The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-01-08

that time formed the project, which she
now attempting to execute, of acquiring tn
whole Spanish empire; her interest wa
therefore identified with that ofSpain. ant
sue no doubt was willing to unite with Spain
IN giving the most limited construction e. The
cession 90 the United States. l End tina
Congress, by an act passed on the 24th o
ebruary 1904, nave solemnly asser,e ed IA,
flgnt TO This territart, and authorised tn.
resident to AXE possession of it. and to cs
tabiish port OF entry &c. on the Mobile
whenever he should deem il expedient.-
The time when, and circumstances undo,
W iich this step should be taken, we're su5.
united To the discretion of the Executive.-I
may be permitted to ask why, il we had 20
title 20 this territory, the President was urged
10 take possession by force, and censured
Tor not doing il. Ifmy recollection is accu-
rate. all parties agreed we ought to have
the Country; they only differed as to the
mode OF acquiring it. The President, infiu
enced by that policy which has hthert
guided the preseat administration, of avoid
ing making this nation party in the pre-
sen, European war, in the exercise of the
discretionary power vested IN him by that
act, did not think proper to s ize upon ie by
force, but To wait for the occurrence of events
to throw it into our hands without a strug
! gle.
The expediency of taking possession of
this Serritnry cannot, 1t appears to me adj
init or a doubt If the President had refu-
sed or hesitated 70 meet the wishes of the
people INVEST Florida by extending to them
the protection of the American governme {
and they had sought security in the arms -
foreig power, what should we have heard
tie would have heen charged witt imbecil-
ny and scar OF mourning responsibility
ne would nave been denounced as I'M
worthy OF the station his country had assign
Gu hlm Let 1t be remembered that the Or
leans Country IS our mo t vulnerable par
remote from our physical ,orce-a china.
more fatal to our people than thu sword IF
victorious enemy-and that an enemy in
possession OF West Florida can with gre
taci'i cut off New Orleans rom the uop, e
country 1t tue fortunate mouent had nut
oeen seized, this province would have fallen
In o the hands o! foreign power, or iftimc
hau oeen given tor intrigue to mature itself,
another Burr plot would probably hive RS
/ en- from the ashes of C. e first, more formidac
Die t. he Integrity of ,his empire. Burr.
IKE Archimedes, fancild that if he had a
ace to stand upon, place beyond the ju-
risdiction nf the U. ). to rally his followers
ne could overturn the government He has.
IL Is 'rue, he'd ION the frownS of an indip
hahe country. But he was not alone. Let
an opportunity be afforded, and thousand
burrs would throw off the mask and point
thelr arms against the federal Union On a
SUBJECT OF such interest it would have been
criminal IN tho>e appoin ed to watch over
inc hatoHal safety to have hesitated. I wa
surprised to hear this procedure pronounce
robbery, and making a war Why should
ohr symytthIes be awakened In favor E
oPaln I! what claim mas the Spanish 90
Vefhment upon our moderation and orbear
ancef What has been her ,.ntluct> From
thd moment we became an indeoendept n,-
ti2n she has been Intriguing TO separate &
Wes'erh country ROM the Atlantic states
one mas made, t different periods, and a,
iae as the year 1897 j.. viii ton of her tra.
y OF i'9o with this Country direct propo
slt'ons to tue Western people 70 ecede from
the Union, and to accomplish her object at
least attempted the use of means the moe
corrupt. What has been her conduct sine,
we acquired LouisiandS If l am CORRECTLY
informed our deseriers and slaves who hav,
taKea refuge In Florida in many instance.
nave not been snrredtrcd, and enormo g
duties have been imposed on our vessels ma
'lg2uHS he Mobile Under all these prov
cations, sufhcient to have drawn upon tn
nom almost any ut er nation an open decla
f1eon OF war, Our Cover ment, Influenced by
mat PacIhc policy which has hi, hertz regu-
lated It's course ards foreign n tione. ex-
srcised patience and torbsarance. And sine
me late revolution in Spaia, believe it will
not be pretended, that ths government has
manifested any disposition to throw orr
weight into the scale Of France against he
opan'sh parry Our government has taken
no step IN relation to West Florida until
compelled by regard to r own safety
ne Executive in the procc dare under con-
slderation has used language the most con
ciliatory, and on the face Of his proclaim,
ton gwen pledge that this government will
u any Inc ester int amcable negotiations
on the subject of our claim o this territory
ii it shall be disputed.
here are other at least plausible grounds
upon which this bill as an original pronos,
tion might be supported entirely indepen' 70 nt
OF the cesslon. Spain is indebted tous a
large amount for spolati,ns committed on
our Commerce; and as there is 40 govern.
ment at present towards which he ordinate
proceeding can be pursued to obtain nav
ment, could we not, on he principle of the
attachment law, as an act Of selEius,ice
selze on this territory to secure satisfac
uon!
AS this measure has been emphaticalIv
called an act of robbery and war, II NAV oot
be amiss to consider the political state OF the
spanish Colonies in relation to the 5Dnpish
government IN the hands of rhe JuDt, i2x fine
new dynasty abont to be established by Bon
parte. l. may be said, perhaps, that th,
tate alienation of he Spanish crown aud tn.
revolution IN Spain have dissolved the ne
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