Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-05-02

III acknowledging mat perhaps 1.-TWO mem
6ers OF Congress were at time upon more
intimate terms. We fickered, disputed,
and wrangled in public and private, sut al
ways with species of good humor that ne
yer was uttered to diminish the confidenc
esteem or affection of either in the other.
| have long wished for fair opportunity
of transmitting to pcsterity my humble ties
tmony to the virtues and talents of that a !.
bile and upright magistrate and statesman.
Our system was To form treaties of COM
rnerce with France, spain, holland, and ali
the other nations of Europe, even with En-
gland herself, upon S1ting of entire equa :
lity; but by no means to form any political
or military connections with any power in
Europe, OF eagage in any hostilities against
any, unless driven to them by necessity to
support our independence and honor, or our
Just and necessary interests In what man.
ner and by whose means this plan has ever
been abandoned in any degree, cosid de :.
sail from step to step, bu, it WOULD require
volume, and is not necessary here. 1t
has never been forgotten by me, bat the rec.
titude and wisdom of it has been confirmed
by every years aud days experience from
l776 to 1899, and indeed to 1909.
This introduction will be called pompous.
no doubt, and ,t will be Thought an aston
from Judge Chase to Mr.. Logan, but my
plan requires il.
With this system clear in my head, and
deeply Impressed upon my heart, it was
with the utmost reluctance that found
myself under necessity, IN 1898, Of nav
ing recourse to hostilities against France.
But the conduct of that government had
been SO unjust, arbitrary and insolent, az
TO become intolerable. j therefore ANNA.
tea TINS nation 10 war; determined howe
yer to listen, to every proposal, and EN-
brace the first opportunity TO restore peace,
whenevsr 1t Could be- done consis. emily with
the honor or. interest of the country. In
this spirit gave all due attention and con-
sideration to Gen. Washington's and Mr..
Bariow's letter; nor was wholly inatten-
tive to multitude of other circumstances,
some of which shall be mentioned,
Perhaps al no period of our connection
with France has there ever been such
food OF private letters from tha, coun nv
to this, as in the winter of 1898 and .79S,
The contents OF many of them We're di.
rec;iy or indirectly communica' ed to me.
They were all IA similar strain with that
of Mr. Ba low, that tho French govern
ment had changed their 81 ound, a. d sin
cerely disposed to negotiation and accom-
mediation. viii instance only Two. NJ
Goldman OF Boston wrote largely ard ex-
plic,tIy TO his friends to the same purpose,
and his worthy brother, The late MIR. John
Codmah, Of Boston, not only conn unica-
ted to me the substance OF his bro,her's
letters bu, thanked me in wa, m terms, for
opening negotiation and added that every
true friend of this country who was no,
poisoned vita party spirit, would thank
me for 1t and support me in it. Mr.. Ma.
thaniei Cutting, Consul IN France under
President Washingson's appointment, ard
sensible man, wrote almost as largely as
Mr.. Barlow, and TO the same effsc.
/ shall conclude this letter with ano.
ther anecdote. Mr.. Logan, of PhiIadel
phia, gentleman Of fortune and educati
o., and certainly not destitute of abilities,
who had Tor several years been mem
Der of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, s.
has been since a senator of the u. y. tho
knew he had been ore of the old consti
uonal party IN that state, & Jealous dis
cIple OF that democralical school, VIII CHI h. 8
propagated many errors in America and.
perhaps, many tragical catas rophies in
WChe " idDCct Cltncr win the Ore.
text or the real desigo OF improving his
Knowledge in agriculture and seeing the
practice OF it in thar country. 1 had no
reason TO believe him corrupt character
or deficient in memory or yeracity.-Afier
his return, he called upon me, and in q
poine and respectful manner informed
me that he had been honored with con-
versa'ions with TALL y and, who had been
well acquainted with me and repea edly
entertained at my house, and now visited
me at HI. request to express to me the
desire of the Directory, as well as his
own, TO accoa modate all disputes with A.
merica, and to forget all that was pas I,
to request me to send a minister from A.
mer,ca, or to give credentials TO some one
already 10 Europe, 10 treat and 10 assure
me that my minister should be received &
all disputes accommodated in a manner
tina, would be satisfactory 10 me and my
country. l knew the magical words, de.
mocrat and jacobin, we're enough to de :.
troy the credibilty of any witness with
some people. Butnot SO with me. saw
marks of candor and sincerity in this re.
la'ion tha convinced me Of its truth
But the testimonies of MIR. Codm an
Nj Cstattnr. A. N.