The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-01-03

Should finch have been his c:;-efrnta,ions 60
MS court, he will now fad Eimfelf compelled
completely to change his tore lie mum
make the humiliatrg coufcrf,on. that all his
diplomatic Kill has not f,yed him FROM the
influence of hyperion art; shat he hin,leif, who
| wi'aed TO duPe the American Government is
nothing more than the public. dupe OF Col
| Burr; that he. has thrown away his matters
money upon MOT Improbable purpofe and
| that he would now be under the neceTitv, if
| the American government would but linen TO
ms communications, OF fo!iciting the employ
| ment of its forces TO fuppreF4- IN rxDcdition.
which he himfelf had foacred againft tue u.
S. but which would he ultimately directed A.
ganft the donations Of his matter
What excufe he can himf-l: oSer 20 his court
for this dilapidaiion Of its nno1ey this abufc of
ITS confidence; this dfgracefu diplomatic ignor-
ance; it is Left to the noble MARQUIS himfelf TO
difcover. Bat it is mott probable, that all hi.
zeal will no. compensate for his ignorance, and
| that he will be Immediately recalled 20 give an
account Of his conduct. And un,ele the Prince
of Peace is fill hiafed hy foue Gcret influence
| in his favour. that he will BE ob.iterated from
| the corps di3iomatigue.
2. But far nore'mportant quer,on arfes ont
of this tranfadion. relative 20 the r. s. What is
our duty in regard to this man ? We prapofc this
qneaion imply on the fnppoftor, that he has
been guilty of plotting with 4. Burr, and that
iuffcent evidence can be obtained for fubnan-
tiating that guilt.
| his que!tion however meets us on the thref.
hold: As De Yrujo cannot be caniiderei as
public minifter, in what way i6 he to be
| treated or where is the uie OF confulting the
Law of nations the privileges which this diff
covery may pive us? IF there is any punilh-
men' to be inflicted upon him.. is it not to be
inflicted upon him as private perfon and is
IT not to be found in our municipal laws only !?
But what fnail we fay of the following qnotati-
| on from Vattel
"When the commiaiou Of an ambafador is
at an end, when &c has terminated the affairs
which brought him, when he is recalled or
dilmiGed; in a word, when he is Obliged
to go away on any account whatever,
his functions ceafe but his privileges and rights
do not expire at the fame time. he retains
| them till his return to his principal, 70 whom
| he is to make report Of his em5sfy. His
fafety, his independence, and inviolability. are
not leis neceiiary to the fuccefs of the embnay
in his return, than at his coming. Accordingly
when IN anhaiiador departs by reafon o. a
war kinGing between his matter and the fovc-
reign at Whole court he was negotiating, a fui-
hcient time is allowed him for his fate departure.
And if he returns by fea, and flould happen to
be taken in the pahage, he would be immedi-
"NSIp IS'SdlSO, ID uS SOu!u iIOl lawfully DC ue-
tained''
Ifthis doctrine thea he eorret7, De Yruio has
fill the rights and privileges, though not the
functions of a mnitter. And upon man of
this character, what pVnithment does the law
of nasionsjuhify. Vattel has 8 cafes on this
fubjea.
cit isnot proper to treat minifter as
IN enemy, till he proceeds to violence and
open acts "
?. But if it be neceilary to difconcert con-
/ fpiracy, he may be part Under Grref, or G.
ven to death.
The third cafe is expreifed in the following
quotation
1t muR be Acknowledged that, in regard to the
grear uefulnefs and neceGity Of embaies fcve-
4 reisos obliged refpe& the inviolability of an
an baiiador while nc, incompatible with their own
afssy and the welfare of their fate. Contemporary
whsn the practices Of the ambaador have tranipired
and his plots dilcovered zoJen TIE danger Is 70 ia,
Of 4s IL nay be 6yegeat.d zufbout laying band5 on lin
my, muN be renowned in confederation of the cha
racter, only aiiInifing abruptly the guilty miner
and requiring further Punihment of the fovereign OF
whom he depends Indeed this is no more than
What mott nations, and Especially the Europeans a.
t gree in"
AS the fats themfelves are At prefent invo.v.
ed in 70 much obfcurity, it would be prenla.
ture TO exprefs any opinion. But we have no
doubt, that our government will act with all
that energy which the dignity and indie dependence
of the u. S. fhall demand.