The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-19

tatlOn ~! one party tpr the adjustment OF Il
contro, ersy where noriyht had been acknow-
fedgcd in it by the other, gives to tlle latter
n inst claim to such forbearance on the
par, Of the former. But the entertainment
Of negotiation for the express purpose of
securing interests sanctioned by acknowledge
ed rights, makes such claim Irresistible
We were, therefore decidedly of opinion, that
The paper OF the British comnis sioners plac-
ed the interest of impressment Oh ground
which it was both safe and honorable for
the United States to admit: that in short, it
gave their government the command of the
subject for every necessary and useful pur
pose. attached 10 the trcaty it was the ba-
sis Ci condition, on which the treaty rested.
Stroug iii its character III their favor on the
great question of right, and admitting q ia
vorahle construction on others, it placed
them on more elevated ground in those res
pccts than. tfcv had held before; and by
keeping the reg"tiation open to obtain a more
comp'sat adjustment, the administration was
arI:lci with the most cffcctual means Of Sc
curing it. By this arrangement the govern
rnt3t Possessed power 10 coerce without
be:cy compelled to assume the character be-
lcnaAg 20 coercion and was abe to give ef-
feet 10 that power without violating the rela-
toIs OF a.nirv bec@eei4 the countries The
right to break OF lhc negotiation and appeal
TO force, could never BE lost sight of in any
obligation TO make that appeal ill necessity
compelled it. II great Britain conformed
her practice &c, the rule prescribed by the
paper OF November 8, and the explanations
which accompaniment, our government might
rest on that ground with advantage but if
She departed from that rule and favorable
opporturtv offered tor the Accomplishment of
y more complete and satisfactory arrange
,ment, by a decisive effort, it would be at Ii
'Serty to seize such opportunity for the adj
vantage of the country.
These considerations, founded or view of
the proposed arrangement Itself, furnished
strong Inducements to us to proceed to the
other objects of the negotiation. There
were other considerations of a different cha
raoter, which recommended il with still
greater force. Had we refused to proceed
in the negotiation, what was the alternative
which such refusal presented to our view /?
The negotiation We Id have been at an end;
after having failed In all its objects for if
this interest was not arrange, none others
could be. The attitude which the govern
y ments held towards each other. was i'll a Ger
tain degree hostile. Injuries had been in
flicted By one party, and resentment shewn
by tbs ether, The latter having taken srep
in the case of the non-importation law,
which was intended to indicate the public
FIGHTS and honor by being made the means
cf obtaining a fedress of those injuries. The
measure was intended ioi the ministry Of
Mr. Pitt, from which the injuries were re-
ctived but by the removal Sc that ministry,
and the delay which took place in the pas
sage of the law, u came into operation a
gains; the ministry of Mr.. Fox and Lord
Gfenv!.c, who would rot have rendered
these INJURIES, ard against whom of course
such a weapon would not have been raised.
Notwithstanding thu existence OF that law,
and the attitude which still remained be-
tween the governments, 1t was impossible to
appeal to it a Stlorr motive OF action with
the new ministry &ucti an appeal was SIRE
70 produce more harm than good 1t would
have lost US all claim on the generous feelings
ard liberal police, which the new ministry
was believed to indulge and disposed to a
cioi>t towards the United States. The ne
sotiation, therefore, with the new ministry,
was conducted by Psiicv, as we'll as by in
ciination, on friendly and concilatory prin-
cipcs. Should il fail, however, in Ks object,
ard &c broken of, the relation between the
two parties would change i'll an instant
From ti.:.t moment the new ministry would
stand OH the ground CT tie old one, and the
nat'on be united in all its political parties a
eainst US. Thu attitude would become in
fact, what the exterior announced 1t to be-
hostile, and it was difficult to perceive how it
could be changed, and peace be preserved
with honor to the United States. They could
not reccdc from the ground which they had
taker or accept, by compulsion, terms which
they had rejected in an amicabie negotiation,
War, therefore, seemed to be the inevitable
consequence OF such q state OF things, & was
far from considering it an alternative which
ought to be preferred to the arrangement
which was offered to us. When took into
view the prosperous and happy condition of
United States compared with that of other
nations; that, rs neutral power, they were
almost the exclusive carriers of the produc-
lions of the whole world; and that in COM
merce thew hourished beyond example, not
withstandng the losses which they occasion
ally suffered, | was strong in the opinion
chat those blessings ought not to be hazard
ed in srrch question. Many other consi-
clerationb tended to confirm me in that SEN
tintcnt. knew that the United States were
not prepared for war !; that their coast was
unforti5ed, and their cities in great mea-
sure defenceicss: that their militia, in many
Dfthe states, was neither armed nor trained;
and that their whole revenue was derived
from commerce. ] could not presume that
there was just cause to doubt which Of the al
,ernatves ought to be preferred. Had it,
however, been practicable TO terminate the