The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-12

or to edify: it is an Apprehension, that 81
lence may be deemed an acquiesCsnce- in
these infammatory proceedings it is fol
the sake Of my political friends that stand
forth. the advocate Of my injured country.
agree with his excellenCy that the liber-
ty of speech is important to free people, &
he who would restrain it, is a foe to republi-
can freedom. 1t is a privilege which
highly prize, and which shall take ad-
vantage of in this debate. True, it may be
abused-1n bad times, bad men will endea-
vor to excite discomfort. In the commence
ment ot war, SANDER and abuse arc won
derfu!ly successful. There was danger for
a while, that the outrages of party nigh,
drive the administration from Office, or COM
pei them to make an ignomiuious peace
But truth prevailed Notwithstanding eve
ry attempt to throw 4 stumbling block in the
way of the administration in the days of diff
Guilty and distress, their popularity has in
creased, and the people are more united
than at the commencement of the war. You
speak of the growing discontents of the
people-Where is your evidence? In the
elections ! In what elections In New York,
the most commercial state in the Union
In New Jersey, where every branch was
regenerated in year In Maryland, where
you but just smuggled in your governor g
In Vermont, to be sure, you have minority
Govel nor for one year, and trust, for one
year only. But in the city OF .Neeu York at
a very late election, the American cause
prevailed b change that was truly aston
ishing. And all Of this in time OF war, a
gainst the incessant clamors and ISLANDERS
of party. without any sedition act, or other
act to screen the administration.
| His Excellency informs us that he has re-
eeiyed fifteen hundred stand of arms from
the Secretary at War and you, in answer,
attribute this event to the efficacy of your
famous resolve of }une last. To suppose
that that anticlimax. that complete specimen
in the art of sinking. could produce any 9TH
err effect in the mind of the Secretary of
War, than ridicule, is to me absolutely in
credible. 1t began with preamble full of
invectives. with e." Whereas," followed by
a string of accusations against the whole
lcourse OF the measures of the administration,
& concluded with Therefore Resotued
THAT the Adj. Gen. be requested to write tc
lGen. Armstrong for arms. &C." 1t was
Indeed production which promised much
and performed nothing, K will add, effec
ted nothing. 1t is probable that gen. Arm
strong. agreeably to his promise sent you
the arms as soon as they were ready--but
none the sooner for your pitiful resolve.
But this war is unjust, Must we travel o.
yer this ground again This charge has
been refuted more Than thousand times
But that makes no difference-they can re-
new it tho vaRquished, they can argue
still. The right of blockade. orders in coun
Gil, and imprcssment are brought up, and
all justified with greater obstinacy than in
the British Parliament.
have said. and l repea. il, that the pri-
ority of the French DEGREES could be no ex
cuse for these Orders, had such been the
fact. What sir, retaliate upon ar innocent
neutral the aggressions which your enemy
has committed upon that neutral? The pri.
ority of aggression makes no difference
Each nation must account with US, FOR the in
Jury it has done US. ] have wondered that
the government of the u. States have ever
condescended to discuss the question Of the
; priority of these edicts although it is be
yond question, that IT, blockade of the 18th
of May, 1906. was far more Injurious to A
merican commerce, than the Berlin decree
of the 21st Nov. following. This extraor-
binary Blockade obstructed the commerce
of nearly one Thousand miles of se1 coast, in
Guiding many important Commercial cities,
aud the mouths of seVe al large and navi.
gable rivers. But the advocates Of Britain
say she had right to do all this. She
had force enough to invest this whole ex-
tent therefore, it was legally b!ockaded.
whether the force was applied or not. So
/ suppose, gentlemen would contend that
SUUiC Quiet IOdot1 CHudiIJ tRtCnSlVe, was &C
tuaily bl' ckaded, because it might be and
in this way, Britain might blockade every
port in the world at the same time. But the
strongest advocates for retaliation, have not
pretended that it could be justified until af-
ter notice Of the first aggression, and neglect
or refusal TO repel it. Upon what princi
Pile, then, was the Order of Council of the
9Th January, 1907, imposed This was but
forty seven days after the Berlin Decree,
before we could have notice of it and vet
Great. Britain had right, say they, to re-
taliate On US for an act which we could rot
prevent, and of which we did not know II
is in vain to pretend tina, this order was not
a retaliation Of the Berlin Decree, because
left rigorous in terms. 1t was Contrary IN
the known law Of nations. and Britain had
not the power to enforce it--but France had
no powerto enforce her decree, end it could
be considered but an empty threat.
But it is suggested, that this war is for the
protection Of British seamen. This charge
is without any foundation. We are coDten
, ding tor the protection of our own seamen
on board of our own ships. The law of ma.
tions admits not the subjects of one nation
to enter on board the ships Of another
; and to take such as they shall Judge theit
ewn. The case Is simple, and capable NJ
demonstration. The cean is the CONNER
= highway ct nations Quit, each has a con
current, but neither an exclusive Jurisdiction
IF, then one nation has right to take
fsuch as sSe shall Judge her own Subjects