The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-01-12

incapable Of affording protection to that ISL
lard as Spain now is To her colony of West
Florida
Sir, what has been your conduct hereto
fore towards Spains When she denied to you
The right of navigating the Mississippi.
which may be considered one of the natural
rights ut this country rigtP, too consecra-
ted by treaty, did you-go to wars When she
denied to you the right to deposit at New
Orleans, in violation of arecent treaty, did
you go To var When she subjected you TO
a duty or tribute. as some would call it, on
the Mobile, did you go to war;
Nay sir, when she committed spoliations
on your commerce, and suffered them to be
committed within her jurisdiction by ano-
Their power, did you go CO.. war Z No, sir
And why! SfGin suas then the ally Of
france. What has Spain recently done to
provoke this act of aggression upon her ter
ritory? Hhot resv ofeacc has she givcn
che u. STATES !? Is it her determin alton to
resist the usurpation of France, or is it, that
she has lately sent a minister to express her
friendly Disposition, to trea, with you for both
the tioridas, aud pay what she owes US for
spoliations.
Do you calculate that France will con-
quer Spain +? This. in my humble opinion,
she will MOI do France is not now CONTEND
ing win an armed soidiery. but she fights
an armed people; people struggling for
their liberty 'heir religion, and their laws.
and resolved not to survive them. With
such a cause and such a resolution. neither
France mr. the combined powers of the earth
can subdue them. Mr.. President, what are
to be the consequences of this measure.
measure adopted at time participated to
excite the resentment of Spain and her at
lies; at time when that people is pressed
on all sides by their enemy, when their
strength is PROSTATE, when they bleed at e..
very por9 and are almost in the act of faint
ing :! What, say, sir, are we to expect
but their indignation and retaliationl Let
1t not be forgotten that the lea fadonis is
the modern rule, and that the day of retri :.
button may come. Spain has a feet, and
being the ally of England can send them to
sea. Your East India merchants may pray
tor Florida Your vessels in the ports of
SPain and IN the ports of her colonies may
De seized aud conhscated, and with more
Cause than the late seizures and confscati-
ons of Europe. Sir, consider this bill all
important, and pregnant with awful conse
l9uences. Let it therefore be we'll consider.
ed before it pass.
In point of time, think we are particu-
iariy unfortunate Recollect the important
crisis OF this country in relation to the belli-
Igerents' of Europe. France, it is said has
revoked her edicts, and now it remains for
". Britain TO say whether she will repeal
aers. Let It be remembered, that G.. Bril-
tam Is now the ally efSpain, and for aught
we 9now, may have guaranteed her colo
mes. Would not at least have been pru
dent, as TpGs done on former occasion
IN relation 10 another hozver, to have en-.
CURED what part she would takei IF she
Is TO act the part of an ally offensive and
defensive, or OF All ally at all, can it be ex
pected that she will revoke her ,rders in
Council or even remain indiffei ent It is q
Nngnlar circumstance, hat the proclama-
ton reviving The Bon-intercourse with G
britain and the one for taking possession of
: Florida, were upon the anvil at the same
time. There is only five DAYS difference
IN their dates, and the Florida proclamati-
on is the first. Sir, ome, they look good
deal like twin brothers.
One moment more will close nv remarks.
Inc honorable gentleman from Kentucky
mas toid US that Europe is now in a state oil
barbarism. and has cmphatically asked.
are we to sit here and cavil about Questions
OF right! What, sir, if Europe has become
oarbarous, Is that reason why America
should become so too! Why we should de-
part from the great system of conduct which;
mas been the pride, the safety, and boast of
our country--of faith--of jusdce--of peace
Is this reason, sir, why we should violate
our treaty with Spain, not one of those bar
oarous powers, but one of the victims of
those powersf Is this reason why we
should Commit an act of injustice and VIC.
ience towards people who have proffered
you their friendship l. this reason why
; we should embroil the nation in WARP
beg pardon. sir, for having detained
you so long. The subject is important, and
II nave not been mistaken in my views Of
1t, have shewn the proclamation unau-
tnorised' that we have not good title tc
Florida and that if we had a claim. il
would not accord with the equitable and
pacific policy of the U. States to assert il
at this time by force.
(De6afe TO be continued)