The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-04-25


yainst France" ToIthis end, she will now
bend every effort. Her minions in this coun-
try will raise the wat whoop. Let us be on
our guard. If Franco tramples on our rights
and our honor, she will find spirit in our
people that will resist her usurpations. But
let us not be hurried by the clamours of the
British partizans into lhostilities with her,
not to assert our own rights, but to aid the
Interests OF G.. 3.
One of the greatest ills, indeed. which may
arise from this adjustment, is the tendency
which it nnly have, if thepeople are ren,iss to-
wards British propensities and British pin
ciples.
When the British ncgociator arrives, how
ever, we shalibe better judges of the since
rity and disHtsrestednsss OF G.. Britain.
| As respects the Orders in Couucil, this
question occurs:
How far does Mr.. Madison's proclamation
extend,
| This proclamation is bottomed upon the
! nth sec. .nt the Non Intercourse law, the
words OF which, i'll sonic parts, it most ri
goroasiy quotes. These are the words of
THIS section, as far as they touch the present
question
@ And De IL further enae;s4, That the Presiden.
OF the U. States be and hereby is authorised, in
case either France or G. Bfitain shall SO revoke
| or modify her edicts, thar they Shall cease to
violate the neutral commerce Of tie u. States,
to declare the same by procla mation--after
whoa the trade of the u. States suspended by
this Act and by the Act LAYING an Embarco on
all sliPs and vessels i'll the ports and habvurs o.
the u States, and the seacsatacts supplemental
! ry thereto, may be renewed with the nation SO
doing" The section goes on to state, that the
penalties and forfeitures previously incurred un-
Ser this act shall remain in full force aN,l tina, all
vessels, thereafter bound to any permitted port,
Syc in a..
vessel and cargo, that they will not trade with a.
| ny other country than those with which CONNER
cal intercourse is permitted.
| These words evidently give the President
OF the U. States, no other power than what
relates to the restoration of trade. Mr. Frs
kline, however, in his letter of 18th April
seems to wish to entrap our government into
the concession of greater privileges. His
phrase is the renewal of the Intercourse
with Great Britain" MIR. Smith, in his
reply properly ties him down to the speci-
ned phrase-and only pledges the President
T" 10 issue Proclamation by virtue of the
authority and for tie furfoSeS stiecifcd"
in this 18th section. 1t is plain therefore,
that the. Proclamation of the President
merely takes off the restrictions, which
bind our trade with Great Britain. After
the 10th day of June, our vessels may repair
to her ports and return with her produce.
fier merchant pesSeis may enjoy the same
privileges ct trade to our own ports. But
our restrictions on her public armed ships
will still be in force.
| The President of the u. States has no
controul whatever overthis subject. 1t does
not enter into those points which he is au-
thorfSed to throw into his proclamation.
congress have taken this case into their own
hands. The FIRST restriction on all British
armed ships appears i'm Mr.. Jeffcrson's pro-
clamation of July, 1907. The Non-Inter-
course law takes the place of this proclama-
ton and extends it TO French armed ships.
The President was not authorised to embrace
this case IN the exemptions of his proclama-
ton; and therefore British armed vessels.
even after the 10th of June, will still be ex-
Guided from the ports and harbors of the u.
States. French public ships are placed in
the same predicament; and it is therefore
reserved for the wisdom of Congress to de-
cide at their next session, whether this ex-
ciuston shall cease or continue, as to both
or whether it shall cease as to c. Britain, and
continue as TO France
ne British government are adroit enough
to attempt TO draw their own necks out
Iof the noose-and leave their adversary in
TINS predicament. Why have they now come
poTzoaro with terms of PREPARATION for the at
ttack on the Chesapeake> NVhv are they SO
lsolicitous to hush up that affair , Because
they wish to entitle themselves to the grace
lof an exemption from all exclusion of their
public ships-bccause they wish to claim
from the next Congress repeal of those re-
stnctions which they have reserved in their
own hands--no doubt expecting that these
Irestrlctions would continue as to France
land that thus new item would be added
TO the distinctions which will subsist between
her adversary and herself
| a new topic of distinction might thus be
lProductd-a fresh firebrand to kindle the
discontents and excite the bostilitics Of
France against the u. States. This is one
lof those objects, which are the nearest and
dearest to the heart of Britain-To plunge
us into war with her enemy. and entanele
MS IN an alliance with herself, is now her first
and favorite consideration--to accomplish
these wishes, no art Of diplomatic legerde-
main, and no exertiOns of her friends i'm thi
country, will be spared Both the bellige-
rents OF Europe, indeed, no doubt entertain
the same friendly dishositions on this point
Uhat course 4OW france toqo hursue
VIII she resent our adjustment of the British
orders by declaration Of Ear /? Will she
rescind her DEGREES against our commerce
L hese questions may be answered by another
VINO will pretend to measure the movement
and policy of such mind as Napoleon's
The British orders will be suspended 'sa
respects the u. States !" what then becomes
OF the French DEGREES All the public pro
LESSONS which have fallen from the Frencl