The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-02-28

"N'N NASNhhNAtl bispidf nc I.CIinSS aOu pro-
pcnsities of the Essex Junto, and the Fede-
'~ralists who march with them. Hatred to
France ana an overweening attachment to
Engiand are the great traits of their politi-
cal character. To CRAFTY the former, they
would even "unfurl the republican banner
against the imperial Standard" To sooth
theirfavorite Britain, they are ready TO take
her part against the interests of their own
country, to denoance ala administrator which
has supported our rights, and cling to a ma
ton thathas trampied them under foot.
Let these omissions be supplied.-L.et a
variety of material facts which are not no.
uced III this Report, be taken into cons;Ae-
ration. The failacy of this part of the Re
port viii be apparent. 1t is true that the
provision Arrcte of france was one month
prior to the public Order of England-but
1t is not true, that France has taken the lead
IN such aggressions. 1t is in vain to expectto
Shed any new light upon questions. which
were so eagerly canvasscd in the II. States
during the years '95, Is. Y, 'S, '9-and there
tore we shall borrow from the ablcst s.Ex-
animation" that we lrsvc yet seen q into the
origin of Neutral Spoliations." These NUM-
bers are. preserved at full length in Carey's
American Museum for 1898:
There is among the records of the De-
partGcnt OF State, clear and positive evil
dence, that England had GcHbsratelg ma
f"red ana conSummGfed the system of vio-
lat,ng the neutral above a month
6efoTe the French decree of the 9th of MAY
l793. Our minister in London, Mr.. Pinck-
nev, communicated to our Secretary of Estate.
IN MS letter of the 5th July, 1895, that Lord
Greavilie had explicitly a.d unreservedly
avowed, that the captures OF neutral vessels,
as directed by the British order of the Sta
June. l795, to that end, were fuuy u1der-
stead by both Ru$&ia and Great Britain,
To be within the intention of the convention
between them, which was signed by those
two governments at London, on the 25th day
OF March 1795."-(The words of the dis
patch are Lord Grenville, on being asked,
said Spain zyould pursue the same line of
conduct, and upon its being objected that e.
ven their late convention with Russia did
not extend TO this object he answered that
though 1T was not erhresSiy mentioned, it
was fully understood by both parties, to be
within the intention of ~it.")-From the e.-
traordinarY nature of that convention be-
tween Russia and G.. Britain, from the dis
sance between Pctersburgh and London, and
from the season Of the year, it cannot be doubt
ed. that this important contract. which was
Inutuaiiy signed on the 25th of March, 1875,
(and announced openly in the London news
papers OF that day) have been originated
IN the summer off792, by the Empress * the
british king. In all the correspondence be-
tween our Secretary Of State and Mr.. Pinck-
ney, and in the conferences and notes b.
tween the British Secretary of State and our
Minister III London, we 90 not perceive the
least suggestion of the influence IF The er-
amhLe Of tie French Decree of the eth of
May, lT93. Such a plea could not possibly
be made by Lord Gremville, who kae7v and
GUoz,ed, that G.. Britain had 6ound herself
ny a solemn CompaCt with Russia, TO observe
the very conduct of which the neutral pow
ers complained. Lord Grenvil!c and the Rri-
tish minister here (Mr. Hammond) have, in
their written communications, UNIFORMLY
maintained, that ii was regular and qipht.
under the law of nations. The British go
Vernr,ent, no doubt, gave Msir first Orders
TO the commanders OF their shjDs as soon as
the Convention with Russia was signed that
is, Ill March, 1898; and it is to be presumed.
taat the known dcteDtions OF neutral ycssels
ID me btitisl ports, So carly as ire aUtp7an
q iI9@, ana the captures Of neutral vessels,
Wblch The French government assign rs the
JuSttying reasons of their act of May 179S,
were made IN consequence OF the negotiation
ana cot1f(etion of that convention and Of
those DJ'St ord-rs. The English Secretary
OF State insisted on their right to adopt such
measures, IN his negotiation with our envoy
(Mr. Ja; and in the formation OF the exist
80 N'-"F 80 Nit OhttEU states. IL Is not
perceived, therefore, in what manner the
French decree of May, 1895, can have hro-
anced tins conduct OF @. MISUNDERSTANDING
france acted a very unwarrantable and i'm
prudent part towards US and the other ncu-
trails, IN her decree Of May, 1895. But ha-
wing an immense population to support. and
a prodigious band of sailors and soldiers
TO feed, almost completely shut in on the land
Sine by the hostile Netherlands, Germany.
italy and Spain, expecting no grain from the
s"arming hive of Switzerland, and closely
watched by the inimical fleets of Russia.
o"eden, Holland, England, Spain, Portugal,
ana the Italian States, her just and founded
appithenslons Of a ruinous and dis.ractine
anime appear to have been quickened by
the instances of capture, some Of which are
PaTtiCuiarized, and others of which are ex-
pressiJ. thoug! generally noticed, in the de-
cree Of the convention"
These observations are conclusive
SHOW, that during the last war France was
not, as IS pretended, the first ~violator Of men
t'al rlghts-Since this conclusion has been
established, the Report of the Legislature of
massachusetts must fall to the ground. There
IS no room for that particular resentment
ana resistance, which they inculcate against
the French government. Their favourite
court OF st. James's has done create, in;u-
res aud deserves more of our resentment.
1t IS useless to push these structures anv
turther - he extracts which we have stated