The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-04-21
From cob6ett's yYeekty Register

TO Oitcr some observations upon the Rneri-
can correspondence as relating to the occu-
,s.iiun Of the Fi0rildS, and to the Orders IN
CouaeH.-Tais latter subject has. however,
been SO fully discussed. that, really there
remains nothing to be said upon it, especially
after the publication Of the correspondence
between our secretary of state for foreign
affairs, lord Wellesley, and the American
minister, Mr.. Pinkney, which shall endca-
vor to get into this number, and to which
bescech the attention OF the reader There
are but two letters for him to read but
these tsyo are quite enough. l have read a
great many diplomatic letters in my time
but such a letter as Mr.. P's. / certainly ne
yer read. 1t is a model for men who have
TO conduct disputes of this sort. 1t is a mas
tcr-pieCe OF reasoning, and the style and
manner are equal to the argumcntative
powers displayed. Mr.. Pinkney seems to
have laid aside the lawyer for this once, and
have resolved to write like statesman and
n patriot. i have never read SO good a let
ter; but, l must confess, that as l read it,
the justice of the case was more than once
lost in feeling for my country. The contrast
Is, iii all respects, so great, that no compa-.
rison can be made though il is but justice to-
lord Wellesley to say, that his adversary had
ALI the advantages belonging to good cause.
The answer OF the republican is, in many in,
stances, sharp & satirical but he no where
u
nited are very rarely to be met with in any
writing whatever. The question relating
10 the Fioridas is new and il is as neat and
snug a dispute, take it altogether, as we ever
got into, the dispute about Nootka Sound or
about opening the Scheldt not excepted. The
dispute is this: The reader knows, that the
Floridas are two provinces i'll North Ameri-
ca, which are Cor, rather, were) colonies of
Spain; that they lie on the south side of
N he hot
they form the southernmost end of that
chain OF coast, which, 400 miles in length,
extends from the bay of Fundy to the Gulph
Of Mexico, and that, with these in their
possession, the United States would be mas
tiers Of the whole of that chain of coast. Let
the reader, who forgcts where the Fioridas
are (and, God knows, that the last 18 years
are, enough to drive it out of recolle ction)
imagine himself possessed of piece of land
lying by the side OF a common (his house in
the middie), thirteen acres in his own hands,
and one acre, at the end, in the hands of
another person, and he wanting only that
one acre to make his parcel complete, and
to.guard him against depredations, the COM
Taoh right being partly attached to that one
acre; and then h will have, in that acre, a
tolerably correct idea of the Floridas in their
bearing upon the American states. Now,
z then, the Floridas, or rather, Florida, is d-
Vided into two, the one called West and the
other East Florida, the former extending
back to Louisiana towards the West, the
latter bounded by the Atlantic ocean to the
East, both bounded to the North by 6 cor
sia, and to the South by the Gulph of Msx-
Co.. The United States have taken posses
Sion OF both. have said before, they were
Colonies OF Spain. Therefore, Mr.. Foster,
our mnistfS IN A r4erico, nau scarcely
taken time TO cat his first dish of fried ham
and eggs, when he began to complain of
these invasions. He had an uphill battle to
Eight about the orders in council, and this
complaint about the Floridas appears to
have been looked upon as a set-off to make
weight in the negotiation. In short he
makes d regular and formal complaint, in
the name of the Prince Regent Tin behalf OF
his majeity,) of the occupation of theFioridas
by the American states. He says, that
there exists between England and Spain the
most strict and friendly alliance that Spain
is contending for her liberties and indeDen-
dence against a most unjust and wicked in
vasion'; and that the Prince Regent cannot
view With indifference any attempt to de-
prive her of her territories and that it is
indicative CT ungeneroos and greedy ambti-
on to make such 80 attempt at such a time
y onathan cody answers, that, i'll the first
place he does .i!Cc acknowledge the right Of
SEngland to interfere a. al n any concerns
with Spain he passes over IN Hence all that
as SaM ABOUT the Wicbedne5s ~ the French IN
invadingSpaiD; nc says that Though he has seen
other nctions guilty of ungcnerous and gree
dy ambition, he disclaims all such nlo,ire
and, that though England has 10 sort Of
right TO call upon him for any explanation Of
his conduct towards third p0Wcr, lie WI,
to shew how sincerely he is disposed TO cul-
tiVate harmony, voluntarily give such cxpla-
nation with regard to the Fioridas. And
thus, III brief, he gives it. lie says, that as
to one part of Florida, it is his own, he hay
ing bought it Of France, to whom it h I'D been
ceded by Spain, and therefore he takes Jos
session of that in full right. That as to- the
other part, he has taken possession of it as
Il security for a debt due by Spain TO the
people of the United States AS TO this last
claim, it is alleged, by Mr.. Monroe. that
spain, several years ago, committed great
sPoliatlons upon the commerce Of America
that'the latter made application for pay
ment of these that ccsson Of the Spanish
part ct Florida had been proposed as a com
pcnsation to America bat that the negocia-
tion was put an end to by those troubles in
Spain which led to the struggle now going
OH in that Country. Therefore, say the A.
mcrlcaAs, we hold this territory as security
for the payment Of the debt due to us from
spain. This is very fair ground, supposing
AL the facts 10 BE true for, one nation has
certainly as good right to seize the land Of
another rs that other has TO seize it's shin,
and merchandise. fl. se:x,,,o re IN. l.