Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-11-01
RIG H NJ o N d :


pontlence between Mr.. Jefferson and Mr..
Monroe, which took place during the last
winter, and which is now presented to the
world by Mr.. Monroe. Public anxiety will
no doubt be highly excited, but upon exa-
mination, will be equally disappointed, as
these letters thus far, contain very little Of
the smallest Importance. Fhe only effect
which they are likely to produce, is to keep
alive the flame of opposition which was "a
bout 10 "quver on its point" and would soon
have sunk exhausted and extinguished. We
must confess our most unbounded surprise
at this most singular course OF conduct. We
had fondly hoped that he would cling to the
administration, and not suffer himself to be
torn away and seduced. We had believed
rhlt his feelings, il wounded, were cured,
aud that he would not be the first to take a.
way the bantiage.
The consequence Of inprudence is most
frequently its best corrective. But we fear
til Il he has gone too far, that he is not in.
different to the views and operations of his
purity, and that he is nor an inactive sfiec
tutor IF their m9Uemenfs. We ask with
pain, because we doubt whether a satisfac-
tory answer can be given, why is this COR
respondence published at this time? What
necessity induced and for what purpose
is it intended Ii it is to administer comfort
TO his fcs!ings--to shew that he has not fall
len in the estimation of the executive, or to
prove that he has been injured and that he
has acted wisely-why should he have
waited for this late, critical and interesting
period Ii til; sc letters are Of such mighty
force and Importance, why did they not ac-
COMPANY has vindication, which was pu,-
lished after the date of somesof these ct
tiers Why has he suffered six months to
pass away in silence, when. too he has been
SO frequently solicited to appear before the
publ c There musl be some secret 7uorfh
Knowing, which hasbeen all along the Cause
of so much Indifference, but VIII ch now is
the cause of so much sensibility. We are
moi so uDcharitajle as to, suppose that the
mind of Mr. Monroe still remains under these
painful impressions, that the administration
consider hun in their SvQy, or that hey wish
to tasten any nnmeri,ed stigma upon his cha
racter. He has had the most ample and
conclusive evidence 10 the contrary The
PRESIDENTS conduct last winter was more
than sufhclent tor this purpose, because he
had previously communicated similar senti
ments through the med um of the sec retary
OF state, as appears from letter addressed
60 him and Mr.. Pinkney, wherein it is sta
ted "that the President has seen in your
eXertlons % accomplish the great object of
your instructions, ample proofs of that zeal
and IG9rioHSm IN which he Coufded, and
feels regret that your success has not cor
responded with the reasonableness of your
propositions, and he ability with which they
were supporsed. What could any reason
able. mas! expect more than this What
could he wish more except ratification of
his treaty It is here that the shoe pinch
est is here that the feelings rankle in
notification, as appears from the following
remark--"l In uniting in the negotiation and
signing the treaty, committed my reputa-
ton on tae result, and it IS only by the
course which the business afterwards took
that any unpleasant occurrence has arisen
between the administration and myself"
tVHaf 7pGs thc result and the course 7vhich
IN" 6Hs'aesS afterggardS fook ? Why plainly,
that the treaty was rejected. Is thi; suffi :
Gen cause To excite so much sensbility,
that the executive should reject what Mr..
Monroe himself admits was merely pro-.
ject! *Wi!h Us, he says il was project.
with them, treaty. And which he him..
self has also confessed he did not expect
would be adopted. What can MIR Mon
roe mean then, when he says that in Stgn-
ing fhetredty he committed hrs retutalicn
on me result. He could not have pledged
himselfppon project which he expected
SH VIZ tCSHtff Ot CO1utmn6O. HOW
then was his REPUTATION committed on tie
Fesuh ?
If he did so, he was rash, and if his feel
lngs have been injured, il was his own fault.
The administration then, upon this score.
cannot be charged with the smallest plau-
sibiliiy, of wishing to injure Col. Monroe,
or to get him out OF the way. Butt would
seem that the mind OF Col. Monroe was NOR
tined by the appointment Of an associate,
and from that moment it was perfectly pre-.
pared to receive improper and unfriendly-
impressions. He states that me mission OF
Mr.. Pinkney or any other ferson, would
MOI haze frOdnced such an effect but it is
very evident that his feelings were at least
nailed, when he proce eds to Illustrate the
effect which an extra-mission produces.
Such mission, says he, reduces ne resi- :.
denf minister, hoUeUer reShecfabLe for his
fafents and character, to a mere cvhher,
and fit does not destroy him, IL is because
MS character IS sufficiently strong TO bear
Eie sshock.
We wish most sincerely, that Col. Mon.
roe had relied upon his talents and charac-
ter they would have saved him from these
painful Impressions, which were never de-
signed by the government, of which he ad.
mlts in these letters, that he is most per.
fec]y satisfied. The letter OF Mr.. j. fierson
upon this subject, is sat sfsctory to the most
sceptic or inimical mind, and Mr.. Monroe
admits himself, that the assurances and