The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-01
CHE Gnautrer.
RICHMOND, DScEmsrR I.

The queft'on, which has lately been the fub.
jea of 10 much difcuRion in congrcfs, admits
Of very eafy folution. Was it right for the
Prehdent to have contracted for naval and mill.
tary fuppes without previous appropriation
by law?
This quction depends upon two principles
That it would not have been found policy
for the Preiident TO have convened conpref. i'm,
mediately after the capture of the Cheiapeake.
Nor would It have been the duty of 4 found
politician to have diiit/ed the period, which
was thus allowed hum.
In eftabiihing :he irR principle, it is u.pe
cell Try TO fort to Mr.. Smile. argument, that
the health of the memhrrS of ,onrrefs might
have been endangered by fimmer's meeting of
cnngreis; ihai we rerort to another ar.
gumrnt of the fame gentleman, that the ma
t'on was two much impafiioned by its wropps
immediately AFTER the attack ON the Chef,neskr
to deliberate calmly on ,he ftbie1 becauEe in
our np'mon the conrfr purified by Mr.. Jeffer.
ion ltands upon much fronger foundation.
No advantages wonld have reinltrd from an
immediate call OF CongrefS, except the making
nt an appropriation for defenlive meafures.-
Forever Mr.. Randolph him.elf, the great cham.
pion OF this meaiure, admits, that fo far from,
agreeing to an immediate declaration of war, he
would have calmly waited for the return of
mnfer from Great Britain.
Very comfortable DISADVANTAGES. however
might have probably enfued. The minifers of
Great-Britain would have been extremely q.
iarned by iuch proceeding and would have
mott probably confidrrcd it as fpecies of De.
ciara'ion OF war. They would have attempt.
| ed to have truck the frlt blow at orr comn,erc.
ana our reiources. They would have laid an
embargo upon all our veflcs that were lawn,
aud that fhonld arrive in their ports. They
| might nave lifued letters of marque aeainft our
| veiels on the high feas. And with the fame
dliregard OF juhice which characterize, the At.
tack on the Chefapeake, they might have attack.
ed and captured all our public vef1cis then in
| tue Mediterranean. Nor perhaps would i, he
"coniidering too curiouny to oonfider" that
they might have commenced an im,nsdia.. =,
tack on our detencelefs rapport towns.
AL thete Disadvantages were removed by Mr..
Jeferion's fyitem. Our veflels have efcaped
an embargo in the Britilh ports or capture ON
the high teas. Our merchants have had time
ana indeed information enough to ADOPT every
meaiure of fecurity and precaution, as well for
the protection of their vsiTeIs, their careoes and
the'r crews, as for the arrangement of their af
'a,rA IN U. Britain. Tlouf,nds or our Eaneu
VINO were expoied on the high fcas or i'm Brit,ih
po,.s' nave enjoyed an opportunity of taking
'he"er from the threatening form. All the arm.
ed vehels of the u. S. have, il is moft nroh,h,.
oeen ordered home. Some preparations have
a'io oeen made tor our defence more pun
| ooats nave been built or are bailding: and iore
iorti1cations have been added to our nor,e and
! harbours.
IL was beildes not the Leaf of the adv,nt,.
ees Oh this iynem, that it has certainly kent o.
pen the door OF negotiation and enabled ms 70
' n d"o'ner effort for preferving peace; an
effort, which in iome meafure pro'I it'd r,c
GETS, from The aimuft unanimous vo;c- rs 49,
nation asaint Britiih outrage and a Arm dr,sr-
minauoii to relt II, which have lately runa
through the continent. But MIR. Ranjolnb,e
ifitem would mott probably have defeated th;s
advantage. For if Great Britain had confider-
cd the call OF congreis as fpecies of decIarati.
on OF war, holtilities and not negotiation might
nave been the inevitable confeouence.
10 shetc powerful considerations the public
MIND has lince cheerfulIy fublnitted: and rho,
many man was ready 20 Ay to arms immedi.
ateiy after the capture of the Cheiapeakr. and
was calling upon the Prefident to convene Con
sreiS IN order that they might adopt the earIiet
ana the mott rigorous meafures of retaliation
YET when the heat aud impetuofity of the mo.
ment had fubiided, they have willingly dom
Jnit'ce to the fsge and magnanmous policy of
Inc government. The only queftion that re.
mains, is, was 1t the Preident's duty to have
'n'o"h~away tins important interval or to have
made every preparation in his power for the
war which was likely to enfue? Surely there
could have exiftcd no doubt of the;proDretv
OF the latter courte, except in the bofom of tb,
mon rank and prejudiced enemy of the ADM.
n'itraton' To every one eIfe multjthe reafons.
when the Preiident himieIf has aligned for the
publication of his conduct, have come with ir-
reliitible force: -
ne moment Jays he, our peace was threat.
ened, ideemedItndifpenfible to fecure a greater
ProVlhon OF thoie articles of military flores.
with which our magazines were not fufficienty
furnlihed. To have awaited previous and fne.
cia ianttlon by law, would have loft occafons
winch might not be retrieved / did not be6-
taee therefore to authorize engagements for fuch
implements to our exiting Gock as would rem.
der it adequate to the emergencies threstenin,
US: and truft that the Leginlture feeling the
fame anxiety for the fafety of our country. f.
materially advanced by this prccaution. viii an.
prove when done, what they would have ,cfn
10 important to be done, if then aHrmbled.-i
Expenses, ALTO unprovided for, arofe our of
neceiiify OF calling all our gunboats into atfu,I
kIvIce Tor the defence of our harbots of all
which, accounts will be laid before YOU"
" this favorable moment had been lon :,
would never have heen regained. The bea
policy that could have been purified. was IN
provide for the war which was likely to enrns
And had Mr.. JeFerfon fufFercd this f,vorabIs
opportunity of purchaling military f,Ipplies. tn
eicape him, theie fuppIies might not only have
been lott to onrislves, but might have been ex-
ported to Europe, and transferred into the ms
gazines of the enemy.