Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-04-15
DtCglnta Irgu9.
r c II NJ o N d:
FRIDAY, APRIL IS, 1908.


y With extreme regret we perceive, from the
annexed article, extracted from Colviu's
Weekly Register, published in Washipet on,
that Col. MoNroE's letter TO the Secretary
OF State, written since his return from En-
gland. was intended rs vindication of the
reJ cted treaty, and contains sentiments so
completely taaIsiSe and anti Ar,srrcdn, as those
cited from it by Mr.. Coivia, relative to the inn
pressment ofour seanlen. 1t appears, there
tore, that our expectation, {arising from con-
hdeAce N his good sense as well rs patriot
ism) that he did not himself approve OF the
treaty, was unfortunately not well Funded
II was our belief that particular motives of
policy, had induced Mcssrs. Monroe & Pins
my 10 sign that instrument, which, clogg'd
IS 1t was with the strange reservations cx-
pressed in the note Of Lords Holland and
AackiGn3, delivered to them 5efore tie siggter-
tire, could not properly be called treaty ;
that they signed it, nevertheless, for the
purpose of obtaining temporary safety for
the American trade, even 10 4 limited ex-
tent, until the farther determination of orr
government could be known that consci-
Gus as they must have been that the prori-
zion for the protection of our scamen. which
their instructions positively declared to be
" indispensable" had not been inherited in il,
they could not have expected, or sc;shel, it 10
be ratified hat, of course, they sent it o.
yer, as the ulfifndtunr to which the British
Government could then be persuaded TO con
sent for the purpose only Of Receiving neH in
stracfica, as 10 the future course of the ne
gociati0n. We supposed it impossible that
Col Monroe, or Mr. PiatHep, could nave al;-
proved Of such treaty as that, before we
saw =, was represented to be and. since we
perused il, that supposition has acquired adj
ditioral strength. When we found t'at, by
the Sd article of this treaty. our commerce.
TO the East-Indic would have been mere re-
stricted than under John .Tcy's; that all the
articles in tie last mentioned odious com
pact, (which had not expired, nor. rs vet,
had their full operation and effect were
TO be confirmed By the ID article OF this and
that the 18th article was a mere mocNerv of
vague and indefinite promises for the byetsn1-
eli, but not real protection of our vessels from
the injuries arising from the usurped right
OF search; we were absolutely convinced
that the "great aid good" Monroe never
was OF opinion that it ought 10 have been
ratified Ivy the President. We battered our
selves that the obstinate peyerseness of the
R'HiSh government oakr had thrown he trea-
ty into shape so injurious to the u States.
How great then is oar astonishment and NOR
tification, to be compelled to acknowledge
our mistake in this particular, on being IN
formed that col Monroe himself either al
vocates it altogether, or contends that, de-
fective IS j. was, 1t ought to have been saac-
toned
IS we have not yet seen his memorial, we
cannot tell how far he may have carried his
ideas on the subject. When it comes 10
hand. which we hope will be il a few days,
il shall be inserted in The Argus with all nos
sIble expedition, and we shah then take the
liberty of making our own observations
upon it.