Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-12-04
DOMESTIC.
THE MESSAGE.


frank cxposi ton of the state ofpublic af-
fairs, which Americans win contemplate
with satisfaction, and the foreign world
with pleasure or with envy, as It is well
orill-disposed towards us The phar-
'hropist may exult in the kindred spirit
which II breatlies, aud the politician dis
cern IN Il the traits of forecast and soil
dty which age and experience alone can
give. As composition, the great merit
OF tins state paper Is, that every part of
n is ineligible 10 the planest capacity.
Thus much may be said, without adver-
ting 10 lis particular features, of the ge-
neral aspec, oflhe Message.
For the qualification of the mere q,tid-
na'!c, 10 whom News only is acceptable,
the Message has not many attractions.
Though III This respect some may not be
gratiiied, we are not displeased. That
public tranquility which is barren of eclat
Is most likely 10 be free of danger; and
an that administration of republican
government, which leaves 10 the Execu-
tive few secrets with which TO surprise or
agitate the People, we may most safe
~ cOntide. The acts Of the Government
are To acts of the People by their agents,
from an acquaintance with which they
should be debarred uo further than is ne
cessary 10 The success of the measures of
tkc government, and to the dccorum o!
lis intercourse wiih foreign powers. The
annual Message, then, is an official noti-
hcaiion TO Congress of circumstances of
which they are i'll general already infor-
maliy appraised. But it is, besides, an ex-
position 10 the world, from which its con-
tents cannot be veiled, of the policy of
the government ami particularly of the
views of that branch of it which is the
organ of communication with foreign
powers. This circumstance, by the way,
having It's effect OIL the composition OF
ihe article, as the reader will readily com
preiiend, ought not 10 be overlooked
when we come 10 the consideration OF
the Message, as it may perhaps serve to
illustrate some passages OF that docu-
meui.
The facts disclosed by the Message,
moi heiore generally known, are, as we re-
collect, but two but those two are of
considerable importance-thc extension
OF the commercial convention for a term
moi less than eight years, and the ratifi-
cation Of the suspended convention of
1902 with Spain. inregard 10 the first of
these, the commercial convention, it was
to expire, by lis own limitation, in July
next, and we should have been left with
out any Treaty, had it not been extended
for longer term, or until permanent
treaty shall supersede il. We have little
doubt il will be thus Terminated before
long, since spirit of reciprocal ami,y
appears 20 actuate the British ministry
and that doubt becomes less when we
consider that, by The operation of our ma
vlgation act, il may have become the in
tsrest of the British government 10 enter
into stIpHlations, not professedly but ac-
tnaily reciprocal, 10 which The provisions
OF that act may be merged and dissipa-
ted.
With regard to the convention Of 1909
with Spain, so long suspended, and but
now ratified, we are informed that il pro-
vides for indemnifying il small portion of
the sufferers by Spanish spoliations.
That convention was once ratified by
our government but, II is probable,
having been SD long suspended by Spaiu,
1t may b thought necessary for the ac-
tual President again 10 submit it TO the
Senate. Otherwise, we should have ex-
pected that il would have been commu,
nlcated 10 Congress, or al least officially
promulgated, asii no doubt soon will be.
Tie subject which occupies the largest
portion of the Message is, the origin and
progress of the war in Florida, tire actual
state OF our relations with Spain, and the
effect of The one upon the other. The
views d Tie Executive on this head, are
frankly stated, the more at large, proba
bly,, hat our conduct NAV stand before
thc world in It's true light, free from the
mist ofobscurity which certain writers in
Europe have sought TO throw around it.
The good opinion of the world is, in the
present advanced state of civilization, OF
no mean value ; and, if il be worth pos
sessng, t Is worth cultiyaling, We may
safely say, altet the exposition thus otii
cially given, the course Of this govern
ment stands on that vantage ground OF
justice and security, which we hope il
will always occupy IN lis relations with TO-
reign powers.
We have no design 10 trace, step bv
step, the various points Of the Message.
but there are one or two other of them
well worthy of notice.
With respect TO the contest in South
America, in which the feelings aud SYM
patlIies OF our countrymen have been en-
listed, the language of tn. Message de-
serves remark, The confluence express
sed bv the President that the allied DOW
ers OF Europe will remain neutral in the
contest between Spain and her American
provinces, is gratifying. If the sove-
TeigDs of the Old World abstain from any
interference, we have no doubt that The
colonies Of the New will soon completely
establish their independence OF the pa
rent country. This course on the part of
the allies, as the President Suggests, will
shorten The duration. and limit the scope
OF the war. The wisdom of tile strict
neutrality hitherto maintained BIZ our 90.
verDment, Is thus confirmed since other
powers have been induced 10 pursue the
same pOlicy-the continuance Of which.
as recommended by the President, is vet,
we think. the course not only Of prudence,
but of real friendship TO the cause of