The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-03-20
mo. 100.

WV H.uiSNeT VINO naa declined to execute.
"themp The motives for the re,rac,inp os
this reparation, we explained YESTERDAY to
consist in the Insulting, naughty and ofirn
sive manner in which it was received. 10
tell an independent government, even in &C
cepting OF its humiliation for a supposed %
fence, that, "it would have best comnorted
with what "was due to its own honor" To
nave offered more, is LANGUAGE, which of
ITSELF demands an apology among civilized
states. When, therefore, Mr.. Smith talks
OF the " conciliatory temper which has been
evipced By the United States, 'he is certain
" doing neither more nor less, than laughing
IN orr faces.
| Upon the subject of Mr.. Jackson's going
out to America without Instructions, to ten
der any precise propositions for the general
arrangement of differences, we have a few
words to offer. This may at first sight ap-
pear strange but yet our surprise viii abate.
! when we consider that our propositions are
| in effect before the Americans They are
three III number. and were cited in orr payer
| OF Yesterday, But these, it may be said. the
| Americans again and again declare. that
they viii not entertain: true --theu the
most natural mode oil proceeding is. that they
should now tender others which, AS MIR.
Jackson states, il was the object - his mis-.
SIGN to receive and discuss. II (ssvs our
envoy) have nothing farther to offer YOU
know my proposals and refuse them let me
hear yours" e No" says the American Sc
cretary, gwen were the way property open
for formal propositions from this govern
ment, known determination on the part of
ms britannic majesty to adhere to such ex-
taoTdInary prctensions, would preclude the
nope OF success in such advances, whether
regard be had to the conditions themselves
or to the disposition they Indicate" Was
ever doctrine so monStr0us As this, advanced
Deforef Why, negotiation npon such prin-
cipie must always end at its very commence
ment, II one negociator makes an offer which
the other deems extravagant : the rejecting
parry has only to say, 6: No, these are yonr
offers, with which j cannot close you are
obstinate and III disposed ; that know pri-
orr you viii adhere TO them: /, therefore,
will make you no others whatsoever"
lie II, therefore, always recollected, that
the negotiation with America has been sus.
pended, not because we will make her no of.
Ter. but because we have made her one.
which she, not deen.ing satisfactory, has
refused to make any CHER in return.
The only remaining subject ofimportance,
discussed IN the American SccretarY's letter,
relates to the injury said to be sustained by
his countrymen from the disavowal OF Mr..
H.rskne,s arrangement, Now, it is unde.
nlable that the arrangement itself was be-
nencial 10 the Americans; and the meaning
'ot Mr.. Smiths expression, that they faith
lutiy, on their part, carried such arrange.
ihent INTO erect. is precisely this, that they
instantly awaited themselves of the ativanta
Ses resulting from it. T'ras it is, that the
Order, whereby it was disavowed OUGHT not.
by US, TO have been hastily carried into eff
feet, soas to entrap vessels which had come
Cut GA the faith of the arrangement. Bud
that tins was not the case, viii be tolerabiy
evident to those who consider that toe trea-
ty was concluded ABOUT the middle Of Anr;l
was known IN England. aud hisavoweti by
our ministers on the oath of Nav; and We.
pesseis were allowed 10 clear out under it.
from American ports, Till The 2O.h of lulv
so thatit must be strongly suspected. thar
the list OF grievances given in Mr.. Smith.
letter. springins from its abrupt suspense.
on, IS an imaginary one. we cannot Conclude
our observations to day without renarking
on the extremely bitter, acrimonious and
sarcastic style in which this letter of Mr..
SmlthS IS written.
We still continue to hear, with the great.
est astonishment, but from so MANY rcs-
pectable quarters, as not to be abI, whollv.
to doubt the truth Of them, the most conf
dent accounts OF the manner in which Mr..
ErskIne's dispatches were garblet, before
they were presented to Parliament. Nav
IL is even said, that he had actually obtained
the substantial consent Of the American Ex
ecutive government to ali the three matters
iequiTeu Oy GTeat britain, as inserted in
hls Instructions, and as printed by order of
tbs House OF Commons, in the last session
on the motion of Lord Henry Petty; and
that the arrangement was concluded entirely
upon the basis Of such instructions, exceDt
tuat the arrangement was provisional only,
because the powers of the American exc.
cutive did not extend TO give an official re.
cognition of the terms or conditions ycouired
by the instructions; although there was no
OBJECTION raised to them in any quarter, nor
any doubt OF their being acted upon by Con.
gress. We can only observe, that if the a.
bove statement be true, the American go-
vernment must itself either be dsavowing
It's own act, or there must have been two sets
ot Instructions, in conformity 10 the latter OF.
which, the treaty must have been concluded.
in a5-much Mr. Smith's letter, contain.
ed IN ihis days paper, again and again de.
clares the indignation with which any of
fers, founded upon Mr.. Erskine's acknow-
legged instructions, would be received by
his government.
il is farther asserted, that ministers knev,
OF this conformity of the treaty to the in
strucuonS; that they were in fldl possession
OF Mr.. Erskine's communication upon the
subject, when they disavowed the arrange
ment; which COMMUNICATION they concealed
from Parliament at the time the production
OF 1t was called for by Lord Henry Petty
when ne moved for the Instructions.
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