The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-23

not a crime to discuss with candor * truth,
every subject of dispute between our own
nation and any other and to effect, if posi-
BILE, an amicable adjustment with all CT
them and also that the royais& have de-
MED, in almost every instance, s1e correct
ness, sound policy and wisdom of, our gov
eminent, and have laboured abundantlv t,
Stigmatlze it with the want of probity, truth
and patriotism.
have received, on this subject, from the
secretary of state of the United States, {.
printed copy of the Presidents message To-
congress, at the commencement of their
present session, fraught with wisdom. JUS
tice, and hrnness, and also Of the documents
which accompanied the Message; ali Of
which shall order TO be laid before you-
An attentive heruSai Of them, it is conceived
will not leave doubt In your minds, "of
the extinction of the French DEGREES, so far
as they violated our neutral rights ;"-oR
OF the effectual measures of the national
administration, for ascertaining the ute
rior policy of the French government" re-
tative to the great amount of American
property, seized and condemned under their
unjust edicts," and to other demands of
strict right on that nation ;" OR, of the firm
determination of our government, by suitable
means, to meet those of Francc.-Suck
herusai may also convince you, That, the
has increased in hostility; That, for seri-
es of years, She has insulted our government
by negotiations, intended merely to amusc
1t, and to enable her, with impunity, to pur-
sue a system ofrafine ;-Ih0f, she peril
naciously continues her Orders in Council,
and unlawful blockade, with view to en-
force submission to them to degrade these
States to the level of Colonies to intertlict
their commerce, authorised as it is by the
NH lou . fD
lawful voyages, the ships and cargoes of the,
merchants to transfer unjustly, their ac-
tive property, the national sinews OF war,
to her subjects: and enable these whom
she has shamefully commissioned, to live
by hiiiage and fiunder-And That, she all
SO persists in her system of seizing our
brave seamen, andof Consigning them to her
ships of war, thus rendered the floating
Pandemoniums the ocean. In addition to
these injuries, Proclamation, not officially
announced, is publickly declared to have
been issued, by the Prince Regent of Great
Britain, by and with the advice of his privy
Council, making it lawful in any ship or
vessel, not belonging to France or her
subjects, to export from Halifax" and
certain other British ports, :" to any port of
the United States" Z" from (Which British pes
SETS are or shall be excluded" certain "ar-
ticles, being the growth, produce or manu-
factures of Great Britain" prohibited by our
Government /; and also to import into her
said ports, from these states, certain other
articles, the expectation of which is hrohi-
3ifcd In British pesseis.-If this extraordi-
nary measure, (the authority Of which has
not been denied, and seems to be confirmed
by the increase Of smuggling, and by the
general policy of that government to force
her trade by such depraved means) is ac-
tually adopted, does IL not encourage and
invite the subjects of G. Britain, and our
own citizens, to violate a solemn act, sane
toned as a hegfect right, by our national |
government Does ii NOT place his royal |
highness on afeUei with lawless smugglers !;
in the grade of seduCers Of our citizens from
their allegiance and on the list of the Nio-
iators OF our laws; at a period too, when
by the public law, he is in duty bound to
respect that act, as the law of neutral DOW
err!
Having used as convertible terms, Great |
Britain and her government, it may be re-
quisite to discriminate between them and |
between her politicians in place, and her
statesmen out of it.-That great and pow
erful nation, whose inhabitants are cele-
brated for their religion, morality, love of
liberty, literature, industry and valor, is en-
titled to as much respect and reverence,
as perhaps any nation on earth. Her most |
able statesmen have condemned her unjust |
and impoltick conduct towards us, which |
appears to have resulted from her form
of Government, and from her Politicians,
who have diminished it. A majority her
House ofCommons is elected by few indi-
viduais, confronted by the administration.
The great Chatham reprobated this {" as
the rotten part Of the Constitution, which
required amputation.' The consequence |
has been system of executive influence,
refined term for lawless power which has
cnehralled that nation, and ruined every
other, which has Yielded to her policy. And
are We not arrived at the morbid fountain,
that has long nourishcd those streams Of
contention, which have infected our body |
polite, which have produced symptoms in It
OF violent disease and which have rem
dered indispensable, efectual remedies to
prevent its dissolution, and to restore it to
health and vigour? Is not this congcnial
with the former conduct of that Govern
mcnt? Did it not protect, during the re-
evolutionary war, within the lines of its ar
my, printers who had deserted from these |
States, and employ them to yilify in the |
most opprobrious terms, the members Of
congress, and their principal officers, civil |
and military! Did not one of those prin-
terS declare that he had been we'll rewar- !
ded for that service by his Britannia Males
ty And did not that King, protect in the
same manner, men who made and circula- !
ted counterfeit bills of public credit, to des-
troy the currency Of our own, although, |
crimes punishable by death, when com
tnitteI against hie re- lin S--C aluunnv e;unO-