Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-03-19


IY assured under certain circumstances less
favorable, that stipulation, 10 The terms
before recited, was to preclude Us from
expec,ipg a formal aud explicit assurance,
when at,ainable. under circumstances more
favorable. Yet that such was the design,
on the part of Fraoce, in introducing those
terms into the treaty, is is impossible to
doubt. when we consider TO what uses her
diplomatic skill afterwards attempted to aP.
ply those terms:
In the year 1879, a project it was supposed
was presented OF attempting negotiation tor
peace under the mediation of Spain, with a
probability of success. Instructions were OF
course to be prepared and given to our minis
ters tor that purpose. Apprehehsions, II
should seem, were entertainedby France, lest
those instructions, if formed without her SUI
perintendancc, might in some respect lack a
conformity to her views. These apprenen-
sions produced an interference on the part or
Mons. Gerard, the first public minister sent
by France to the United States This gen.
tleman had been the sole commissioner on the
part of France, who had adjusted the ,erms
of the treaties with Dr. Franklin and lis col
leagues: his knowledge of the import attach
ed to those terms On the part of France can
not therefore be doubted In the month OF
July, l779, he presented memorial to con-
gress upon this subject; wherein, after tax
ing view of the situation of affairs in Eu-
rope, the prospect Of obtaining peace thro'
the mediation of Spain, and the necessity of
having agents duly authorised to act on the
occasion, he is pleased to say he stated these
things to congress-" That they may if they
think proper, take under consideration, if it
would not be expedient to give their pleniDo-
Tertiary" DR.. Franklin, then at the court of
France instructions and powers, founded
upon the necessity of circumstances anc the
treaty OF alliance, the express and formal
terms OF which shall be, that peace shall not
be made without an express or tacit acknow-
Judgement OF the sovereignty, and conse-
quently q .jortlorl, Of the rights inherent In
sovereignty, as well as Of the independence
OF the United States in matter of governm snt
and commerce. France foresaw (says Mons.
Gerard the extreme difficulties formal and
explicit acknowledgement might meet with.
1t was only obtained by Holland tactzy after
wal OF thirty years, AMI erhHcitlg alter re-
sistance of seventy. To this day continued
he) Geneva and the Swiss Cautions have o.
tanned no Remuneration or acknowledgment,
either tacit or formal, from their former So
vereigns; but they enjoy their sovereignty
and lndepenience only under The guaranty u
France. His court The observed, thought It
Important, that difficulties OF this nature,
which reside only in words, should not delay
or prevent America from ENJOYING the thing
itself From these considerations arose the
very important and explicit stipulatioas in the
treaty, which he had just now related. and
which received the sanction of the y. States.
And it remains concluded he) with the pru-
dence Of congress to examine, whether IN
structions upon some particular points, may
not Illustrate the very salutary purpose of the
treaty of alliance relative 10 tact ack.nogv-
Iedgment, which the situation of affairs may
require
Upon a review of this singular document,
perpleXed as is It's diction III some passages,
We have little difficulty in ascertaining its
true meaning. TO accuston us by degrees to
the interference and direction Of France in the
management of our political concerns, to pre-
pare us for a more full exposition OF what was
meant by the tacit assurance Of our lndepen-
dence and to discourage US from expecting
any thing beyond the guaranty of France, are
designs paipable upon the face OF the m2mo-
rial-Hence the reference to the difllcu!-
ties which Holland had experienced In ob-
tanning formal and explicit acknowledgements
of her independence Hence the reference to
the ground, upon which Geneva and theowiss
Cantens had been contentcll to rest tiieir In
dependence. And hence refusal 10 acknow
ledge our independence (Which congress. had
declared to be an essential preliminary was
to be considered as a difficulty residing IN
zvords only. The guaranty Of France was to
give US the enjoyment Of tic thing itself whilst