Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-07-26

proposed intervention OF France. he would
have scorned to become the vile inslru.
ment Of procuring it. Ifhe had regarded
it as an attempt to hire France TO bully
Spain, he WOULD not have consented To be
the dirty agen, to hire that bully. But
Mr.. Monroe did not yield q cold and for
NAL obedience to the instruction; he Ell.
tered into the plan with an unusual de.
gree Of zeal and enthusiasm. In page
AXVI OF the same work, MIR. Monroe
thus expresses himself: "Still however
/" wished most earnestly TO embark the
&C. .nmittee in support of our claims up
son Spain )" again in the same page,
"upon due consideration therefore of
"thesc circumstances, Ssc. l addressed
I" the committee upon that subject, in a
"letter of the 25th Of January, 1895, in
switch l explained, more fully than had
done, the nature Of our claims upon
"Spain and likewise endeavored to prove
"that independent of the motive Of rem.
"dering an useful and acceptable service
ito the United States, which, presumed
"Has strong one, since il would always
" draw after it its own reward, from Just
Z" considerations of Interest, growing out
"cf the relation, which the territory, to be
benefited by the security of those rights,
" had with the French islands, which in
" themselves were sufficient to prompt the
French government to yield US that aid,
&c." Here Mr.. Monroe endeay.rs to
enlist the French in our cause not only on
the ground Of friendship, but also on that
oil interest. II is to be observed that Spain
was not privy 10 any of these TRANSACTIONS,
and our minister was negotiating all this
time with France for objects. over which
she had, no lawful power. But the next
page throws still greater light on the feel
ings and opinions of our minister on tia,
subject. He proceeds IS and shortly al.
forwards, as their negotiation advan,
seed, l was asked, as well as remem-
"berby those members, as likewise by Bois.
"sy D'Anglas, sysether wc wished 70 foaScSs
"fhe Floridas, since it vas intimated il
" would be easy for France to obtain them !;
" but which she would not do otherwise
" than with a view 10 cede them to the Uni.
"ted States. replied had no towcr to
answer such an iDterrogatory but was
swell persuaded we did not wish an ex
"tension of our territory, Sc" Two re.
marks occur here. LIST. The proposition
made by France was the same in Shirt
with the obnoxious opinion imputed to the
secretary of state; Tor altho' France wa,
nominaAy TO transfer the country to the
y. ). yet she was FIRST to exlort il by the
terror of her arms, from Spain, for 40 o.
Tier f.urhose than to convey il Immediate.
ly to The u. S. The disguise of making
the conveyance first to FraRce did not
alter the nature of the case in the eye of
justice, much less in that OF honor. I'd. This
proposition, ;hus fraoght with dishonor,
did not alarm the pride of Mr.. Monroe.
He declines the preferred boon, no, be-
cause 1t was insulting TO our national no.
nor, but because he had received no in
s,rnetions 10 conclude such bargain.
ihe same zeal appeared TO animate our
minister in pages z and -. In page 73
he mentions that assurances had been re-
ceived from France, that she will not
make peace with Spain without obtaining
recognition OF our claims upon that pow
err, and proposes 70 lend money to France
~ SO'o'uSi 1tpu III tidl intervention.
These ideas and principles are reduced
into the formal shape of what is called in
diplomatic language, a frojet, submitted
by our minister 10 The committee OF safe.
~, in page 80, of The same work. 1t
would be supe, iluous 10 recapi,ulate every
instance in which Mr.. Monroe appears to
have cherished the anxious wish TO pro.
cure the free navigation of the MississiD.
pI' by engaging France to exer, the ire.
sisii5le power which the fortune Of war
had given her, over the Spanish councils.
Those who wish To examine the subject
more thoroughly, will End ii renewed in
pages go, 1874, 1875, Of The same works
ishaIl only observe, upon this review, that
II has been the constant and Uniform 10.
Icy OF our government since the adoption
OF The constitution, 10 obtain the influence
OF France in our disputes with Shaia -
disputes in which France had no earthly
concern; that for this purpose, negocia.
lions were carried OH with France, Yvifh.
OFT me firiUify Of Shain that we appeal.
ed not only 10 the ties Of ancient friend
snip but 10 the stronger feelings Of iufc-
rest: lhatwe declined tie offer o { France
toproenre the Floridas for us, not becar Sc
the offer was derogatory to our charsGler,
but because we did not wjs. an extension
OF our territory: and that ali these nego-
cla'Ions never once awakened the sensi-
A.