kline, but, concerning which there may be fome
understanding between the reGpetiive commit.
ioners.
Another objection has arifen from a note that
was prefented by the BritB to omr comminion-
ers, prcyiouny TO the fgniug of the treaty, con-
tanning 4 declaration that The king Of Great-Bri-
tain could not enter into the Ripulations of the
treaty, without an explanation from the United
States Of their intentions with regard 10 the de-
cree OF Bonaparte Of the ON November, which
it is itated, violates all the rights Of ueutrals to
the direct injury Of the Britih interef.
The note ftatss that tie king of Great Britain,
being animated by a fncere defre to maintain
a good understanding with this country, per.
mits his commihionsrs to fign the treaty, but
~reicrvest to himfelf the right of refsdng to- ratify
Il, hould the enemy not abandon, in The mean
time, his urjua pretenions, or fhould the Uni
ted States iuhruit to the violent aggrcfions on
its neutral rights.
il is very evident that at thetime this note
was delivered, no explanation of the meaning of
Boraparte's decree, had been received in Lon
don.
II the explanation already received he deem
ed 4 full and satisfactory %fecu1ity to our neutral
! rights, or it any modification tlould be made