The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-02-18

time greatness might be partially restored (;
but ~ say. that it has not hitherto suffered
an the estimation OF all Earopc, and what
IS worse, vt America herself, is TO belle
common sense and Nnive rsal experience
~ Two or three OF our ships have struck to q
force vastly sapetior.'--No, not two or three,
bat MANY on the ocean, and whole squad
rons on the Lakes and the numbers are to
be viewed With relation TO the comparative
magnitude OF the tTo navies. Scarcely is
there one Aueyican ship Of war, which has
not 10 hoast victory over the British flag,
scarcely one British ship in thirty or forty,
cAat has beaccn m American.
Our seamen, it is urged, have on all oc-
cas,ons fought bravely. Who denies it -
Cur complaint is, that with the br.,vest sea-
Iuen. and the mos. powerful navy III the
World we retire from tie contest when the
balance OF defect is 50 heavily against US
BE ,taccident, or be it misconduct, we en-
oinre notalow into the cafise the certain
the inevitlblc Consequences are What we look
10, * they may be summed up in a few words
The speedy growth of an American nsyy--S,
the recurrence OF new and much more for
midable American war. From that same
moinent wnen the ~ Uf the Gucrr.ere was
struck. there has been quite rage iur bu'i,!-
ing ships OK war in the United States Their
navy has been ADJUST doubled, and ;hei' W S.
ais are OF extraordinary magnitude The
people, naturally vain, boastfn and nsolent,
have been filed with An absolute contempt of
our maritime power, & n furious eagerness tn
beat down our maritime preteUsions. Those
ssions, which: have been infilmed by sue
cess, could only hIcebeen cooled by what
IN vulgar but emphatic language he's been
termed" a sound Il ggirg;" but unfortunate
iy, orr Christian meekness has induced MS.
rather 20 Kiss the rod, than to retaliate its e&-
ercise. Such false and feeble humanity ia not
calculated for the guidance of nations War
sc ,,lstra t,.p.ol ions of
bat when justice wiclt,s the sword, size must
b. FLEXIBLE.
Looking neither to the right nor 10 the left.
she must pursue her blow, until the evil IS
clean rooted out. This is not blind rage, or
Binder revenge; but it is discriminating
q calm, and even a tender calculation of con-
SEQUENCES. Better IS it, that we should crap
pie with the young !ion when he is first flesh
ed with the taste Of our flock, than wait I'M
til, in the maturity of his strength, he
bears away at once both sheep and shop
herd.
The Chatham, Of - guns, (buiIt in memory
OF the Walcheren EXpeciition) is ordered To
be manned, and will, it is supposed, be sent
to strengthen the preparation for that ex-
tended system OF warfare, which must take
plice n the President should delay the ratifi-
cation of the treaty We are well convinced
that every ship, and every sailor, employed
IN maintaining the vital contest for eur mari
y,
add proportional weight to our influence at
i Vienna /; but in truth, Vienna aud its fetes, &
all its negotiations, arc Infinitely insignificant
10 us now, compared with the growth of the
American navy, and the probable loss of oar
transatlantic PROVINCES. With respect to the
latter point, it is certain that the present
treaty will produce the most serious discon-
tent among the Canadians, when they find
THAT the great object of their wishes, secure
frontier communication, is referred to the de-
cision of commissioners. They know if the
British public does not. what is the honesty Of
American commissioners bat, indeed we
ought ~ know il too, for Cannot well have
forg Ittcn toe conduct of those appointed I'M
der Che treaty Of 1894. By that treaty, two
boards were establisael--one in England, 20
Judge of American claims the other in ~
merica to Judge OF British clsims. The for
mer proceeded with all justice and regulaii-
ty, and actually adjudged to various claim
ants above a million ard half of money,
which was PAID by this cnaltry The latter
met, ard received British claims to the d.
mount of FIVE millions and an half, hut never
proceeded to single award. At this board
were two American commissioners, the pre-
senCe OF one of whom ut Least was necessary
20 form quorum but these despicable swind-
lers, for their conduct entities them 20 no
better name, no sooner perceived that jgstcc
received a decision in favor Of British clai-
sIdIfSs ttAc.h tiICy --dnl OF course put
an entire stop 70 the business. After this ex-
perience, it does seem a little extraordinary,
shat we should commit the future safety Of
Canada TO a board OF ComTi ssiDners
The Han,burgh mail presents Us with no
very gratfyngview Of the harmony Of the
continental powers /; but one satisfactory con-
clusion at least, may be drawn from this. that
we may with toerablo safety leave them to
Their own disputes, while we attend 70 what
more closely concerns rs. ], is not now rs
n the time OF Bonaparte, when our stvaee
despotisn threatened to swailc.v up all mad
on.l independence. On the contrary almost
every pow r at the Congress seems to have
its separate views, and We are sorry to saw
that III y seem almost I'll equally selfish. and
cqaly to st at def nee thulrpretcudcd prin-
cipe Of equity and moderation. Saxonv and
P0iAn., Genoa and Mrntz, the Celholic re-
lgon and the Slave Trlde, appear to have
fuvui4hed subjects for discussions and hr0jcfs
and protesis, but fr' nothing else. What is
said f the Slave Trade is particularly reuue-
naht 20 all manly feelings. The abolition is
truly said 10 be " Interesting to humanity. -
S & vet tie humanity of all Emope united is not
ST. ng enough to compel even a modification
Of that system Of crimes and atrocities. The
reason assigned is, that the powers CONCERN
ed n i will not accept OF the interference Of
ia a grJrv