The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-06-08

the same party now cover the government
with obloouy, for having accepted the ms
dation without aw aiting the tedious process
of receiving through Russia an official notice
of the acceptance of the preferred mediation
by Great Britain. Our. government well
knows that Great Britain cannot choose but
accept the mediation of Russia and un l
willing that any needless obstacle, in the ma
ture Of unnecessary Formally, should impede
the restoration CT peace, it has done all in
its power to accelerate the object. by expe-
diting Commissioners forthwith to the court
oil Russia for the purposc OF meeting such as
saould be dispatched by the enemy govern
nent. . OF all the parties in the Union. null
tifariors and complex as they are, we should
have supposed the Peace Party, would have
been the last to object to this course. And,
yet, what have they the confidence, we had
almost said the effrontery, totell their abus-
ed and cheated followersl That the miss-
on, however it may eventuate, must degrade
our country, because IL zuas sea. 7oithouf
the concurrence Of the British government
Let us examine this subterfuge. No objec-
lion is attempted to be set up to the mission,
but that it was sent without the concurrence
of the enemy. Now, to us, not one OF the
least felicitous circumstances attending the
mission is, that its acceptance by our GO
vernment was independent of any act of the
enemy. A plain. proposition was submitted
60 US, and we accepted 1t, and prepared III
good earnest to carry it into effect without
knowing, perhaps without enquiriug whe-
ther it was known 10 the enemy. The ac-
eeptance of the profiered mediation was
dur and rendered to the friendly disposition
manifested by the nsdiat,ng power, and not,
as the faction seem to suppose, 60 the wish
es or inclination OF the enemy. Respect to
the interposition OF Russia required it {;
sound policy sanctioned it, and self respect
did not forbid it. We should for our part
have felt mach less satisfied. had our go
vern;nent hesitated, waited for more news
from Phillip, and made It's determination
contingent on the previous consent or acqui-
escence of the enemy. Such 4, course would
have partaken too much of that oscillatine
temporising policy which our enemies &C
case us of having pursued heretofore in ouI
endeavours TO avoid war. 1t would moleo-
yer have shewD q want of confidence in the
good Offices of the Russian government
which, to say the least CT *, would have
been highly improper.
= But why waste words on this subject p
we have.seen too much of faction to heed its
rawlings; we have seen enough of honest par.
ty prejudice too, not to know to what lengths
ii will lead men. We are not, therefore
SO much surprised 1T the monserous incon-
sistency of the champions of opposition, as
that any people should be so duped by their
leaders, as to follow them in all their tergi-
Versation. How often have we heard :he
party leaders declaring on the horrors of all
wars, and the impolicy-not the injustice,
no, thank Heaven. that they cannot Say
but of the impolicy of the present war,
and the necessity OF Peace Vet we now
fad them, with equal vehemence, perhaps
with equal sincerity, censarins the govern
ment for listening to a proposition having
the conclusion of peace for its ultimate and
Only object. Are we not then compelled to
conclude that tneIr only opposition to the
War was, that it was not war of their de-
claring, that the only Peace they seek, is
that which would result from the prossrat-
on OF the Administration CT party which de-
elared the war Mat. Int.