Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-06-30


We have not been able to fee theie let
tiers and therefore cannon be particular as
to dates and circumstances but what we
have mentioned may be relied upon as
lubAantially corecfs
Gas. U.s..
Mr.. MONROE AND HIS MISSIONS.
Efo berpetaa I fhall be our perpetual
ejaculation to the liberty of the preis.
Even with IFS abufes it is the all-in-all of
human freedom. Ia regulating it, no
bounds ihould be fet to matter of aIgu-
ment, or opinion. Becaufe, from tlofe,
in their fuIlcR extent, much good, and
little evil, can arife. Befdes, the limits
are not pol1iblc 10 be drawn by the mind,
nor if they were drawn to be defined and
PINNED down TO certainty, with the preci
Gon necriIary for the rettritfiye rules Of
law. There is however, one way in
which the pseis might be iubjcsaed 10 re-
fraint with infinite advantage to the
cauie of morality, private right, and pub
lie polity. Let all Ratements of faas be
fubjetaed TO the tea of evidence, and lei
the law FIX penalty upon every falie
fatemen, of fats that is net qualified by
an acknowledgement of us uncertainty.
The public then could only be deluded
by ealfe reafonings, which might again be
eaily cornbated, and thus private cha
raeter would be delivered from the calum-
MES Of ailanins, ard the canfe OF morality
and truth fesved by the rejection of that
WORT potion of the general heart fan
der.
The mifstement Of faas has, iii Anne
RIGA, now rifen TO an exceis unknown IN
any age or country. And the public mind
is 70 tainted, that it reads, and perhaps
laughs. at the calunny which il knows TO
be falfe, as at padage in a play or a no.
vel. Are they aware where this mutt
end We fear they are not. Among
rhcfe falfhoods which pats current, we may
reckon the following.
The milcondua of Mr.. Monroe, the
TWO MILLION MISSIONARY, when on
former embafy 20 France, had often been
the fubjett of public reprobation. And
iince this, his new jaunt TO Paris has been
Freely commented on. The democratic
writers, regardless as ufual of fact, roudly
,ienv the charge. and of one them in
northern paper, iays:
" / appears that in the year 1894,
Mr.. Monroe, then acting as American
miniifer in france, was aked by one OF
the diplomatic members Of rife committee
of public fafety, whether he thought they
could obtain by loan, of the United States,
or within the fame, fun Of money to aid
them in their prefent war. To this Mr.
Monroe, knowing that it was queaion
that did not come within his inaraetions
TO give an anfwer, very properly refer
red che committee for anfwer to hi: admit
niiration."
Now it happens, unfortunately for thofe
gentlemen, and fortunately 70, the caufe
of truth, that the text on which the tede-
raj comments were founded, is Mr.. Mon
roc's own letter, Of the 10th of Novem-
Der, 1894, to the then Secretary Of State.
in which he writes as follows:
g was invited by the diplomatic
members of the committee Of public fate
ty, TO conference on new topic: ! was
informed it was their intention to Prefs
the war againa England in particular, but
that they were ditreded for funds, and
aiked could any aid be obtained from the
u. States told them / was latisfed fit
was in their power, it qoaaia be rfndey
ed" -.
And ina diplomatic correspondence iub
(aonsrt RI that he flaws.