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

tney poniS out any iRIivtdial5 IN the IN u .rity
who are not as firmly bound to tiei- cunntry's
good by the ties of kindred, property and every
thing dear to maa, as they have ? | presume not
and whilst they eSclaim against Irritation, why
do they not observe the course which they re-
commend to US, towards their political oppo-
nents, inca who have as strong claims to cour-'
age or to patriotism us themselves (, What have
we been told by gentlemen on the opposition side
of the House, WHO have charged you so repeat
ediy with a desire to involve the nation in a war
with Great Britain : Why, sir, that you could
NOT be driven into 4 war. Was il tn have been
expected, that after all the irritation and all the
sensibiiity produced in certain sections of the u
mon by 4 charge that you were endeavoring 20
plunge the people into a war with Great Britain,
that u declaration Of this kind would be made (.
confess WAS not prepared for it. Is tie mouse
disposed to verify the prediction of the gentle
lnan from Massachusetts, that we Z" cannot b.
k'cked into a war With Great Britain" or With a
ny other nation. I,iis is assigning the nation a
low station in the ranks of honor, they are put
out ut them altogether. For | do from NV .oui
peiieVe that the course proposed in the resolution,
itadopted, viii terminate in a settlement OF Our
differences with Great Britain and III the pre-
sent course Of The world, when we have received
tom France so little justice and libcraiity, we
re only rest aimed from rene wing intercourse
win Great Britain, because II renewal under
present circumstances would not comport with
Our honor, certainly not with our interest. If
~" ~ tShN " ~ 81
with Ter on terms which would not disgrace an
independent nation l would ~certainly .enew
intercourse with her bnt ! cannot do it with =
nation WHICH affects 10 treat us rs one other &C.
Erowied4Scd colonies. The gent!eman from Con-
necucut M Pitkin) who spoke on this subject
Kew days ago, furnished, L think, one of the
strongest reasons why we siionid not for u mo-
meht admit the pie, Of retaliation in justification
OF the British orlcrs. He told you, surprising the
Emperor OF China were TO issue a degree declar-
/ litr tha RuIfsst sc.nN l.. - -. s. kl-l-.l. "a
would be u mere nudity. The argnm Il is cor
rect. And ask in return, whether mensos so
perfectly empty, so merely 6rutunn fuinten Ito usc
an expression ofa gentleman from M ryiand, Mr..
hey) would justify 50 ruinous s. retaliation as
tIat adopted by Great Britain. 1t has been said
tn, the French decree of Berlin was not OF morc
effect than the similar decree OF the Empctor of
china would be. Ii this be the fact, and | 20
not contest it, bow is it possible that the British
government could justly the right Coz that reason
10 take a measure so rUilous 10 tliis Country. The
gentleman went on to quote the opinion of the
Secretary of state and others, TO. prove that his
position in relation to the hlrmlessncss Of the
French decree is correct. ! sdmIt il, sir; and 1t
furnishes the strongest possible reason why The
claim OF Great Britain should not be acnnicsced
M atd proves to my mud .uGt the pretcHcc OF
the necessity of letaiiating war an insinccic ano
arttui profession Intended 10 sl,i Us and disguise
her own Injustice.
The gentleman from Connecticut, (lIr Pit
KIM gave US a most glowing dcscrintioa of the
power OF France told us that ali the werld was
p%rostrate at her feet, and Spain was about TO ae
"veffun by ner arms. Sir. if I am MOI much
mistaken in the view which haze taken ON
the subject. France IS weaker now than she
w.s before tine Spanish revolution uof,
II sac succeeds in the conquest of Span, do | be-
'IeFe chat She viii be more powerful, because
she formerly not only actually commanded that-
government but the Spanish colonies. 3ne
French have not received from the SpaGish col
ONES III South America less th1n from t,vent9 to
thirty million Of dollars annuaily. A.. ter Por.
,tuSai, she was under the necessity at DuI Chasing
her neutrality At Che price vi six millions or dol
lars annually. France has lost no, oniy that, out
the Portuguese colonies also and + we Judge OF
tlie Importance ofthese colonies bv the measures
pursued i'll Englaud to get their commerce., we
should be induced 20 suppose that the resources
OF france are seriously impaired by losinG them.
But granting all the gent,sman's premises, wha.
does iis argument amount to Is there any man
VINO doubts the disposition o.! France to use AL
the influence IN her power over us } l. there any
doubt that i! we were near France we should be
attempted t. be reduced under her dominion -
There can be no douIt Oft. We have seen
sucI . system pursued to her neighbors, that 10
man can doubtit. Is moi the happiness of this
pcoo'c sufficient 10 tempt this conqoerer in the
tuliness OF his power to blot from the history Of
the world all example which must set in the
most odious co.ors the present situation and past
hSloTy % ifahcC lleFe can De no doubt that
every European government must feel q hOstil-
ity TO this government. 1t is a standing re
proach 10 tseir policy, and a dangerous example
to their people though 1 fear, sir, that scarcely
one-tenth OF the population of the extensive con
tinent OF Europe know that such a continent as
this exists. Yet the existence of this govern
ment operates to produce ie,icusy and alarm in
those governments. Admit, I%rfpeat, that France
is so powerful, are weir any danger from Frtncc ;
believe not. How could she operate on YOU /?
What has become OF her West India Islands =
Has she been able TO preserve even those from
the hands of her enemy. She has not secured
them-and can it be believed that she could trans.
port q force here /! / beg gentlemen TO put this
question to themselves Is it possible TO believe
that 1t there was any effort made in France 10 At.
tack Us, we should not with ole heart Midland
unite against her? II there be . gentleman who
feels a doubt, his reason must be under The do
minion OF a suspicion l do not envy, and which l
should be sorry TO feel for any portion oS he peo-
pie Of my country IftAis country should be en-
gagged III a contest with France at this time, what
would be the consequence Of or relative situatl.
on ! Every one knows that our population is IN
creasing so rapidly as will s1on give us 4 iorce
sufficient TO resist any effort, even the combined
efforts of all Europe.
Here the gcntle,nan's argument comes proper
ly into view. He considers the safety of the Uni.
Z -