Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-07-22

= if, the United States must avoid rs
much as possible, every real wrong, and
every appearance of inlury,to either par
". 70 grant 20 Lord Dorchester, IN
/ case he should request IT, permission 10
march troops through the territory of the
United States, from Detroit 10 the Mis-
s'ssippI, would not only have an appear
ance offensive 10 the Spanisrds, OF parlia-
iity 10 the English, but would he real
injury TO Spain. The answer, therefore,
10 his lordship, sl,onid be u refusal, in
terms clear and decided, but guarded
and dignited III manner, which NO
power has more at command tbaa the
President of the Uniied States. II
measure so daring, offensive and hostile,
as the march oil troops through oar terri
tory to attack friend, should Le hazZarti-
ell BY the English without leave, or espe-
cially after a refusal, IL is moi 50 easy to
answer the qucStion-What notice ought
10 be taken otiti The situation of our
country is rot ike that of most of the
nations i'll Europe. They have generally
arge numbers OF inhabitants III narrow
territories. We have small numbers
scattered over vast regions. The coun-
try through which the British must pass
from Detroit to the Mississippi, is, sup
pose, SO ihinly inhabited, and at such a
distance from all the populous settle
meuiS. that it would be Impossible for
The President of the United States TO col
lect militia or march troops sufficient 10
resist the enterprise. After the step shall
have been taken, there are but two ways
for us TO proceed-one Is war, and the u
ther negotiation. Spain would, proba-
bly,, demonstrate TO the President of the
United States; hut, whether she should
fI,n e, ba 4
should demonstrate to The king of Greai
Britain. Ii would not be expected, z
suppose, by our friends or enemies, thar
the United States should declare war al
once. Nations are not obligedt 10 declare
war for every INJURY, or even hostility. A
taClt acqulescence under suclian outrage.
would be misinteTpretcd on all hands DN
SPAN, as inimIcai 10 her, and by Britain,
as the effect of weakness, disunion ana
puSIlIanimitv.
Negotiation, then, is the only other al
ternailve. Negotiation, in ihe present
state of things, is attended with peculiar
difficulties. As the King of Great. Bril-
tam twice proposed 10 The United States
an exchange OF Ministers, once thru
Mr.. Hartley, and once through the Duke
of Dorset, and when the United States
agreed TO the proposition, few from it, TO
u.
that Court explicitly promises TO send
one 10 America, is humiliation TO which
the United States ought never TO submit.
y remonstramce from sovereign 10 sove-
reign cannot be sent but by AN ambassa-
der of some order or other; from minis
Ter 0f state TO minister OF Stale, ii might
he transmitted III many other ways. A
remOnStranCe, III form of letter, from
the American minister of state to the
Duke ofLeeds, or whoever may be The
secretary of state for foreign affairs,
might be transmitted through an envoy,
munster pienipotentiary, or ambassador
of the President of The United States at
Paris, Madrid, or the Hague, and tl,ro'
the British ambassador at either of those
Courts. The utmost length that can be
now gone, with dignity, would be to send
a minister to the Court of London, with
instructions TO present his credentials,
demand an audience and make bis re-
monsiIance, but 10 make no establish
ment, and demand his audience of leave,
and quit the kingdom in one, two, or
three months, if minister OF equal de-
gree was not appointed and actually sent
TO the President OF the United States
from the king Ct Great Britain. Ii is
misfortune, that in these critical momcuis
and circumstances, the United States
have not minister OF large views ma
fure age, information and Judgment, and
strict integrity, AT the courts of France,
Spain, London and the Hague early and
authentic intelligence from those courts
may he of more importance than the rx-
pence. But as the representatives. of the
people, as well as Of the legislatures, are
of different opinion, they have made
very scanty provision for but part of
such d system. AS it is, God knows
where the men are TO he found WHO are
qualified for such missions and would
und'riak them. By an experience of
ten years, which made me too unhappy
at the time 10 be ever forgotten, | know
that every artifice which can deceive, e.
very temptation which can operate on
hope or fear, ambition or avarlce, pride
or vanity, the love OF society, pleasure or
amusement, will be employed 10 divert
and warp them from the true line of their
duty and the impartial honor and inter
est OF their country. 70 the superior
nights and information derived from of
nee, the more serene temper and pro-
found judgment of tie President of the
United States, these crude and hasty
thoughts, concerning the point proposed,
are humbIy submitted, with every senti-
menl, &c. &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
ErtrGct ofaletter (Jon oue Of he Commits
SionerS ON the put NJ the cOi0uy Of French
snier0pts, 'rho oye dbod IN srttIe Bea, me
confluence of'the Alabama apd Io1nbigbg.
IL, f.sa. l. ~ .