The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-12-08
THE MESSAGE.

destinies of our country, the facts the views
and even the hints of the Chief Magistra e
are full of importance. They she'd a stream
of light over those national concerns, which
had been previously wrapt up in darkness.
At such time. as it we're, the President
comes, before the grand inquest of the
nation, to render up an account of his agency
for the last twelve months-and claim that
verdict, for his measures, which they may de
serve.-We shall be much astonished, if on
this occasion, the nation is not with him
if it does not pronounce the strongest SEN
tence ofits applause-instead OF the Rod, a
Wreathe-instead of mur.nurs, the loud
est chorus of praise.
We shall pass over the classic style, those
expanded views, and that clear discernment
ofjudgment. which breathe in this Commu-
nication-They are the characteristics of
James Madison--They are part of him..
sef"Let us go at once to the marrow
OF the Message. Those two features of it
which irresistlbly seize upon the attention,
are the state Of our Foreign Relations,
and the steps which have been taken lowards
Florida.
Our Foreign Relations are in a more
auspiclous situation, than they have been in
for four years past. A prospect is now dis
closed tous, which promises either to rid us
at once of all the aggressions inflicted upon
our commerce, or which leaves us in a SITUATE
on tree C unfettered to Compel the resisting
nation 10 do US justice. France has at length
hstened to the voice of Justice or of interest.
She has taken rs az our sVord--she has &C
CePted OF the pledge, which we have So
aemnly plghted to- both nations by an Act
of Congress. The highest minister in her
Cabinet, the accre3ited organ of foreign
concerns, has Come toward and solemnly
pledged the imperial word, that the Berlin
and Milan DEGREES =. are revoked" and
they +" will cease" their operation On the
list of Nov. " The reUScafion of them being
such. that they ceased, at that date, to VIC
late our neural commerce. the President
consulted the laws OF his country and issued
his celebrated proclamation.
This act. in itself purely ministerial
and SO perfectly parallel with the text of the
law, might at least have been expected to
Comm and the universal assent of his Coun-
frymen. But what will not Party attempt !
To what lengths will not the ambition of sez
ing the reins of government hurry its vota-
ries what miracles may not be wrought by
British Partially and British gold Before
the Proclamation appeared, it was expected
by every man of common sense, who had
read the dispatches of Champagny, with
out the false CLOSES of prejudice-yct fede-
ratism attempted to shroud the truth in
ciouds-its prints throughout the Union
ry means attempted which could daunt the
mind of the President.---His soul rose su-
perior to all their articles, and the paper
was issued, which has since drawn down the
nost captious crticims and unbounded re-
sentiments against him The tocsin has been
sounded--and every federal print in the uni
On has necessarily rung with the most mise
rahle objections and the cry of french intlu
ence in all 1t notes and variations.
De- 81, soil
the newsPapers-they will be introduced, in
the most solemn guise, upon the floor of
Congress. The walls of the " of z will
te-echo with the cry. The stores of sophis
try will be exhausted in this unavaling con
test. Mr.. Qaincy will bring forth. in dread
array. all the guilds aud the quddites, the
qurks and the bubbles Of his ingenuity
What, though Mr. Daua has been trans
planted to the Upper House what, though
che abstruse question Of a patent power"
can no longer be impressed into their ser.
vice yet, advocates and reasons VIII cIus-
ter as vile and as {" thick as black berries. y
They will tell us-Gods what will hey
nor tell MS
They viii tell us-that France has not
ceased to violate our neutral commerce.
that though her DEGREES are revoked, il was
upon conditions which the PresideD, could
no. accept resistance to British aggres
Sions by TUar'--that " even 1T they are re-
voked, orr sequestered vessels are monu
ment of their injustice, and continuation
oil the infringement on our neutral com
merce"-and that &C. Il has given us a
pledge as specific as that of France, and was
therefore entitled to the same measure OF
indulgence. "-----These are the sophisms
which have been already coined and circu
fared bJ the Federal prints, and which the
d British party in America" will not hest
tate to " utter" on the floor of Congress. -
But their ingenuity will be wasted in vain
for this nation has discernmeni enough to
perceive that they are c0untey|eits.
France has not ceased to violate our
neutral commerce." What then becomes
OF the soleTS pledge of the French minister,
that his DEGREES are revoked1 That they
would cease to have effect on the 1st Nov'r
We are not, surely, to insult the French go
vernment by suspicion of its sincerity. =
Every nation in Europe has respected the
word OF France--thev have entered into
negotiations, and treaties with her-The
minister Of her most suspicious enemy, is al
this very moment, employed in settling the
terms IT Cartel with her. And shall 7Ue
Cut her off from the civilties and confidence
which are due from one civilized nation to
another! Shall we alone protest against the
uniform respect which she has received
from Europef Shall we, who have recog
nized her veracity in the treaties which we
have SO often formed with her, protest now
against our own acts ?
4 L .