The Enquirer

IL FAUT DE L' ARGENT

In the Courant of the 29th ult. it is asserted that Mr. Madison declared to John Randolph, "that France wanted money, and we must give it"

This is a base mutilation of what passed at an interview, between those two gentlemen, some time during the session of Congress, during the winter of 1805-6. The object of the Courant, or rather of those papers from which the Courant copies, and upon which it depends for fuel, is to show, that Mr. Madison is devoted to French interest and therefore unfit for a President of the United States.

The interview and conversation to which the Courant alludes, happened "in this wise." While the two millions of dollars was before Congress, the interview took place. The object of the bill was, as every body knew, the purchase of the Floridas, and against the passage thereof Mr. Randolph had taken strong ground and made several violent speeches.

The situation of French affairs at this time, as far as was known in this country, was somewhat thus. Bonaparte was on his way to the heart of Germany, with a large army. His progress was to be resisted by very numerous German, Russian and perhaps Prussian armies, under experienced commanders—The battle of Austerlitz had not happened. It was expected that the campaign would be arduous and indecisive. The pecuniary resources of France, were supposed to be inadequate.
At the interview in question, the observations of Mr. Madison were often important. "Now is the time to purchase the Floridas; France wants money and MUST HAVE IT;" (not "WE MUST give it," as stated in the Courant.) "We never shall have a better opportunity to purchase these provinces: they are a natural appendage to the United States." From this statement of plain facts, has been elicited a most grievous charge against Mr. Madison. By a similar perversion of a passage in the "Notes on Virginia," federalists, eight years ago, proved Mr. Jefferson to be a polytheist: by a similar perversion, an atheist may prove from the sacred scriptures, "there is no God."

Before the negotiation for the purchase of the Floridas had succeeded, the battle of Austerlitz was fought: the Russian army was dispersed or captured: Bonaparte had made peace with Prussia and Germany: France wanted no money: and the two millions of dollars still remain in the treasury of the United States. Federal editors! will you be satisfied till September?

Amer. Merc.