Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-15
RUPTURE WITH Mr.. JACK
SON

The resolution reported by Mr..
Giles approving the conduct Of TIE
\ Executive in refusing to hold any fur
ther CO mmunicationw with Mr.. Jackson,
was taken up by the Senate as in COM
Mite of the whole.
The resolution having been read,
MIR. GILES rose and spoke as fol-
Mr.. PRESIDENT,
Before proceed to perform
the duties enj7ined upon me as the
chairman OF the committee who repo--
ted the resolution before YOU. permit
~ to'express my regret, I'll It the con-
federation of a subject, which Justly
cN~'tes so much sensIbility, should
have been DELAYED ev. n only one d,y
On my -ccount and be assured, sir,
that nothing less than an iu,Iisposltion
Sufficient 20 jus.ifylt, would have caus-
e! me 10 have been absent from nv
place Yesterday. Perhaps, sir, I owe
~ apology to the S nate at ,his time,
FOR entering into this debate under
state OF hoarsrness, which must neces-
sarilY G,sgualify me In some degree,
from di- charging nv duty on tn pre-
sem occasion. Blu, sir, it is subject Of
great cons lla,ion tome, to reflect, that
am fort&Iat9ly tav red with associ-
ate3 on the c,nnittee, either Of whom
co@'d perform the task an now engage
- -, better than myself, ami soma Of
whom, viii certainly do me the favor
oEcorreciing any errors may uointen.
I4aa'i7 commit, or supplying any o.
missions / may inadvertently make.
A!'EoU8h 't appears TO ne, that the
Fropriety and urgency of the resoluti-
o" now under consideration must be
stroogiy addressed both 10 the iudg-
ment and sensibility of every g ntlc
man, who has carefully attended 70 the
distribution of powers under our con-
st::ution, and who has also carefully
attended TO the correspondence which
gave rise to the resolution, vet In a
case Of so much delicacy. il would NJ.
aeu-eliy be expected and is a respect
doe - the S nate from the chairman
OF The committee, to present to it a.
itaft some of the general motives
which induced tnr com mittee to report
the rt::lution at this TIM.
Il is to be observed, Mr.. President.
that Cur constitution IS peculiar in the
organization and distribution Of its
powers; and in no rcspect is it more
peculiar, than in ihe ii3-rib tion Of the
particular powers embraced by the re.
s"iution. In all other governments
known to Us the sun. department
which possesses the power to receive
and negotiate with foreign ambassa-
doris and other cubic minister, also
possesses the power 20 max war, L
has been .a0ugh, wise in our constitu-
ton. t. eeparate the'e powers. W,,h
a simplicity Of language, anl soil.
dity Of wi+do n al most peculiar to our
constj ution, the President / invevef
wiA the power 70 receive ambassadors
and other public ministers; thus using
the broadcast terms in granting this
power without even an attempt NJ Ii.
imitation or specification evidently
with view, that all the incidental or
consequential powers might flow from
this general expression to the depart
meu', thus invested with tbs general
power. Il was easy to foreser, and no
doubt the Trainers Of our constitution
did foreoee, that the multiplicity and
diversity of cases, which would arise
m the course Of various diplomatic
maaoeuyres and negotiations, would
SET at defiance all attempts TO limit or
specify the powers Of the department.
IN this respect, to which these powers
were conhded and to be exercised on
the part of the United States, and.
therefore, every attempt of that kind
was wisely avoided, leaving TO the
president to exercise his thority up
ON he own responsibility, to be regu-
lated by the only established standard
amongst nations, to wit, the laws and
usages Of nations. For it never can
be presumed, sir, thai the wise saees
who framed our excellent constitution
could for moment have tolerated the
idea, that the ministers of foreign ma
tons residing near the government of
fNa TFaffrI Ee..s.- Il