Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-13


but we all remember, too, the embarrass-
ments experienced by us during their re-
volutlon, from The guarantee which. be
treaty, we had made of their West India
possessions. Ii Is wished that the pro
vinces should never be placed in sit,la-
tion similar TO ours, so as thereafter 10 be
subject 10 any embarrassment from stipu-
lations made by them. They are TO he
lett free TO consult their own best interest
and their own true policy. The daily I,-
telligence which we receive from the ISL
and of Amelia, proves the wisdom and
prudence OF our government in endeayor
ing to suppress these establishments. -
HE world will do homage In the mag-
canlmity and justice of the Spanish pro
vinceS III renOuncliIg all connexiou with
these settlements. Ii will raise the cha
racter OF the United States. by shewiuy
their determination 10 put down all pirr..
ilcal establishments; that the movements
of people costending for their liberties.
are totally different from the establish
ments OF pirates anu buccaneers. In en-
pertaining The opinion tlai the provinces
never sanctioned them, as j. believed, we
shew respect 10 the colonies, and raise
their character. Ii is the interest Of The
colonies TO disavow them, and thereby
raise their character with US amt wItli The
european governments. II cannot be
doubted they will disavow them, aud they
amongst us who stimulate them 20 an on
poSlte policy, are not their real Nviends,
but their worst enemies.
Mr.. HOLMES (ofMassachusettsl sai}Nhe
should never be opposed to anv call EaT
lnformailon-oH any subject, when wante,.
by the House. But 1t appeared 10 him
That the call now proposed was unneces-
sary, since the resolution adopted the o.
fhar II mould Al.
now desired. He thought the House
should wait day or two, 10 see whether
they would not obtain, without any fur,
ther call, all the information they desirest
from the Executive. With this view be
moved that the resolution should lie on
the table.
MIR. NELSON opposed the motion. urg-
ing some of the arguments compreherd-
ed i'll the above substantial statement of
his remarks, as reason against DELAY.
Mr.. ROBERTSON (of Louisiana) read
the resolution adopted the other day, cali
ing for information respecting the stale
OF the Colonies OF Spain in South Anne
RIGA, that gentlemen might Judge whether
it comprehended the information now de-
sired. 1t might be that, under this resc-
luton, the President would consider that
East Florida formed portion of tile CO.
lonies OF South America, as we'll as any
other province; and would transmit there
fore all the information required In rela-
ton 10 Amelia Island, &c. Yielding TO
the suggestion OF the gentleman from Mas
sachuselts, tl.at i'll a day or two the House
would receive the information desired.
Mr.. X. thought 1t would be as well TO lei
the resolution lac until the Presidents am
swer To the other call should be received.
If that did not comprize the desired i'll
fOrn fhIs II. a.
taken up and passed.
MIR. MILLER (of South Carolina) was
opposed TO the proposed postponcmentof
this motion; the objects of which and of
that which passed the other day, he said
were totally distinct. The object of that
was TO enquire into the political state of
the Spanish Colonies the design of this
was TO satisfy The nation that the execu-
tive had acted on sufficient grounds int
course it had taken i'll regard 10 Amelia
Island IL GaIveztown. This, he said, was
reason sufficient TO induce him to vote
against laying the resolution on the table.
Ii that motion should not prevail, lie should
vote tor the amendment proposed BY Mr..
Forsyth, because the facts on Which il
was founded would certainly disclose the
reasons OF the measure. The Speaker had
the other day intimated, OIL the floor Of
this House, his opinion that every act Of
the government, from the proclamation
against the expedition said TO he fi:tiuq
out az New Orleans IN 1915, to the present
day, had been hostile 70 The Spanish Pa
tri0ts: Now, Mr.. NJ. said he looked upon
The information called fer by tic resolu-
ton as necessary 10 Tepcl lie repFoach,
from SO high source, thus thrown on fha
government. He therefore hoped the re-
solve would be suffered TO pass.
Mr.. JOHNSON, (of Kentucky, ) said he
had not understood the Speaker lldcbate
the other day, 10 have minated that eve
ry act of the government had been hostile
TO the Patriot cause but that they had
leaned to one side of the question had
borne more against The Patriots than a.
gainst Spain. And, If our acts had any
operation at all, who could deny, Mr.. j.
asked, that what the Speaker had said.
was the fact Was not tie proclamation
of 1915 of that nature 1t was issued ia
consequence of representations Of ihe
Spanish Minister Being issued al his
instance, if it had any bearing ~ all must
it not have had a leaning against tic Spa.
nlsb Patriots With a regard To the sell
zurc of Amelia Island, ii that measure rad
any operation ut all in regard 60 the twO
parties, must II not be against the Pat!i-
Ois ? Theirs, he said, vas a cause which
he would not now advocate but The sen
tlment svowed by the Speaker was liis SEN
tIment-one which he would aVow iu this
House and every where--ihat whenever
| our acts had had tendency to one side
| on the other, ii WIS 10 tie Injury OF the
Patriots. Not that the Speaker meant To
say, any more than himself. that cur 70
yernmeui intended hostility TO that eaitse.