The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-06-01
aD0ille8tlt.
WAsHINcroN, May %.


WAsHINCToN, May %.
The Information recently received from
France, is of such complexion as to give
increased interest to the arrival of the John
Adams. BY her, it is probable that fuller,
perhaps conclusive, indication of the tenn
per OF the French government will be re-
ceived. We shall then, probably, be ena-
bled to decide, whether. bad rs the existing
state of things with her is. the prospect is
not, that they will grow worse rather than
better and whether the time is not at hand
when every American vessel, entering the
ports of the continent of Europe, will be
condemned; whether, i'm fact, any trade to
the continent Can he carried on with safety.
We would not wish to paint the dangers of
the commercial world in exaggerated CO.
lOrs; but, 1t is truth, which neither can
or ought to be disguised. that the whole TO-
reign horizon lowers with dangers. The
numerous private letters, received from e.
very part of Europe under the control of
Bonaparte, corroborate the tenor of the off
cial documents in our last paper, and are
commentaries, which cannot be mistaken,
on the note of the Due de Cadore. Our
vessels are every where seized, not by the
municipal authority, or conformably to the
usual forms of judicial proceedings, but by
the strong arm of military power; not in
detail, but in mass. A general condemnati,
on follows, and, by~one tremendous sweep,
millions are carried into the public Golfers.
In many ports, all this is done, not merely
without notice, but in direct violation of So
Tenn assurances of protection; and, from
Denmark, unfortunate Denmark we are
threatened with the lawless depredations of
swarm of privateers.
Such are the outrages committed on our
rights, which, it would seem, flow from the
mandates of the French government, CO.
temporaneous with the note of Due de Ca
dore. What prospect there is OF being re-.
lieved from them. may be best ascertained
from the note itself. This paper, it will be
observed, is no light or hasty exposition of
the sentiments of the French government.
1T purports tobe svritten answer given to
the verbal overtures of our minister, "that
the President of the United States NAV the
better know the friendly intentions of France
towards the United States, and her favora-
Ole DISPOSITIONS to American commerce.
1t is consequently written to prevent all mis-
take, and we might, perhaps. add, TO silence
all hope OF any change for the better.
At then,~ says the note, after going ia
TO some detail, % the minister of America
can enter into an engagement, that the A
merican vessels will not submit to the orders
in council in England of November, 1907, nor
to any decree OF blockade, unless this block
AIDE should be real, the undersigned is au-
thorised to conclude every species of conven.
ton tending to renew the treaty of commerce
with America, and in which all the mea..
sures proper to consolidate the commerce
and the prosperity of tho Americans shall
be provided for"
The only construction that can be put up..
On this language. is, that if America will
actually MAKE war upon England, France
VIII make treaty with her. For France
Knows that, short of going to war, we have
done every thing to resist the British orders
An council and proclamation blockades; that
we nave imposed an embargo, passed nom
intercourse law and prohibited English arm
ed vessels from entering our waters; and
dhat we nave offered to her. to continue the
two last prohibitions, so far as they affected
England, IT she would rescind her edicts -
More than this could not have been done,
unless We had actually made war on England
This, then, is the end at which France aims :;
and this her sine qua non, for respecting our
rights. And because we do not take this
step at her dictation, we are repr cached
with want of lust political views, of no.
nor and of "erergy." The blood that was
split IN asehievipg our liberties, is called up
IN judgment against US, and we are told that
we "onght either TO tear TO pieces the act of
our independence, and to become again, as
before the revolution. the subjects of En-
gland, or to take such measures as that our
commerce and industry should not be tariff
edby the English, which renders us more de-
pendent than Jamaica, which, at least, has
ats assembly of representatives and its pri
yileges!"
But, suppose It possible that we could be
80 base, ass at the mandate of any foreign
government, to be driven into war with its
enemy, what would be the effects9 The
trade with England, we all know, would be
lost. Is itcertain that we should retain that
OF the continent as our Indemnity? So far
from this being certain, is il not most likely,
that France would then impose the same res
trictlons on our trade to the Continent, that
she now does upon that Of her allies; prohi-
DIT 1t altogether, or only SO far authorize it
as comPorted with her own INTEREST,"
For our own part, we do not hesitate to
say that the time has come, when every pat
riotic or prudent man among us should cease
TO Halter himself With justice, much less
friendship, from either Of the beiligerents
when the government should take firm and
permanent ground /; and the people, by their
industry and enterprIge. make themselves
independent of Europe. England and France
nave both the same object in view. In the
Jury OF their animosity against each other,
they are totally regardless Of the rights of
neutrals and it they possess the power,
they will not leave neutral plank on the O..
Cean.
Although the retrospect is fruitful ofpain.
ful feeling, we are irresisti5ly cal ried back
TO the proud and commanding attitude in