The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-06-13

! are CoHiPeteht 20 Juugc for themselves, whose
discernment is not to be Guided by. our
votes ,approbatory Of a bad m easure, or con-
demnatory ola good one, that decision,yhich
they have already pronounced in a style as
emphatic as it IS audible---And what good, i
| pray you, can result from this resolution ?
Those who had always denied that the admi-
nistration possess any patriotism or virtue,
will, to be consistent, lind it necessary to OPP
pose votes OF this kind, and instead CT doing
the ordinary businessof legislation, we shall
employ our whole time i'm discussing propo-
sitions capable OF doing no good. likely to
produce much eyiI-But we are, already met
with charge that we condemn the accom-
mediation, and are afraid to meet the ouest-
or. repeat, sir, am not inimical to it,
for am highly peased---and the friends. of
administration derive a triumph from it
that the spirit of accommodation, which has
at no tire been intermitted on the part of
| our government, was met at last by u CORES
pondent disposition OH the part of Great Bril-
tain.
| did not expect, sir, admitting gentlemen
were OF opinion, that there has not been
spirit Of accommodation displayed on the
part of the government at all times, and that
they have even acted with duplicity---that
we were now to enter into an examination
OF the measures or this country, for, live or
SIX years past, and it will be with much re-
iuctance that shall follow the gentleman, by
touching. however lightly, on the various to
pics discussed in the wide range that he has
taken-Nor did expect, from that gentle
man, an eulogium on the non-intercourse
law, which he pronounced, only three months
ago, to be frausht with much evil, and which
| to-day he affirms, by placing the two belli-
serents on an equal footing, was the cause
| of the rescission of the orders in council in
| asmuch as it admitted the British govern
ment to treat, without infiicting a wound on
their pride. /, is asserted by the gentleman,
that the recent arrangement is entered into
| by Great Britain on very different terms
from those offered last summer, through our
minister at London-beca,, Sc. 1st, the pom
importation law is now repealed-and 23ly
that having prohibited British ships alone,
by the Proclamation Of the President, from
entering our ports it was highly offensive to
Great Britain, and we have done away the
discrimination which existed between them
and French vessels contend, sir, that the
gentiemanis wrong in his position, and that
the offer made to Great Britain, and reject
ed, was not worse, but better, as regards
her pride or interest, than that now accept
ted; and the offer of Mr.. Pinkney, by order
of the President, was of itself, 2 strong proof
of the spirit of accommodation which has
been evinced by the government. In the of
fer made to Mr.. Canning, the American GO
Il vernment proposed to suspend the embargo,
SO far related to Great Britain, on q revo-
cation of the orders in council, merely as
I respected us--to renew our trade with them,
and prohibit it with France. Ii was not only
contumeliously rejected, but Mr.. Canning de-
clared, that the formal abandonment, Ia ia
cit REIMBURSEMENT of them was not sufficient,
but a formal abandonment) by France, Of
her DEGREES, was an indispensable pre-rcqui-
site to repeal of the British orders in coun.
+ Gil,
j There is no mention made Of the French
DEGREES or of our non-intercourse with
France, In the late correspondence, and his
Britannia majesty withdraws his orders of
January and November, merely ON condition
that we i2ill renew the Intercourse with @.
Britain. The Indispensable prerequisite is
forgotten; all mention of France is pre- ter
mitted, andin that view, the late accommo-
dation has given mp more than we asked in
September last. How then can the gentle
man insist, that the terms OH which the late
adjustment was made. are more favorable to
Great Britain, than those rejected last sum-
mer! lie relics, however, upon the repeal
OF the non importation law, and the merger
OF the proclamation, issued in consequence of
the affair of the Chesapeake: in the general
prohibition of British & French ships OF war,
as materially changing the state of our re-
ldtio1S WITH Ifeat britain, ana Dy pIaCIng
her on a footing of equality with France, has
i given an opportunity to propose terms. Sir,
did not suppose that the affair of the Ches-
! apeake, and the proclamation which grew
out oft, would have been introduced here,
as a proof of the want Of a spirit of accom-
mediation on our part. Am mistaken in
surprising, that the gentleman himself did
on this floor, condemn the President for not
calling Congress together sooner. to take
clanhation was weak measure! (Mr. Ran
dolph stated, he had never said SOY Sir, it
seems l am mistaken liz ascribing such de-
claration to the gentleman. ask you, sir,
it the indignation OF the people could, with
out difficulty, be appeased with the measure,
such as it was, aud whether it wocld have
been consistent with that honorable feeling,
to have revoked it, for the purpose of prevent
Ing tax ON our exports, imposed by the or
ders in Council! Let it ba recolected, sir.
that the affair of the Chesapeake was treated
of, distinct from all others, and never blend
ed with any other, except that, with which it
was necessarily connected, viz. with provisi-
ON against impressment from on board Of
vessels sailing under the American flag, and
that connection was dsregarded, in compli-
ance with the wish Of e.. Britain.
|, The equality in the restrictions imposed by
us, grew out of posteriOr acts of the French
government. France had not invaded our ma
tional jurisdiction, had not murdered Pierce
or taken the Chesapeake; even admitting
her other attacks were equally hagitious with