Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-09

we SHoutu not SuIer tlem with iinpuiilfy
TO prohibit our vessels: nor shall we ab-
soluieiy prohibit theirs. Discriminating
duties, may be our best resource.
We approach the next subject of The
Message with feelings of shame and H.
dignatlon. We come to our relations
with Spain. The public mind had beea
amused with rumuur that she was anx-
ious TO do us justice; thar she had ceded
the Florldas, &c. &c. But what turns
out to be the fact? "The negotiations
with Spain, for spolsiions oil our COM
merce, and the settlement of boundaries.
remains, essentially, in the state ii held.
by the communications that were made
10 Congress by my predecessor" Turn 10
those Documents, aud you will see the
Notifying state in which they we're left.
The Cheyalier de Onis turns us over 10
MIR. Cevallos at Madrid; and Mr. Ce,al-
los sends US back TO The Cheyalen The
Chevaier AYERS that he has not tut p0,c.rs
To negotiate: and his master al hoae a.
vers thathe has. In fine the eSuivocation
and shutting ofihe Spanish Cabinet he
came so thread bare, that Mr.. Ceyallos
does not hesitate to declare, That he has
no time for the business; that he has
three ministries To discharge as well as
TIE post To direct"-he had previously
excused himself OH the ground of being
so wholly occupied with The marriage
ceremonies (of his MASTERY that not tie
least attention 10 any other kind ofbusi-
ners could be eXpectedp
And Is tins The stale IN which tie neco-
citation essentially remains. Are we TO be
eiernaliy the dupe of Spanish dmDiciiy
and fimesse? As Congress, however, ap-
preached, Spain thought il was time 10
throw out another tub 10 the whale. The
representatives. of The people are accord
ingly To be amused by another show of
negotiation just as jessiiical and dcccp-
tive as any which preceded 1t. Such al
ready appears TO be Tie fact. &c No pro-
position tsays the Presidency has vet been
made, from Which Ga just and satisfactory
result can De presumed. And how long
Is she thus to abuse our patience! How
long is this slippery eel 10 escape us p
bow long are we 10 hope that the " con-
ciliatory and friendly policy, which has
invariably guided our councils" should
"be reciprocated'! Are We 10 wait until
the Cheyaier de OHis should receive fnH
pOpe'S. which he Is competent 10 understand?
Or until MIR. Cevailos has got rid of his
" three ministries" and =" The postw Or
until the adorable Ferdinand i,as done en-
brolderlng pettlcoais Tor all the idols i'm
| Spain Or until justice and Cancellation
| shall return to the bigots OF Madrid
We are sick OF tins procrashnation. Ii
Is time TO put an end Ia it. We must
employ measures that will briug them TO a
| point. We must close the door TO all
| further dila!ory communications. We
must put aside all further dispatches from
Don OnlS. We must turn deaf ear TO
them all, until he comes forward, in rood
earnest, 10 do us Ju-iice.
l.
the contest between Spain and the CO.
lonies." The President does Justice 10
lbs countrymen Ill saying that they "sym-
patliiZed III e, ents which affected their
neighbours" He might have gone farther
and aided, that they had our sympathies
because like rs, they had suffered oppres
SION, and Ike us we're struggling for their
independence and their liberties. He
marks out the principle which the govern
nent IS bound 10 pursue III this eventfuI
struggle:
through every stage of the conflict, the
y. D. nave maintained an impartial ReHtTdlify
giving aid to neither of the parties in men. mo
ney, slips or munitions of war. They lave re-
@hrhed III" con lest not in the light OF am o,liHgry
'nSHrTfctien or rebellion but as a civil war he
tween parties nearly equal, having as 10 Beu
sTdf poWerS, equal rights. Our ports have been
open TO botn, and every article the fruit of our
Tier was permitted 10 take, has been equally
free to lte other. Should the colonies esta,
dish Their independence, 1t IS proper now 10
state, that tbs government neither sceLS NOS.
coHid accept, from than 0Ay advantages in com,
neice or CfheT7ciSe, trhch icW not be Sql,qL oDe,
to alt other nations. The colonies viii in tbat
even, become independent states. free from
any obligation TO, or connection with. ms vbich
II may not thenbe their interest to form on tLe
basis Ola fair reciprocity"
The last sentiment is WORTHY of the
mercan people. We shall make no lob of
tins business. We shall sipuiafe for no
exclusive privileges, as HE price of our re-
cognllion. We ask no brihe for the per-
iornance OF our duty. But we are led
by nobler principles 10 take by the hand
young and arising people.
we understand, as aa inference from
these declarations, what principles are TO
guide Mr.. NOnroc's administration ON illis
great subject. As soon as lie is satisfied
that any of these colonies have" estaJhsh-
ed their Independence" he, as the Chief Ma
glstrate of this nation, as the organ of
communication with foreign nations, will
acknowledge them as " sovereign and in
dependent STATES" We understand, also.
that TO ascertain this fact is one of the
objects which our Commissioners are TO
explore: For, they are Z" TO obtain correct
Information on eUeJy subject in which the |
u. States are Interested" We could have |
wished, indeed, that The intention of re-
cognzing them could have been stated al |
most t0tidgm geybiS-it is an Inference, but |
such an one as flows irresistibly from the |
principle he has laid down.
The only question, which remains, is, |
IN what way we shall preserve our Neutral |
.ttg, until their independence is established? |
The President is for maintaining AN i'm
parfiat neufyatity-lle considers the con |
test g not i'll the light of an ordinary in |