The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-03-24

ssmi'iar, mps. b. aware that. the rule.laid
down by hiri. is brought forward 20 = We
Try Inherent pu,pose.'-Can any contra
Idiction De more direct and conspicuous, than
ItiIat which prevails between the language
of Mr.. Cores letter and his Reports
The same Report, alluding to the same
"1nterpelated' principle, uses the following
conciliatory language:
1.-The rule of war of Sc. although adopted
IN the early part of last var, was SO modi-
ned as to afford no cause Of complaint t. the
". States, during the latter wears of that con-
test. and it is believed, that a similar temper
ot accommodation has been. manifested by
the same power towards the u. States in the
present war"
Mark now the indignant language of the
memorial addressed to the President and
Congress OF the United States on January
20. 1906, by a ccmmittec of the merchants
of Boston, at the head of whose names stands
that of James Lloyd, Junr. the worthy col
league of Timothy Pickering, & now the un-
b%ius.,ing apologist of British aggression =
awhile your mcmorialists nave witnessed,
with mingled feelings of indignation towards
the perpetrators, and OF commiseration for
their Unfortunate. country men, the insults and
lbarbaritics which the commerce of these
states has sustained from the cruizers of
France and Spain, it is their object, in the
present memorial, to confine their animad-
versions tot he more alarming. because more
numerous and extensive detentiops and con-
l~demnations OF American vessels, by Great
Britain /; and to advertto the principles re-
Gently avoweda and adopted by her courts, re-
iatlve to neutral trade in articles of colonial
produce principles which, if admitted, or
practised upon in all the latitude which may
fairly be inferred to be intended. would be
destructive of the navigation, and radically
impair the most lucrative of our
country. -And yet. quoth Timothy Picker
ing, the worthy colleague of James Lloyd,
Great Britain has done no essential iniury
to our commerce, THE rule of SO is mere
y intended to prevent the enemy from pro-
htting by the neutral fag-And, quoth tie
late Legislature Of Massachusetts. we must
go to war with France, not G. BIN spite
OF hcr " more numerous and extensive" in
juries inflicted upon us.
When men thus fly off from the principles,
which they once have taken, without any
new lights to detect their fallaacv, what
hopes can be formed of the disinterested-
pes of their conduct?
Some of the Englis. Prints have said. thu. we
have nude a proposition To France to join her in
The war against G.. b If she would only rescind
her DEGREES. The Fedcralists have chimed i'm
with the same idea. THERE'S surely nothing in the
Documents published to Justify this supposition.
we nave made no direct propositions to France 4,
ne Piedge-no commitment-much less one to
JON her IN the war against G. b.
But tins idea IS not only directly contradicled
oy the facts themselves-bu It betrays the gross
est ignorance OF our Constitution. To whom
is the power of declaring zuar given? In thi,
couhtry-contrary to almost every government IL
ue "orid-it is gwen to the Legislative body
10 congress. The executive have no power o.
yer it-of course they can make no proDosition 10
declare Warmth Congress should pass a re-
solution to authorize it.
Had Congress adopted the resolution, laid he
tore them at their last session, respeclirp Let
tiers OF Marque & Reprisal, a Eower very similar
10 this would have been transferred. The Pre-
dent would have been authorised under cer,a;,
circumstance to issue these Letters. Ofc.urs..
this power might have entered into the means <,
Instruments of negotiation. To France and C.
britain he might have respectively said, 90 If vot,
WIN fesc'nd your obnoxious DEGREES Tor Orders,
as the case might be, l will exercise the nov.
ers transferred TO me oy Congress. will ,ssme
Letters OF Mdrque and Reprisal against your
rival, VINO perseveres in his Injustice against n, >
but this resolution was not passed. The
President has therefore no such power AS 10
make Il proposition to join in the zpar. All thar
he can do, under the Non Intercourse law 10 ~
say respectively to the belligerents :" If YOU
resciid your obnoxious edicts ss to us, 1 will sus.
pend the Embargo and Non. Intercourse laws as
TO you. | will issue my proclamation, to adm;
your pubic shIps to the benefits of our ports.
your private vessels, your produce and manufac'
lures even after the 20th OF May, and to allow
a Tree E*por- ct our own to your Kingdom and
dependencies" This is the language which The
PRESIDENT may now use perhaps the substance
OF the dispatches which are now going OIL in the
PacIflc and Mentor-lnd the course of that nr-
gocIatIon, whose results may be laid before the
next Congress.
10 rance we can roSv make a direct and more
effective proposition. The reason is, that the Non.
intercourse law has created certain new resiric.
ions againstiFrance, by the removal of which she
would De G6le and glad to profit.
mat law has done away every brefext of re.
Proach' tand a mere pretext it has always been
on the part ofC or its friends here, against the
administration, for its partiality to France or hos.
tiIty against England. That law has placed these
two nations on the same ground. 1t takes
the place OF the Presidents Proclamation as 10
British armed vessels, and extends it to French
armed vessels. 1t substantially repeats the par.
tai non importation law aimed against England.
and extends a total restriction. 20 France As well
as to England.-To France, Il ~ fore, the pres;
dent can now offer certain Inducements to rescind
her DEGREES. One is, the use OF our ports to her
armed vessels.
ANTIQUITY frequently supplies lights and
precedents for modern times.
he historian Polybius relates i'm the 5th
map. OF Book 4th, that the people OF Bv-