The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-04-07
think more favourably of the present adj

| tered some other subject to repose Tor the
purpose OF giving an earlier attention to the
letter OF the British Minister containing
evidence OF continued hostility on the part OF
u. Britain" Some men we'll affected to
our government, would have found some "a
psiosy for our Secretary, in the treatment
| winch the communications of our minister,
at London met with, from the British MINIS
ter. what, sir, must our President and
secretary move like minute men to the fam
of the British minister! Had the President
communicated any promise or prospect OF
adjustment TO counteract the very impress
| sive language OF his Message at the open
ing of the session s.? Dia Congress want
goading 20 their duty? Was there any thing
IN Mr., Fosters letter, but an attempt to
hide IN diplomatic subtilty and confusion,
the substance OF his former. corresponoences
(which had then been communicated To con-
Igrcss, except a threat OF retaliation ? Could
this threat be Considered OF Il very iRipor-
tant communication to congress, after the
President had toldus, that the execution OF
I British measures brought nome to the very
threshold OF our territory had the charaC-
ter and effect of war upon our lawful COM
tmerce' Alter such a communication aud
such evidence of hostile inieXibiiity as had
lOcen previously furnished us by the Presi
dent, where was the necessity tor suffering
any OF the other duties OF the Secretary to
siumber until tins letter could be answered
| The gentleman remarks that as MI. Mon
| roe IN his reply says he takes the first mo-
ment OF leisure TO answer we must pre-
sumo the fact to be so"-0ut for himself he
| is at u loss to conceive what more weignty
matters Could have occupied HIM for near
month. Sir, know the duties OF that
Ioftce are various and highly responsible.
And IT the gentleman does not know it, it
IS not tar now TO expect from the friends
OF the Secretary detail of ms duties, much
| less that they would descend to explain, ii
they knew, what particular duties had
occupied his attention during that particu-
| lar period. Inc honorable gentleman sup
poses however that one hours time was
| amply sufhclent to prepare reply"
Here he is apparently partial to the tai
ents OF the Secretary. The honorable gen
tieman judges OF the facility OF the Secre-
tary's compositions, by the fuency of his
OWE. l could have hoped--but for The ull-
kind aim that turks beneath-tnat he had
IN this bestowed One sincere smile OF COM
| placeney. Whilst declare, without guile,
| 20 that honorable gentlemeii, that hold
| ms talents IN very high estimation. must
| De permitted to say that should be yer,
unwilling to see the rights and permanent
interests Of my country, and the character
OF my government, as far even as they are
involved IN reply to Mir. Fosters letter,
1Supmltteu TO pubic opinion under the pro-
lection OF reply drawn by himself, and gi-
ven to Mr. Foster and the world, before it
had been matured, and then reconsitered
and reviewed by the light or another day.
Ii there had been any thing in the letter OF
MI. roster, announcing change of policy
IN the British cabinet, that breathed a spi-
mt less hostile and more flexible to our
rights; II 1t had containedtany thing that
Gould have justified congress in Ceasing to
act upon those measures OF preparation and
| expenditure iii which they were then enea-
ged, should have thought it incumbent up-
on the President to have fastened his COM
municatIon '~
| But such as it is, view it as calculated
neither to depress nor heighten the tone OF
the Legislature. l Cannot therefore see how
the remarks of the honorable gentleman
consist with that spirit OF harmony and en-
ergetlc resistance which he breathed OH
former occasion Is force of % 900 regu-
lars and $4,000 volunteers, less efficient
! nan me = ,ooo regulars without the voiuH-
Ieers / cannot see that the remarks OF
the honorable gentleman have any other
tendency, than TO lessen the physical force
| to be called into action, to excite a spirit
OF distrast OF the executive department., to
stir up divisions and lessen the conhdencc
| of the nation in themselves and their govern
| ment : tendencies but lily COMFORTING with
that disposition to- harmonic, and give all
possible strength and energy to the mea-
sures OF the government, which is so impor.
tant and desirable in the present condition
of our foreign relations MIR. President, my
remarks do not flow from settled mkind-
| ness OF heart towards that honorable gem
tleman: far from it. 1 camc prepared to
value mis- acquaintance & his opinions. had
listened with pleasure, to former worth,
col cague of his in pubic life, Zone who is no
| more /; that very ffiendt to whose memo
ny the honorable gentlemen has paid a just
tribute Ill the pubiick plints) whilst he
dwell upon the PRIVATE and POLITICAL
VIRTUES of the honorable gentleman. But,
sir, i must confess that | should now have
more confidence in the correctness of the
honorable gcntlGman's opinions, 1T he argued
more to measures aid less at men. i had
hoped after the iate unanimous appreciation
which the appointments OF Mr.. Monroe TO the
ONCE of Secretary Of State had met with ia
this body, his official acts would have been
scanned here with some charity. / had
hoped, that whatever political differences,
| (or private chickering's, if amy had existed
! formerly between the honorable gentleman
and the Secretary, they would, after that
unanimous appreciation, have been buried in
| oblivion. e.,
| u has been remarked by the gentleman
from Virginia, (Mr. G.les.) that the repu5
| lican motto, " measures not men," had Of
late been inverted--it was now mei, not