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

affair OF the Chesapeake he insisted OH the
unreasonable and insulting condition of the
previous repeal Of a measure Of precaution
growing out OF the aggression Of which we
complained Or in other words, he deman-
lded as a preliminary, that i've, the party
confessedly injured & aggrievsd, should take
the hrst step and make the first Concession
Such proposition indicated either the exis-
tence ofavery imperfect idea Of what justice
and honor required amongst states or indi-
viduals, or predermination u make de-
mands so unreasonable or impnpcr. as to
preclude the possibility of an anicable adj
adJustment.--rhe very tone 4 Mr. Cam
lning's, communications with on. minister
ldisplayea an indisposition to friendly
arrangement. That tone was every proper
one to be assumed by a person, Who wished TO
excite irritation, or to widen difference
which unhappiy existed, bSt.was highly un-
becoming the representative Of a great pee
pie, particuarlarly when there was an al
lodged wish for amity and reconciliation. 1t
must be source of just prize to an Amcri-
can to observe, THAT SO able and enlightened
statesman AS Mr.. .Whitbrea(, has declared
IN the House of Commons thst the sty lie and
manner of Mr.. Canning diplsnatic commu-
nications suffer essentially by 4 comparison
with the dignifcd and mastery state papers
WINCH have proceeded fromNthe pen of Mr..
4 N1aulSOr. ~ -.'-t
| n recurrence TO the correspondence be-
tween MIR. Canning and Mr.. Pinckney viii,
as has been observed, clearly: demonstrate
THAT the terms offered bv. our government to
the British Cabinet are in effect theAsamc
ON which an arrangement was finally ac-
lcomplished. The United States consent to
remove all measures Of restriction or Coer-
cion as to Great Britain. OH the latter ceas-
ing from the observance of course les-
tructive to our Commercial rights. Il ma
king an overture for an adjustment on these
terms, Great Britain very wisely and Justly
| abandoned all idea of the inadmis,ible bunc-
tito, OF a preliminary repeal of the interdct
upon her vessels of war Coming int cur
ports. The ground on which Mr.. Erskine'
placed the favorable change in the views of
the British Cabinet towards us, was, that
the Non-Intercourse law was measure of
| importantly to the belligerents. 1t is terry
| remarkable that the same measure which is
hailed ny the British government, as SO pro-
pltious to restoration OF harmony between
the two Countries, was stigmatized by the
opposition. in Congress as an act of grtss
Partially to France and decided hostilityIto
England. The same description has been
more recently given of this measure, in an
address of a British Governor to colonial
legislature. The passage of the Non-inter-
l u.
Oakley embarked as the messenger of peace
But 1t is said that this act was anticipated
by the British Ministry. When Mr.. Oakley
lett England, the British government had e.
very reason to believe that the EMBARGO
would be continued But without going too
deeply into the causes which produced so
favorable change in our affairs, or too
| critical an examination of the motives which
! led to an alteration in the conduct of the
British Ministry towards US, let US admit
that the Non-intercourse. that act so vilifed
and reprobated by all the opponents of Go
vernmcnt, was the true reason which led to
an adjustment of our differences. This is
alledged by the British Minister and it may
be said, that the rules of diplomatic courte-
| sy require that we should credit the asser-
| ton. When was this measure adopted p
Certainly under the administration of Mr..
Jefferson. To his wisdom and foresight then
and to the intelligence of those with whom
he acted, are we to attribute this event
which is considered the source of SO much
benefit to this country. Will the enemies
Of the late administration deny that the adj
justment with England was owing to the
Non intercourse? Will they pretend to be
wiser than the parties to the transaction p
To know more than those who were to feel
the effects of the measure inquestion? fit
is not to be attributed to the Non intercour sc,
then they must consent to place it to the
! account OF the embargo and the measures
| which accompanied it, which would be We
ry abhorrent to their minds, and what would
make it doubly hateful would be, that the
embargo is also a measure in which Mr..
Mr.. Jefferson participated. The truth is
that the Government during the whole of
MIR. Jefferson's ministry pursued the same
course. 1t maintained a dignifed and impair
| tial neutrality. 1t neither favored Britain nor
| France, but endeavored to maintain a friend
! ly intercourse with both and to avoid an in
! innate political connection with either.
In the ardor of the conflict in which those
nations were engaged, they have both been
| Gesirous to involve us in the vortex of their
quarrels. The wisdom and circumspection
OF our government, preserved US from so
disastrous a destiny. 1t has suited the in
terested views of certain political partizans
to cast on our government the imputation
OF commercial preference for France -
they have thus to gritty party feelings,
endeavored to tarnish the reputation OF
their own country and to give currency
to the malignant aspersions of its enemies
but the day of retrbution has arrived
The cause of justice and truth has prevailed
The United States without embarkins i'm
the ruinous wars in which Europe is cngag-
ed, have preserved the resources of their
people undiminished, and by the Justice and
energy of their measures have secured the
respect and applause of mankind. Withou,
any change in principle orpolicy on the par,
of our government, Great Britain has So
lemnly acknowledged in the face of the
world, that the councils of the United State.
have manifested an impartial spirit of resis