The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-06-23

FOR THE ENQUIRER.
THE NEW BRITISH onDEas IN cousc,,


government would execute with good faith
his agreement at Washington. must be
source OF satisfaction to every real American.
The virtuous mind must rejoice in the bright
er prospect it holds out of an amiCable ad
-justment of every subject of difference be-
,tweenthis country and Great Britain. five
had no interest in the question, yet ira moral
point of view. it would be painful to contem-
plate "a perpetual recurrence of injury, with
ont one solitary act of magnanimiry or JUS
tice to lessen the balance of crime. The
character of minister has been held SACRED
by all nations, and it would have required
more than ordinary wickedness to have de-
graded and disgraced that character in the
eyes OF the universe. Such an awful and
horrible example, SO destructive in its con-
sequences the preservation of social order
between nations, even the unprincipled mi
inistry that governs that unhappy country.
could not have been expected to give. 1t
would have left Them exposed to the execra-
tions of the civilized world. and US no alter
native but submission or Ear.
Yet although this intelligence is subject
OF real congratulation to the lovers of peace,
DC ought never be forgotten, that what has
already taken place at Washington is but a
prelude to future negotiation. Every mate
rial subject Of difference is yet to be adjusted,
and they are too numerous, too complicated.
II,
their final settlement will be either speedy
or unattended with serious difficulties. The
intelligence OF the arrangement atWashing-
ton, and the renewal of Intercourse with G.
Britain, diffu:ed universal satisfaction thro'-
out the country. We seemed ready to bury
the past in oblivion, and renew once more the
most friendly intercourse with her, i'm the
persuasion that a returning sense of Justice,
1t it did not indemnify us for past, would
nc a roi ms n,t
in commemoyation of the event were daily
announced. The public prints teemed with
Fluctuations on the suspicious change in our
affairs, and even the Hall of Congress re-
echoed the glad tidings.
y / do not mean to condemn altogether.
any manifestation of satisfaction, at the
glimpse of returning peace, afforded by thar
agreement; but do condemn in the most
unqualified terms, the extravagant demon
strations Of joy, which burst forth on the oc-
casion. The cause and the effect were emf
nently disproportioned-and the public mind
was let down from the tone, it ought ever to
preserve, until 4 treaty-an honorable trea-
ty, is signed and ratified. One would have
thought, that with little attention to the
subject, without suffering the recollection of
the past to press too heavily on our minds, it
might have been seen. that there was nothing
IN the overture of Great Britain, or in the
prospect of accommodation held out by it,
that would have justified SO powerful amin
preston on the public mind.
The overture itself, although explicit as to
the withdrawal of the obnoxious orders of
January and November, 1907, on the 10th of
Juno, yet afforded no sufficient assurance,
that the principle of those orders was totally
abandoned or would not hereafter be revived.
On the contrary, the preference of any diff
ference of opinion which might arise in the
Interpretation of the agreement to future he
gociafon," afforded reasonable ground for
the apprehension that some principle might
he asserted by Great Britain, even before a
hnal adjustment of differences, which to the
American people would seem to violate the
spirit and meaning of the contract, then en-
tered into by MIR. Erskine en- the part of his
government. No such provision could have
been necessary, if G. Britain meant to with
draw her Infamous orders, absolutely to a.
bandon the principle by which they attempt
ed to justify them, and to set up no other
pretensions, equally incompatible with neu-
trail rights. Besides this, with however good
faith the agreement of the 18th of April had
been performed, however liberal its inter-
probation, and however vigorously scrupalous
its execution, yet there was contained in it
no assurance that satisfaction would be made
US, for the robberies that British cruizers ha d
TOR SO many years been committing OH Ameri-
can property-that the right of search would
be relinquished-that Imfressmenfs would
be abandoned or even egulated-that Ane-
rican citizens confined III British prison ships
would be restored to liberty, to their friends
and famiiy-that BLockades on hQher would
cease, or that any of the many evils we
have experienced at her hands would be
redressed, and conduct more just and con-
formable to the law of nations, be substi .
tuted in their place.-Until this, or some
thing like this had been done, there was no
reason for extravagapt demonstrations of iov,
tor public dinners, or for felictation on the
happy change of our affairs unless the Ame-
rican spirit is sunk so low, as to triumph ard
exult in having obtained from her oppressor.
something short of justice in one or two in
stances. when so MAN. important principles
are yet to be settled, and so many unprovok
ed injuries to be atoned for. Until this had
been done, dignihed and even fndiguant
silence, such as brave man would prese,v.
towards one who should offei him utiful q
pology tor the greatest injury, would have
better become our situation.
Yet, feast, and cxult, and triumph we did
and II this was not proof Of our wisdom. i,
was at least an evidence of our sincere and
friendly disposition towards the :, JIofbey
Country. "--It was an evidence to Mank;pd
that we have too much of the milk of hi
man Kindness to bear malice towards our o
nemies--that as we are not Silu 1ioyed m
resentment, SO we are at all times ready r.
forgive, and that promise of apology is snf,
MI