The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-19
THE ENQUIRER.
FoR THE ENQUIRER.
MISSION TO GoTTENBURG &c.
10.


Hit we're possible to expect far and ho-
nest answer, it would be a matter OF some
curiosity at Leaf to enquire, what the Peace
rarity wonld have said, if the President had
rejected the proposition, - meet at c often
nnrg The Gentleman from New-Jersey
VINO speaks OF the frost of fifty wears pres
sing over his head" tells us fhat Englana
mas caused ns distinctly TO kno4o tha. she
mould nor negcciote nom ON am other terms
sHan fkoSe see has at7pays offered. If such
were the fact. the Gentleman might have
attempted with greater show of truth. &
oSteer nope OF success, to throw an air of
ouriesque upon the motives and objects of
the administration. Bnt such is not the
fact; and the frosty sage from New-Jersev
only proves, that he has acquired more sub
iety from age, than honesty from .cxperi-
ehce. True 1t IS that 7e1y little hope can
pe entertained IN regard to the success of
GU" mission but the reason of it is to he
iouho In the Periidy and policy of our enc.
my, and not in the language and tone of
her late correspondence. The maxims of
PuoiIc Law and the principles of MARITIME
hlghts OF which she speaks ARE dark, impe.
netraole expressions. They are words Of
convenient utility to SUIT her arbitrary Dur
POSES. ii we take them according to the
stamp and understanding of the world. there
and ike Cod they would have their due
xaiue.-But ID their hands, they are so Der.
iectiy ducti!e, and Welding, and are beaten
out into SO many different shapes and chan.
Ses' ana TO such surprising degree of ex
pahsion q tenuty, that they can blow them
away with breath. The mission therefor
VIII at least endeavor to ascertain what II is
they mean, K what tits that we are distinct.
~ & definitely to understand, The claims &c
America are without disguise or mystery. &
are founded upon principles OF public Law,
as eseaohshed by known and solemn trea
yes, ana as such they have been stated to
, country IN their most open and palpa-
bic torn. They know the ground unon
which we stand, and they ought to know
that they can never make it tremble beneath
u.s. On our part, therefore, although we
cannon penetrate the gloom which shrouds
theT intention so as to calculate with any Ger.
tainty, yet there is some room to induce a
oeleIthat they woHldnot have proposed this
interview at Cottenburg, unless for the onr.
pose OF reducing their pretensions to The rea,
principles of public Law, or for the purpoae
OF some lnsidious policy which no human
wisdom can divine.
ms was sufficient. however. to lead Che
president to an acceptance of the cfTer.---
eaCe Is always worthy of an effort, & il is
IloC'i 70 De iameHted hat every effort does
pot always meet with peace. So far then
concession from the circnmstsnre Of NE
mission it is our right to entertain that ex.
Psc'at'on Of them. & most particularly too.
"nen we rake into considers ton the Law
- l'cn we pave passed in regard to British
oeamen' BIT tue peace parry have thouoht
proper 70 go beyond all the par1onable ex.
trFmuIes OF passion and to insist upon Il.
mat the administration has given up every
Pr'nc'ple Of IT'S conduct, and every point for
which it has commended, or that in accehfi7 r.
me mlssto1 fhry only iutended TO dcctfye
ana Hetlnudfhe HSohie. Dreadful al'erna-
1--WE In eithyr evsnt the administration
must sins under an accumulation of guilt
ana urdeF The eXecrations Of the peopIe -
VOW, what OBJECT in the great compass of
possibility conld induce our Chief Maeis.
rae u surrender our rights after wagipe
war to maintain them, or to de{ude fhs heo.
fi(e and 10 sqUGHder their ,noney ? II would
ne the mcst uneXampled and unDrc fitab,e
MANY in him aid in the most extravapant
stupidity or madness in us to believe it.
nut for these gross and seditious caIumnies
unsupported by any one DarticIe nfI
truth. unembellished by any one tint of in.
senulty, and undiGted by any one feeling oil
ccharlty, the peace party unblushinglv stand
Forward as sheir sponsor. Let the people |
Iudge Tor themseivcs--the facts are before !
'nem' AS ndnct Of this sort cannot he
expected to spring from honest motives, or
De intended to serve honest purposes. we
must necessarily took any where else for an |
,xPIanatlon. The truth we suspect is. that
hey would have had the President To have
'slected the offer to meet at Gottenburg in |
'rder to give some colouring to their abuse |
'ome strength to their opposition, aud some !