The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-10

view another act of inSiHcerity Let til at be
also examined. The gentleman complains,
mat our ministers in London were instructed
To tell the British minister only of the precau-
uoha'y object ct the embargo laws; and of
course leave their coerciye object to be I'm :.
fcrred by the British minister. This was
both polite and proper. It was an instruct.
on To our minister in fact, to avoid touching
the sensibility OF the British minister and ma
ton. What would the gentleman have done
himself. sir? Would he, because there were
TWO objects in passing the Law, have instruc-
tea our ministers to have pressed both upon
the British commissioners, although one of
them would have touched ther national pride
and sensibility? This was unnecessary, and
would not have been very uibane. 1t would
nave been an outrage Mpone every principle
OF diplomatic deiicacy. rannot therefore
see tue ground of objection t{tiis instruction,
un,ess IL IS, that the secrlary Of state has
nov taken tile gentleman from Massachusetts
lMr' F'ckering] for his model: that he had
not resorted to some of the gent!eman's bold
me'aphorical fiour1shes that he did not in
struct our ministers to tell the British, "that
the Tiger crouches before he leaps npon his
prey: Yes, sir, i am extremely happy to
behold the striking contrast exhibited be-
tween the former, and present secretary of
state; contrast SO highly honorable to the
present secretary. Indeed, sir, am the
more astonished at the gentleman's driving
us INTO this comparison so unfortunate to him
sew when he must know, or certainly ought
10 know, that his own inveterate passions ut
terly incapacitated him from the DISCHARGE
OF the duties of that office, and finally expel-
led him from it. The gentleman seems to
ne stu harpinS upon the miserable tale of
L rench influence. i suppose, he also, unfor-
tuhateiy stands committed upon that idle sug-
gestion. Sir, insnuaiions of this nature are
degrading to the national character; and
Always feel condescension in being cornell
Ell to'make reply. Indeed, sir, it is neces-
sary 10 impose strong restraints upon the feel
inSs IN making the reply the suggestion de-
serves.
But, sir, the gentleman, so intent, suppose,
upon ms own self justification, that he has
n,ahi'estea great labor and ingenuity in ma
king collection of scraps from the numerous
documents Before us; from which he has at
tempted to infer, not only, that the execu-
1--WE department was acting under French
inhnehcs, but that this honorable BODY was
ALSO acting under the same inaaence-ves
SIT, =. the BODY of which the gentleman Elm
SCH Is member. Yet, sir, the gentleman
knows, Notwithstanding his jcalousies, his
,surmiscs. and his inferences. that it is i'm
possible; that the fact is not So Let me ask
gentleman if he is prepared to say in his
Pace tfat any one member OF this body, or
.htt TINS body itself,,is acting under French
,nnaence, or any improper influence! The
;c'itIeInan must have too much respect for
himseit TO make sHch an unfounded a sser.t;-
ion. Why then, sir, all this labour at snr-
! mise, suspicion, and inference, leave the
gentleman to answer th, question. Equally
uaioGNoed are the miserable limitations to-
wards the Executive.
Let me ask the gentleman, through what
Channel his unhappy, suspicious mind has
Taught tina to suppose, that these dark, these
,Vislpie negotiations could be carried on ?
suppose ne would necessarily reply through
w armstrong, our minister in Paris Yet
MI: hrns,rong has lately retrieved himself
Sn'.c! from the gentieman's deluSive sus-
PIGEONS. we arc now told, Mr. Armstrong
Is patriot; follow his advice. Again. sir
let me ask The gentleman if he has heard any
apology for the hostile Conduct ofFrancc. Ell
tiic' III 'iis house, or any where else! Has
""' every person declared, that the conduct
was hostility itself! Mr. President, whether
he sch'ienan intended to make insinuations.
W "icIe''c.s, or surmises, or suspicious, or
assertions, II he please, of French influence
as operating either upon the executive. or
upon this body, / here in my place do nro.
noiihce the whole to be utterly unfounded-
but SIR the gentleman boldly saws, there is
xonethihS coDccaIetl.---l really should
axe 20 know what it is that he supposes can
ne concealed: should really like to know
what w'tchcraft it il, that has continually
tortured the gentlcman's mind with these I'M
nappy, fantastic deiusions. No, sir, there
Is nothing concealed: there is too much cx :
Posed Tor, sir. iii the present whirlpool OF
'ooFuihatc passions, all honorable confidence
seems 10 be disre*pected. " i'll not accuse
inns gentleman OF acting under British influ-
Shce = teci TOO much respect for the Ams-
rican character to do so. | hope and trust
ne is not. 1 am willing to admit that his
views are American Hut. sir, this conside-
r"ton will not deter me from expressing nv
wonder and establishment at the extracrdina-
" views that the gentleman takes of Auc
riCIn interests FIRST in the unremitting labor
ne has taken TO put his own government in
the wrong upon every point of discussion be-
tween IL and the British government and in
MS strange misrepresentation or total tlisre-
gaf' OF facts; Of outrages, sir, upon our dear
est rights, b. the British government oltra =
yes wh1ch ought to rouse every American
feehne into action. Secondly in the compa-
ratVc view he has taken of the hostile acts
OF France and Great Britain. Sir, he has
used every effort to magnify, if possible.
french aggressions, whilst he has family adj
m'tted British aggreSsons, and even paliated
or excused them. Let US now see, sir, what
IS the true character of aggressiops which
are treated with so much tenderness, Sir. I
SAID the other daV and have NJ, bo.,1 :.