Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-03-24
sfos she .N3aFozx LsDSss.
POLITICAL REFLECTIONS.
4SSry0sd to tic people q tie O1'fsa
States.

nepociation for peace, would 'e alone saus
f.csorv and conclusive proof oithe nature OF
her views towards our county, were all
other evidences wanting. Appehensive that
soon the restoration of peace Tin case we
should obtain what reason and light fairly en-
titled us tot we should declineto claim her
support, and learn to think am act for our
selves, endeavors were used in}ue time, and
but too successfully, to place our ministers
during that negociation completely under the
superintendent and controui 6the ministers
of France. The following Singular instruc-
tons, we are assured, were ssued by con-
gress to the ministers Of the y S. on that oc'
casion.
You are at liberty to scout the interest
of the United States, IN such nnnner as CIR
cumstances may direct, and asthe state OF
the belligerent, and the dispoition OF the
meditatillg powers may requie. For this
purpose you are to maks the MIST candid and
confidential communications, upon all sub
iects, TO the ministers OF our nest gracious
ally, the king of France-to undertake no
thing in the course Of the negotiations Tor
peace or truce, without their knowledge and
CONFERENCE.-The ultimately to govern your
selves by their advice and opinion, endeavor-
ing i'm your whole conduct to make them sem
sible how much we rely upon his majesty's
influence for effectual support In every thing
that may be necessary to the present security
and future prosperity of the United States of
America,
In what light these instructions, so little
COMFORTING with the dignity OF an independ--
ent nation, ought to have been viewed, or to
what mischlets they exposed the most import
ant interests of our country, cannot be more
correctly or temporarily stated, than in the
following letter, written at that period by one
of the minister's, to whom those Instructions
were directed, and who, by his wisdom and
fr1nness, rendered to his country, notwith-
standing. the embarrassment Of those instrlc-
tons, services of incalculable value. The
letter bears date at Paris, November Is, 1882,
and is conceived in the following terms.
g The instructions from Congress, which
direct us to pay SO strict an attention to the
are conceived IN terms SO universal and unil-
mited, as to give great deal OF anxiety to
my mind. There is no man more impressed
with the obligations of obedience to instruc-
tons; but in ordinary cases, the principal is
so near the deputy. as to be able to attend to
the whole progress OF the business, and to be
informed of every new fact, and every sudden
thought Ambassadors in Europe can send
expresses to their courts, and give and re-
ceive intelligence from them with the utmost
certainty in such cases there is no room
for mistakes, misunderstanding, or surprise.
But in our case it is very different. We are
at an immense distance: dispatches are liable
to foul play, and vessels are subject to acct
dent: new scenes open--the time presses
various nations are in suspense--and necessity
forces us to act
g What can we do, if a French minister
advises us to cede to Spain the whole river
Mississippi and five hundred miles Of terri
tory to the eastward of it? Are we bound by
our instructions to put our signature to the
cession; when the English themselves are
willing we should extend to the river, and
enjoy our right to its navlgation?'
{" If we should be counselled to relinlulsh
our right TO the fishery on the grand bank OF
Newfoundland, when the British ministry are
ready by treaty to acknowledge our right to
it-are we obliged to relinquish it?
g If we arc advised to restore and compen.
safe the tories-are we to comply"
+" IF we know, or have reason to believe,
that things which will have weight upon the
minds of the British ministry against US upon
some points, viii be communicated to them
in some way or other, secret Or open +; if we
communicate them to this court-are we
bound to do it :"
s. caapot think that construction so ,itee
raj and severe, was ever Intended to be put
upon them; and therefore see no way of
doing my duty to congress, but to interpret
the instructions, as we Go general precepts
and maxims, by such restrictions and limita-
tons as reason, necessity, and the nature Of
things demand 1t may be sometimes known