Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1798-06-15

with Great Britain He made no re-
ply and cen Pinckney obj rived, ,ha, |
loan had been iusgeited to US; but
Ihat we had uniformly aafwered, that
1t exceeded our powers.
Mr. Ta'leyrHnd replied, that perlons
at iuch diasuce as we were from our
government, and pcneHsd, as we were,
Of the public confidence. mua often ne
their difcretion, aud exceed their pow
ess for the public good. That there
was a material difference between sa-
ing where inltrueions were fleot, aud
doing what vas particularly forbidden
that It indeed losn was potiti=siy for
hidden, we might conG4er ouTielves az
incapable of making one but If, as he
inppoied was the cafe The looked the
qusaion) COR inarueions were ooly IL
ient, that 1t muit be referred to Us to
ae' ~ cafe not provided for, according
20 the bett Of our judgment, for the pub
/ lie good that in almoft all the tTeaties
made during the revolution, the uegoci
asors had exceeded their powers althn'
the government appointing them was al
no comfortable diaance. lie par,icu-
lsriZed the treaty Si;h PsHlia, and fsve.
val others. General Pinckney told him
| that our powere did not extend 10 aloan,
and perhaps might forbid il. The mi
nIsler Gill urged The difference between
an exprefs prohibition and mere lilence
he then proceeded 10 Rate that the
principal objection on the part of cur
government TO losn muh De, that il
would draw us out Of the neutral (itu
alton 10 which We willsed TO continue
that there we've various means of evaa-
ing this; frf, the fecrecy Of F,aDce
which might be relied on and feccndly,
means ct diCguiGog the lean might be
devifsd, which would efeSluahy prevent
ITS hsicg conhterei as an aid during The
Pyetent war thar If we were truly ana
hneerciy deCrous of eff cling the thing,
Te ihouid experience no difficulty n
hnding the meahs He again Aates
propoOtion ofthis kind on our part, a.
being absolutely necehSry TO prove that
the government were not about enter
ing into treaty with perfona of tenn
per hoaiie TO Il. MIR, Gerry mt wei
hearing Nirs I a'errand, who rpoke ltw,
aiSeS bin 10 sXplsin bin;lelf with ref
pea 10 the propoltion he had aIludedto,
fuppoiing Il TO be a new one; and he
aafvered, that one was fccTecy bnt that
thcFe were befidss various wsys which
miRht ea6ly be fossefed to cover the
loan as an immediate one, by limiting
the time OF advancing it TO difapt in
talmenis. Mr.. Gerry obferved, that
Dntrimond had fuesefed that Loan was
proPofsd TO be made payable sfies the
war and in fuppliSs to ST. DoTirra.
Mr.. Tzlleyrand Ggnifed, that that aiigat
be owe nfthe mears ofed sn5 Gid that
II we were oniy fiEceTe in oug with, il
would be csfY to bring about the end.
General Mdrihall told Mr. Tai,eyrand,
that IL the miniaers of the United States
had unaffected any anwiiicgpefs tn take
all proper means 20 reccncile1he two
Republics, or auy indifference on the
iuhjeS. they had very badly reprefen.e ed
the feelings and wiGhes Of their govern
meet that the government ofthe Unit
ed States, was mott fincereiy 6clirous of
preferving The fIisndfhip of France, and
had, in his opiuion, unequieocally nae
nifea ed that de6re, by having ieputed
ne under the extraordinary circumftau-
ees attending our milton, and by hsv-
iHg 10 loDg patiegtly borne the immenic
LOIS 81 property which had been fuaain
ed /; that VIC had enasavored, According
TO the beit OF our judgment, 20 reprefenf
truly the dnpofunn OF our government
but we uuderaood th2t FRANCE would
conlider nothing as an evidence 0ffriend :.
NIP, but an sa thar would nanfcerd
aud violate our powers, and at The fame
time operate the molt fegiUus iniuYy 70
our Country that pcutf aIity, IN the pi c.
lent war, was Of the laf importance 10
the United States; and they bad refoived
faithfully 20 nsintain IL: that they Fad
committed no ac, voluntarily, which
was breach Of it ! and could do nothing
! IN tecret, which, II kGown, would iufly
arrange them among the belHgerent
powers; thar in the prefeut ftste Of
ininss, 1t America was actually Ieasued
with France in be war, fhe would only
/ be required To furniih money; thar sye
had neither fhips Of war nor men 10 be
employed 10 it I; and could confeauent.
1 ", az belligeren, power, ouiy be al,
go Tor money; that, therefore, TO FIR.
nih money, was. in faSt, TO make 0sr
which we coulo by no means content
10 DO, and v hich would abfoluteiy tTsa r.
ceBd our powese-beilg 40 act aItoee-
lher without The view and contemplali
90 ofouT government, when our n;iF
On was decided on that with refoeSt 10
iupphes TO ST. Domingo, no doubt
could be euteftai0ed that our merchant.
/ would turDlTl them very abundansly. II
France would permit the commerce
Ard loan really payable after tie clofs
ct The var might thea be negotiated.
mr, Iaileyrand again marked the dif
tineiiOn betweea fierce Of infruaions