The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-13

4 to every topic ut discussion within these
walls & seem to imply doubt of the speak
er's motives.
From view Of the system pursued by En-
gland towards this country for the last ten
or fifteen years. it mast clearly appear. shat
her object is to embarrass, cripple. and de-
stroy our commerce. She has been progress
sing in this system, until she has nearly ct
fected the object of her wishes. She COM
menoed by interrupting onr colonial trade,
in,erpolating new principle, into the la ws OF
nations. Oar merch ancs alarmed at this OUT
rage upon their rights. this destruction of
their propcr'y. demonstrated against it, and
rsiit'o:c1 the government to interpose for
their relief. Our minister complains to the
British COVE rnment, he is answered ONLY by
new and extended aggressions. Not satisfi-
ed with interruptng this branch of our trade,
they blockade not only our foreign markets,
b our own porrs are Infested with their fri
gates. Our eyes are made to witness their
depredAticns in our own waters need
hardly mention the conduct of the Cambriau,
or notice the multiplied captures made oi,
our coast for violating these nominal block
adcs. These things seem to be no longer
remembered. In their day they occasioned.
some uneasiness. Again we complained of
the violation of our rights, and our INJURIES
have been redressetl, by the attack upon one
OF our irrational ships, the orders in council,
and the continued impressmen, os our sea-
men. Averse TO war, we have rem onstratcd.
| and endcavored to negotiate, until there re
rnains no hope OF an adjustment by negocia-
| ton.
| But, Mr.. Monroe's treaty has been seve-
raj times mentioned in this debate. and, the
| gentleman from Connecticut, (Mr Dana)
| said that it was great question, whether
| treaty n
ted to the Senate for their consideration and
ratification. Independent or the conditional
ratification of that instrument on The part of
the British govern Dent it was too eXcepti-
enable ever to be received and acknowledge
ed as a national compact by the Americas
people By that treaty we we're required
| to abandon the navigation of the river ST.
Lawrence, to guarantee to the British the
right of navigating the Mississippi. we
were TO have 10 other, but direct trade to
the East Indies. And as it respected the
West India trade-vhy, inasmuch as the
parties could not agree respecting it, proyi-
sion was to be made for settling that at flu
ture period, and in the mean time. each
Iparty should enjoy their rights to it! And
as TO the spoiiations and deprcdations made
upon our property, about which our mer-
chants had SO loudly complained. that ques-
ton was settled by sweeping clause, de-
GEARING, that for all Unjust captures "here-
lojter' to be made, we shonld be indemnifi-
Ied. These are articles which believe n o
lgentleman on this floor would be willing to
subscribe. Yet we are told. this treaty ought
4 to have been seriously Considered, and some
there are, who have even contentl.d that
we oughtto have accepted and ratified it.
I cannot believe that this is the opinion of
any american, vino has attentively perused
1t. But 1t there are any, who believe, that
the British government were willing to trea.
i, with US. perusal OF this treaty will con-
vince them that it was only upon terms
which required the almost unqualified sur
render OF our commerce into their hands
These degrading terms could require no he
? station to determine the proper course TO be
pursued. And that WAS, Immediately, to
return it, or a prompt avowal that it would
not be ratified ~ our government. Great
Britain upon this determines to make Won
r feel both her resentment and her power. A
wanton attack is made upon one of our pub
l'c ships ia Ger own waters by the same
. orders, no doubt. which directed the borp-
I bardHlcnt OF Constantinopje and Copenha-
gen. An act so outrageous that il occasion
cd universal burst OF Indignation and re-
, sentiment, from the American people, in a
tone that prevented even the British minis
try from openly avowin, it, or attempting
to justify 1t. AS this attack was by that
government declared to be unauthorized, we
I mad right TO expect honorable PREPARATION.
? we were assured. that a minister would be
sent here for the express purpose. At
= length Mr.. Rose arrives. What does he
r offer? Honorable repatriation, No. Instead
ot rendering satisfaction for this injury, he
frecriminates the American government. for
/ the exercise of an indsputable rght-a
mere municipal act, the issuing OF the pro
ciamation inierdicting our hospitality to
tnose who had 50 wantony abused IT, This
must DC revoked, or no terms Of reparation
could he offered. And when orr governments
proposes to make the revocation contcmpo
raneous with The act of PREPARATION, this is
> refused. What else should we have done
Fought! No, the country would have inng
with the clamorcus charge Of French inau-
euce, if war had been advised. But peace,
so long as it could I've lionorably maintained
~&s the wish OK our government. Negocia-
: tion is nc ain attempted, and tAe next intel
iigence we get from ENGLAND is the orders
in council aimed ~ the destruction Of onr
remaining commerce. Here then, we are
. again presented, with long train of abu
SEES and occupations pursuing invariably the
same Object, evncing n design" to annihi.
late our trade or reduce it TO her control
The wirGoT Of our councils foresaw the pre-.
meditateh bIow, and prepared not only to- a
, vert it, but to make IT in some degree re-
coil upon the aggressGr. An embargo, r
measure that hss been more than any other
8 measure of our government revIed and re
sisted, was advised and adopted. Bnt had
| If been ciJserved with that Spirit Of Da,rio.