The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-12-19

concealed, and no American could conceal
1t fron himself, that the third condition corr
tanned III the despatch from Mr. Canning 10
Mr.. Erskine Was such a one az the United
States Guild not accede to- They could ne
yer cali In the aid Of any foreign nation to
support their laws. because that would De
% confess the impotence of the country 4
enforce its owa acts But. Mr.. Gardener
said, there were two parties to this questi.
on. Tha, part of the world not yet under the
control OF Napoleon was to decide whether
the United States or their adversary be
right. To satisfy them and all men who
love justice. he said that it was necessary
that this government should make out the
case in its own favor. and shew that the
British government was in the wropE.-The
British government had proposed that their
navy should be expressly permitted to asSist
in executing a law to be passed by the LIE
gislature Of the United States. They had
said also that in making this proposition
they acted NOT from their own impulse but
were warranted in suggesting it from its
having been first proposed by our minister
IN London. 1t this be correct. said Mr.. G.
our government can have nothing TO com
plain OF. II our minister in London las.o!d
the British government that we were pre-
pared to accede to such an arrangement,
then assnredly there is nothing reprchcnsi
Die IN the British governments being viii
ing to take as much as we were willing to
surrender. On our part, therefore, it is
Important that the declaration If Mr.. Can
ming shoald be repealed. that it should be
made out to the world that the transaction
is not correctly stated; tina, the proposition
did Come from the British government orr.
g'nalty, and not from our minister-becausc
In the latter case we should have no cause
OF comp Amt on that g,pund let me not be
understood to say that would place conf
dence in the declaration of Mr.. Canning,
and dlsbelIcve our own government 6iit
merely wish to see the evidence which will
clear the subject from all doubt. II is a.
greed ny both parties. as appears from Mr..
Smiths last letter to Mr. Pinkney, that there
mad been compensation on the subject, blu,
1t is nlledged that the meaning Of our minis
ter has been misapprehcnded. I wish to
know what Mr.. Pinkney did say and how
Mar. Canning come so widely to misuntler
stand him-I am DESTROYS that it should APP
pear that the Sd proposition did not derive it's
origin from our government or from any agent
OF It abroad. II would appear extremely sin
guar that document which contains the
means o. putting down the statement of AR
adverse government should be in our pos
session. and that gentlemen should be un-
willing to let it come forth. Let me tell the
gentleman from Massachusetts, who, be
lieve. sir, is quite as much attached to the
administration of the government as am,
that he does injustice by withholding from
them the opportunity Of justifying them
selves. No doubt Mr. Pinkney has salts
factorily explained the matter to the Execu-
tive; and no doubt the same explanation
would be satisfactory to us as to his share in
the transaction. But, Mr.. G said, sand
Ing here as the advocate Of the honor and
dignity OF the United States, he wished no
thing to be withheld. The President would
thank the House, as he ought to do, for call
Tag tor information on this one point, 81 it
were made out clearly on the side OF the
government. If not made oat in consequence
OF withholding information, gentlemen would
sec in what situation they would be placed.
1t was well Known that i'll this country there
were great many sccptical captious PEG
pie called federalists-and what would they
say 1t the information asked was refusedl q
Why, that the administration dare not con-.
municate 1t; that this must be lame part
OF the story, and therefore was not publish
ed; they would say that the administration
hat given TO the world SO much as was fa-
vorable to themselves, and that what was
otherwise had been withheld. If such
should prove TO bethe fact. it would not *, very
honorable to the Executive. But, Mr.. G..
said. he had a confidence in thu Executive,
as hs had said at the last session of Con
gress, and he would not Surrender it till
he was compelled to do so, and therefore
he wished for the best evidence in his ia
ror.
The President of the United States, in
his message to Congress, had in strong
terms imputed TO the British government a
breach Of good faith its minister too had
been rejected on account of his alledged nso-
lence. This MIR. G.. said was the rolling of
Clouds which prece' i storm, and which
was not to pass owe. without producing some
conclusion 1t this nation was to go 70 war
the people must first be satisfied that the
cause was just. With divided people it
was IN vain to think of going to war He
pledged himself to the House that that des-
cripaon of gentlemen called the minority
would proceed to the examination of this
subject with that pure spirit of patriotism
winch in alarming times become peculiarly
necessary; that no petty disposition would
be shewn to embarrass the government, pro-
vided every thing, when examined, should
appear to be fair and open.
MIR. q concluded by hoping that, as it
was important in this case prove that Mr.
Canning had erred, the House too should
know what the Executive knew. They had
as strong right to know: The Executive
received all information on our foreign rela
TORS, not that he alone was peculiarly emit
tied to it, but because it was most convent
ent that he should be the organ of COMMUNE
cation with our ministers abroad.
Mr. Efhes said he should not have risen
Oh the present occasion, but that it appeared