The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-04-01
cement, and such the evidence " supper,

it.
The prince regent has, however, endeav-
ored to add to those unfounded accusations,
stigma, at which the pride of the Amerl-
can government revoits. Listening to the
fabrications Of British einmissaries gather
ing scandals from the abuses of a free press
and misled, perhaps, by the asperities If a
party spirit, common to all free governments
-he affects to trace the origin of the war to
(" "A marked partiaiity, in palliatng and as
sisting the aggressive tyranny of France -
and " to the prevalence of such councils, as
associated the United States, in policy with
the government of that nation" (e) The
conduct of the American government is NOW
ppen to every scrutiny and its vindication
is iuseparable from knowledge of the facts
All the world must be sensible. indeed, that
neither in the general policy of the late ruler
OF France, nor in his particular treatment
II the United States, could there exist any
political, or rational foundation, for the sy IN
pathies and associations, overt or Clandes-
tine, which have been rutIely and unfairly
suggested 1t s equally obvious, that MOTH
ing short of the aggressive tyranny, exercised
by Great Britain towards the United States,
Could have counteracted and controlled,
those tendencies to peace and amity, which
derived their impulse from natural and socisi
causes; combining the affections and inter-
ests ot the two nations. The American
government, faithful to that principle of pub
lie law, which acknowledges the authority
OF all governments established de Gcfo AMI
conforming its practice, in this respect, to
the example OF Europe, has never corte sted
the validity or the governments successively
established in France nor i'efrained from
that intercourse with either of them. which
the just interests OF the United States reouir-
ed. But the British cabinet is challenged to
produce, from the recesses of its secret. or
OF Its public, archives, single instance of I'M
worthy concessions, or of political alliance &
combination, throughout the intercourse of
the United States, with the revolutionary ra-
iers OF France. Was it the influence of
French councils, that induced the American
government to resist the pretensions Of
France, in 1898, and to encounter her hos
tiiities in 1898? that led to the ratification
OF the British treaty in 1895, to the British
negotiation III 1905, and to the convention
with the British minister in 1909! that dicta-
ted the impartial nvertures which were made
to Great-Britain, as we'll as to France, tlu-
ring the whole period of the restrictive svs
tern that produced the determination to a.
void making any treaty, even treaty O
commerce with France, until the outrage of
the Ramboullet decree was repaired !, IT..
that sanctioned the repeated and urgent CT
forts OF the American government, TIC mt an
end to the war, almost as soon as it wss de-
clared! or that, finally, prompted the expli-
Cit communication, which, in pursuance of
instructions, was made by the American mi
mister at st. Petarsburgh, to the court of Rus
STA, stating " that the principal subjects ,f
discussion, which had long been subsist.ns be-
tween the United States ard France, remai,f-
eli unsettled that there was no immediate
prospect, that there would be satisfactory
settlement of them but that, VIII ,tever thu.
event. -
the intention Of the government of the u. S.
to enter into any more intimate connexions
with France that the government of the u
~ did not anticipate aLy event, whatever.
that Gould produce that eject and that the
American minister was the more happy to
nd himself authorized By his government to
avow tins Intention; as different Representa-
tons OF their views had been widely circula-
ted, as well in Europe az in America (e,)
But, while every act,of the American govern.
ment thus falsifes the charge of suhser-
viency to the policy of France, itmay BE lust
iy remarked, that of all the governments,
maintaining necessary relation and inter,
course with that nation, from the Commence
ment, to the recent terHination of the revo-
lutionary establishments, it has happesed.
that the government of the United States has
least exhibited marks Of condescensio.t and
concession to the successive rulers. 1t ia
~ N1ic"l-oiitdhl, more partiCularlY, as an
| accuser, TO explain the consistency of the
reproaches, which she has uttered against
| the United States,with the course of her own
conduct with her repeated negotiations, du-
ring the republican, as well as during the i'm
per1al, sway OF France with her solicitude
to make and TO propose treaties with her
| interchange OF commercial benefits, so ire
concUable I o state of war +; wifi the al
most triumphant entry of French ambassa-
dor into her capital, amidst the acclamatons
OF the populace and with the prosecution,
instituted by the orders Of the king of Great,
Britain himself, in the highest court of Grim
| inal jurisdiction in his kingdom, to punish the
| printer of a gazette, for publishing q libel on
| the conduct and character Of the late ruler
| Of France! Whatever may be the source Of
| these symptoms, however they may indicate
subservient policy, such symptoms have
never occurred in the u s. throughout the
imperial government of France.
| The conduct OF the United States, frsm the
r1oment OF declaring the war, will serve. as
well as their previous conduct, to res ne them
from the unjust repvoaches Of Great Britain.
! When war was declared, the orders in coun.
Gil had been maintained, with inexorable hos
tIhty, until Thousand American vessels with
| their cargoes had been seized and conhseated
under their operation the British minister
at Washington had, with peculiar soemnity
| announced that the orders would not be re-
| pealed, but upon conditions, which the Ame-
| ffCan uOVernmPnt had mot he h,e,be 49,.