Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-08-31

PAPER concernihg the shameful intrigue to
which Eve American lawyers became ac-
cessaries, to the Injury Of the merchants,
are such as might satisfy every reasons
be man, ct the utter disregard Of national
character and national happiness, which,
4 c moss restecfabfe Of the legal :pvofessien
tssi whsn,it enters into contact with their
esno'omens. ! am by no means an enc.
mr. 10 either of the gentlemen who have
lent their names to this disrepusa5le trans
aeiions but as am myself a sis1erer BY
,hxir aSt, I believe they can have no rea-
son 10 romplain Of me, when ! have so
much .reason 10 complain OF them. 10
my vsty great sorrow have been ac-
qsn nted wnh the cause of the failure OF
The convention with Spain long while,
and could not but feel SONS modification,
having ior several years acted in politics
with he federal party, could not bu, feel
mortified to see the general government
Under his exceIIency Thomas Jefferson,
censursd for The failure OF that eonven-
run, when knew the real cause, or at
least the canse assigned by his excellsncy
the Spanish cabinet minister, was the OPT
nion oil so many celebrated American ci-
sihans- 6s 81
A friend OF mine we'll known in this ci-
~ aud other parts of the United States
advised me Of the convention, at The time,
and gave mt an account ofsit, as the mat
ter was related in The family Of the homo
Die Charles Pinekney, our ambassador at
Madrid.
When the honorable Mr.. Pinckpey as
my friend slpposes, was directed by his
government 10 press the matter of the res
ii,nlion IF property and was instructed
to she W, that ia various cases, our own go
vernmcDt had made restitution for acts Of
depreda.ions OF a like kind made in our
ports he FIRST experienced delays and cqui-
,ocations--be WAS told that the laws oil A.
nerica did not sanction any such practice
Lii was in vain that the honorable Mr..
pinckney referred TO the cases which had
occurred in life presidency Of Gen. Wash
ingion the Spanish minister insisted that
these were only concessions Of policy or
of fear, but that the laws Of America were
against the claim which our government,
by our Ambassador, set up. This the hon.
Mr.. PincKney denisd and then il was
that the legal olsinoas were pro,luced--in
vain did ,te honorable Mr.. Pinokney at.
tempt 10 explain this opinion, TO be Of no
legal force. that such an opinion on an
Hypothetical question might be had for =
>nn OF money on any sublect--that the
mode Of putting The questions, always in
uicatrd The answers expected, and that The
gentlemen Of NE long robe considered il
mere professional act, the same as if
they were called upon TO defend cause
upona iris in which the evidence OF par
~ only Is stated.
II seems The Spanish rniAister was very
well instructed on the answers which he
hadio make TO such objections, for he di
recily told The honorable Mr.. P,ackey tha,
though he had no doubt that nigh, be the
course pursued by insericr or WORTHLESS.
men, which are TO be found among every
profession in every country, yet he wa
wegiinfnrmed ofthe imminent rack which
those gentiemen held in Amsrica. II,
said the hon. MIR. Ed. Livingston hat
been an eminent meuber Of The genera
compress, and was the attorney general o
fbe United States ;--thai the hon. Mr.. In
gersolI had been attorney gcaeral, tha, ,h'
hon. Mr.. RawIe had been attorney gene
raj also; that one ofthen, Mfr. Duponceau
though he appeared net to hold any Office
was rcpfescntcd TO him as orc Of the frs
civilians in America, and the hon. Mr.
MKeau was then the attorney general o
Pennsylvania, and being the son Of the 20
vernon Of that STATE must be supposed Il
know its laws and comprehend its policy
800 well 10 hazard an opinion lghtly.
The honorable Mr.. Pinckney resoried
10 such Arguments as were calculated 10
convey more correct ideas; but The i'm.
preston wss shade, and The opinion oil
those gentlemen opposed 20 the csll Of JUS
lice and the claims of injured men. AS
the subject has come before the public,
think IL would be wrong 10 conceal any oil
the fatss rcla,iaglo It, and or This account
as wen as TO sefnoye prejudices, ! make
this communication, aud shall add wiih
grea, satisfaction, that J have good iDfor'
nation, that no steps we're left untried by
the presidep. and .he secretary Of state
nor ~ our ambassador at Madrid, blu, ,ba'
this unfortunate opinion bstfied oil goci
a,ion on the head Of our claims.
ss'ysss- n SUFFERER.
August ~, 1905,
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