Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-08-30

do not believe it. 1t has been also suggest
ed, that you were unified with the admin
stration, and that OF course, YOU were, or
would become its enemy. The source from
whence tins suspicion arises, has already
been touched, and in the course of thi. let
ter, viii be more fully explained
MY own conviction IS stedfastiy fixed, not
only from areview of your life, Out from the
most confident assurances, that you disap-
prove OF the minority, and that you recom4
mend the support of the administration and
the election of Mr.. Madison Contrary
reports have, however, spread abroad with
So much velocity, that they are beyond the
reacl, of any oral denunciation, and il there
fore becomes necessary, that YOU should step
forw ard yourself, to present the truth, aud
to convince the people. If,hese reports had
originated from your avowed opponents, the
necessity of this measure, on your part,
would DO, be so imperious because, then,
you mlgh safely rely upon your character;
bur, unfortunately, they are believed to
come frotu those men who seem to think
themselves exclusively your friends, and
hence, they derive the cast of plausibihty
From this repuIed connection between your-
self and the minority, it has been also de-
duced, that there must be some political
chain that bindsyou together, and that your
fate is, in fact, involved in their own You
may be inclined &c think THAI the temper of
the people has become excessively suspici-
Gus, but you VIII hndit TO be the case in e.,
very sphere of human life, that this passion
usually exists, in proportion to the worth of
the object in view. 1t ought therefore to
be esteemed rather as the evidence of your
Importance, than any diminusion of regard.
This, however, looks more like leading to
a metaphysical enquiry, than representa-
ton of the times. Ii is almost impossible
that you can consider these statements as a
collection OK unsounded rumors, merely in
tended 10 excite your alarm, and to invite
you before the public, although-I am well
aware thatihs shape may be given, in or
der TO preveat your 6isavowsl, and to re-.
tan the sanction ofyonr name lfany doubt
upon this score should arise upon your mind,
you have only TO consult the temper of the
times, and the degree OF estimation which
the minority holds among the people, aud
feel confident, that You viii be satisfied
that 1t IS not SO much fancy, as fact These
circumstances are enuughiJo alarm cha
racter OF ordinary stamp, much less one of
towering Smlnence But, sir, this is not all
there IS something more, Of serious and deli
cate nature, for wa oh YOU are again indeht-
ed toyour ingenious and sIy-moving friends.
Inc insInuaton has leen thrown 0ut, if not
publicly declared, that the executive of
your country considered YOU unm,ndiul of
It's interests in the late treaty which you
si6ncd, but which was rejected. That they
were cnvious OF your popularity, lest you
m'gnt be brought forward as a presidential
Candidate, in preference to MIR. Madison,
and that, therefore, their base poiicy was,
60 make ibis atToae upon your charsc err.
ms low and nai!Gnant ai,a at the presi-
dent, ev'nces so Dnch deadiy and malignant
venom, that It must excite your most ex-
quislte fc~ing3 If ahhorrerc., and deter
NINE yop a; cnce, to e. sheir fntefsi en-
orfce h'sis the farc.ed isstrumenl with
Willcn thcy va'nly expect 10 stab the admi-
n'sfra:iOn. and 90 excite = rapture between
you and thers, inasN pcl as they will con-.
tend that You are dishonored, and that you,
IN your te'G, oughtto eadeavor 70 ruin them
r or th's purpose, and tn alone. believe
II Is coDtended, thar t'.e treaty Ought TO have
DSsh f2ltaea, Is honorable 20 yourself and
benehc!ai to your country Il - admitted
by all persons OF can6or and Intelligence,
that YOU aud your brother minister, used e.
very effort, consistent with your situat on
ana advanced every argument viii II the
po"eriui uhion of truth aud reason, could
Suggest, in order 10 make some suitable pro-
vlslon upon The subject of improvements.
nat you found 1t utterly impossible to pro-
cure any written abandonment of their in
the prop sitiou, any Farther than an IN for
nlat "nfcrsfandiBg, by which is understood,
that although they would not abandon their
right ny any written article, yet, they would
verbally promise not 20 exercise it, This
was the niffD,atum which was transmitted
TO the president, but which, at the same
time, you did not expect would be ratified,
as appears from your letter 70 Mr.. Madi
son, wherein YOU observe, 1--WE stated, now
ever, that we had great reason TO believe,
mat the treaty would not be ratified in its
present form, for a cause which was best
known to his majesty'S late government.
we then communicated him, fully, all the
circumstances upon which that remark was
founded, particularly the nature of our IN.
structions, relative TO inDre ssments" Thus
You evinced, in the highest degree, the
anxiety oftnis country, for an amicable ad.
Justinent, AMI so FIR from mourning the cen
sure OF the president, that he expressed his
warmest appreciation, rs appears from a let
ter OF the secretary of state, addressed to
you and Mr. Pinckney. "The president
has seen your exeftions 70 accompI sh the
great object of your instructions ample
proofs Of thai z at and fafr7otisn in lgh ch
he confided, and feels regret, that your sue
cess has MOI CORE ponAed with the reason
abicness OF your propositions, and the abili-
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