The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-10-08

yreSS ct the u y. But VIVA ever were he
Considerations which operated on the mind
lnf it~ president certain il is that although
he determined on taking possession of the
country occupied ny the rcvDutinnary autho-
rit'rs. aud directed the employment OF the
military force if it should be necessary to
ei'ec, that object, he expires forbid the
use OF any force against ANY part of the cnun
try. nctuailv occupied by the Spanish power
4 l, is true tha' OH the publication of the proc
lamatinn in this country, the idea WAS Sc.
dnlouslv pr''pagated by men pretending to
| he in the s. Is of the local and general
| government. that the prccla nation was in
| tended TO operate peculiarly on the Spanish
authorities. AID that the revolution. IN Ficri
da had been carried on in concert with the
American cabinet. The proclamation and
this ir'crp,etation of it. we're Published and
disseminated together and ideas so unjust
and dshonorabe 10 the character of the o.
| :. were not received with the disirust which
they meritcd, andn me OF the best disposi.
tons dcuded by the imposture were induced
to countenance proceedings which they
would never otherwise have sanctioned -
Under this p,etence the local militia of the
adjacent district we're dragged from their
agricultural and domestic occupations and
organised for the purpose of domolishiog with
small arms one of the best constructed tor
resecs on the American continent. The
! parties raised above the line under the aus
pice3 Of the Conventron, were incorporate ed
with them, aaa an inStan attack Was sdi
tated on the Town of Mobile. Honest men
whose means ot information were ne cessari
| ~ cirCumscribed. and who had no idea OF
| the extent to which an inordinate ambition
might drive public functionaries beyond the
| limits OF their authority, were bewildered
ard deluded. They had not seen the inslruc
! tons given by the president. virtually pro
hbi'ing in the most positive language, an
attack upon Mobile, and they were not SUI.
| icieutly acquainted with the whole state of
public arrang ments, TO see in the act ITSELF
a. it was about to be conducted, its own con
denim alton TO them however, who had
better means of information, there evidently
| appeared precipitancy, a mystery, an in
cOngruity want of system, in shot folly
and widness attending he movements of
the leaders above the line sufficient to afford
'he conviction that their arrangements did
not originate with the American government
| But tie cloud which lowered over the
| friends of the laws and Of the national So
vereignts, above the line, and which threat
ened dissolution to those below, was happily
dispersed, The timely arrival of superior
officer. checked the raging of the tempest,
and defeated measures calculated only to
thwart the plans of the federal administra-
|
blood, and the destruction of town whose
nhabi' ants. attached to the American
cause, meritted be ter tate. Denunciations
of course, were poured forth against the
friends of peace and the champ, ns of the
laws, whilst men who were incapable of
pretending the ties of off clal obligation,
and the principles of Justice and honor. IN
the Intercourse of nations, could discern no
thing in the Conduct of the Governor of Or
leans and of the American president but
a ridiculous regeneration and contemp
tiole pusllanimitY. Indeed 10 hose who have
been impressed with the belief that the ne a
who have directed the public measures in The
adjacent districts, were acting under in
struc,ions from the general Government,
the history OF This country tor nine months
past, most appear a issue If inconsistency
and contradiction; and the United States de
mandidg disputed territory arrayiDg a
mighty force to occupy it, and finally aban
donng the project, without strickiug single
blow, must appear the most 6ckIe and in
comprehensive people upon the face of the
earth.
The fact however finally appears to be,
that the president of the United States ne
yer authorised any hostile attitude .owards
the Spanish authorities, that the Congress
OF the United States neVer declared any
war against either the Spanish monarchy
or any of its possessions. AID mat the Co
vernon of the Territory OF Orleans could not
have employed lorce to dlspossss the occu
plying claimants. without violating THE in
functions OF the sovereign power from whom
he derives his authority. But what then
Is nothing tobe doneG Are the people OF
this Country, neglected as they are by the
lSpan'ard5 who have indeed no pow er to pro
tect them, TO be abandoned by that Go
vernmenS to which they really and OF right
belong BY no means.
Zoe Governor OF the territory Of Orlean 5
is Instructed o prescribe The bounds Of pa
IrIshes, to establish parish courts, and finally
to do whatever his legal powers applicable
to the case. win warrant, and whcn may
re calculated to maintain order and To Sc
cure to the inhabitants the psaceble enjoy
ment OF their liberty. properly and religion
1 ne Governor OF the territory OF Orleans
accordingly without interlerI with the Spa
nIards IN their possession OFT town OF Mo
bile has Com missIoued civil officers for he
parish OF Pascagoia, which has been ,, end
cd by the territorial legislature TO the ri
yer Perddo. But so anxious s the governor
TO CONFORM TO hts instructions agreeaOly -.
tile full spirit of them, aud to maintain a
temper OF Cancellation and amity with he
Spanish Gov crnmeht, and not unnecessa
rlly TO produce collision between rival au.
thorities, that he has instructed me Gentle
men, to recommend 1t toyou 10 eZetcisc nc