The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-22

out us tuiS government depends upon the
will OF the people, and derives its strength
from their appreciation. it is necessary they
shonld know the truth of things urged OF
this part of the subject. The gentleman
from New-York (Mr. Mastery told us yes.
terday all our difficulties might have beer
averted by the ratification OF the rejected
( treaty of Monroe and Pinkney; without de-
Gliding the merits of that treaty, at the same
time yielding every tribute of respect to the
talents OF the negcciators, altogether deny
the assertion-I beg leave to recall to the
attention OF gentlemen q single fact. By a
reference to the note of Mr.. Canning of Esd
OF September last, you will find the or
Iders OF January, 1907 aud November 11th,
rest upon the same ground, and are defen-
ded upon the same principle, the "uncues-
tionable right of his majesty to retort upon
the enemy the evils of his own mjustce''-
You well know that of january was issued in
seven days after the signature of the treaty,
! and before its reception i'm the United States
| and surprising therefore the treaty had been
ratified, it proves that the same measures
would have followed; that part of the ar
lgument is completely done away by a re-
terence to that note. With respect to the
conduct OF our government in relation to G.
Britain, the proclamation interdicting your
ports and harbors to British ships of war.
and the nnn-im nnrta ton oct dasa-y. ..-,a
consideration, particularly the proclamation.
1t has been stated that all our difficulties
have been protracted upon point of ETH
quette The proclamation was not a de-
parture from our neutrality with Great Bri-
tam and France. becauie 1t inflicted a pen
atty for the violation # general statute,
passed in 1904, without reference to a par
ticular nation, and applicable equally to a.
ny power that should Offend against it. If
the ships of France had committed similar
loutrages, they would, am confident, have
received the same treatment. Do you doubt
the violation of the law! Look at the con-
duct of the squadron. L cannot be recon-
ciled with the independence of the United
States, and the proclamation was the
the hostile rights otsovereignty in this
country. IT!
They stopped our vessels, impressed our
seamen, attacked our fisate, threatened
the destruction of Norfolk, and arraved
themselves in complete hostility against us
in our own waters. I do ,ot ment.a n these
circumstances to excite strong feelings a.
gainst the nation; / woull ask if the Uni
ted States, could suffer the officers of a TO-
reign government to exercise this power
within our territory, and whether, if the
French had done the same acts, it would not
have been considered blanable to permit
them to remain there.
Ii the British navy had Conducted them
selves right, they would hare been entitled
to and received the CUSTOMARY hospitality
is 1t too much for the u. States to ask as a
condition for revoking the proclamation. and
inconsistent with the dignity ofthe British go
vernment to give an assurance that their
hospitality shall not be again repaid by the
violation of their peace? AS to the non-im-
portation act, would ask, can gentlemen
believe if it had not passed, tie system pur-
sued by G. Britain would have been different
Had not the policy which terminated in the
orders OF council commenced previous to the
passage of your law? Mr. b. contended that
the measures adopted by that government
grew out OF the state of things in Europe, and
the peculiar character of the present war.
The non importation act could not have eli
ven offence to the English Cabinet, because it
was commercial regulatioHjustifiedb by pre-
vious injuries, and the discrimination made
In England OF four per cent. more on goods
exported to the y. States, than the continent
OF Europe; and this Country had an undoubt-
ed right to countervail it in any way they
pleased. England had the less right to com
plain, as she was in the habit of excluding
from her ports, such articles as were obecti-
enable, anc IN her colonies had placed the
exports OF the u. States upon terms by nc
means reciprocal.
Admit for arguments sake, that the act
was improper, its policy equvocal, it was
not enforced; and therefore the English ne.
YER experienced any injury from that act
1t does not constitute an apology for them
, why ascribe the conduct of England to these
causes, when your ministers, Messrs. Mon
roe and Pinkney, have declared to you there
were strong and powerful interests in tina,
country, anxious for war with YOU; they
have told you these interests combine power
and wealth sufficient to control the govern.
ment; and you have been cautioned bv Mr.
Monroe, in the most propitious moments o.
his negotiations, against this spirit that the
liberal views OF the minister must Weld To
the Glamour of the West India planters, the
Jealousies OF the East India company, and
snip holders, and the impatient avarice o.
the navy. 1t is the ascendancy in the cabi
net OF these influences, thwarted by the war
on the continent, which menaces your corn.
mercc with determination, and your com
try with servitude. 1t kept pace precisely
with the progress of these events.
The first cause Of complaint YOU had wa,
the distractions to the expectation of foreign
articles to the continent, the surplus Of 81
milar articles became multiplied in thu
hands OF the British merchants, and th,
means OF disposal gradually lessened. with
the conqucsts Of France, and her occuna
ton OF the continental sea ports. In orde,
10 counterfeit these effects, they tried to dc
stFoy our trade, by declaring the conntinuit'
oi the voyage between the colonies and mo
Their COIIjtfYv ilIeoaI .,,,,r ,,,,,..tz ...----