The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-12-26

mcnt, because believe it to be in the right.
and i think the administration has made a
noble stand in behalf OF the offe .sled dignity.
OF the nation; and l hope the resolution
before US approving at that. conduct will
meet the unanimous consent of the Commit
tee.
MIR. Potter said, as hs wa; called upon to
vote on this resolution, he telt ii his duty 10
give his Versions for so doirg. He deemed 10
OF some Importance to examine the origin OF
this business and to take view of it through
its different stages to its haal conclusion. Il
appears, said he, that afte, the G. States had
laid the embargo. the Executive instructed
our minister in London to inform the British,
nation that it was not meant in hostility Ia
them, but as mere innocent municipal re-
guatiOn of our own. Whatever they MAJ
have thought of it at that time, they soca
found that its features were materially chEa.
ged, and THAI it wass,ript Of all lis innocence
and held up in this country as Il coercvc
measure, and such an one as, if continued and
vigorously enforced, would soon bring that
naughty iNperioas Batien to sense of its
duty, and that she would be compelled frop,
motives OF self preservation, to do us justice.
Notwithstanding they may have suffered
some little Inconvenience at first, their sulca
ministry scorned 10 COMPLAIN.
After hearing nothing from Il, en-, and SUI.
fering very much ourselves, our minister II.
London believe was instructed to barter ~
way this innocent regulation nf ours for thcil.
great system OF national policy, their order.
III council. This attempt failed and all wa.
got for this offer we're the insolent sarcas.ns
OF Mr.. Canning, which were too much fo.
any American tn bear. Our atlministr ltoa.
thus, finding that our comp,erce was ruined
and OF course our revenue AT an end, our eX-
pences increasing and our Treasury exhauS-
ting, and having already seen the fate OF 4
former administration which rcsor,ed to
loans and direct taxes to support this gov-
ernMent, and like prudent mariners Wishing
to- avoid the rock upon which former adj
ministration mad split. was anxious to fini
out some plan 10 cXtriCate this Country rro,a
the very serious difficulties it was then Ia
boring under; and their good sense led the3,
all TO the same remedy and about the same.
time-for we find all the heads of depars-
nents although not altogether, yet sepa-
rately and about the same time in CONVEX.
sation with the British minister on the same
subject, and holding nearly the same Ian
guage-and what was the result Of all this i.
It appears that MIR. Ersfiue communicated
what he honestly understood to be the mean
Ing and intentions o; our administration To
MIR. Canning. who then transmitted TO bi,s,
the despatch If Esd January, containing
those three propositions which he had sup.
posed would be acceptable here and would
L y, IL,
manner in which this difficulty originated,
and 1t would have been we'll for the parties
| III ;his Conversation, as we'll as for this coua-
try, II this conversation had been reduced 20 .
writing tor it appears that when Mr.. Eri-
kline received this despatch he did not di,
cover any thing in it aore than he expected
from tile information he had given to Mr..
Canning, but, when he offered it for Mr..
Smiths consideration, he found for the first
h9r he ri ..l.r
ment, and that those terms we're not oniy
inadmissible but nsoient. Now, sir, it is
clear that the despatch OF Esd January did
not authorize MIR Erslline To make the set
tlement which he agreed 10, nor does it am
pear that he was asked by Mar. Smi b if h..
had any other Instructions different frein
those nor does MIR. Erskine at that tiint.
pretend that ne had any. The inference to
be drawn is Conclusive, that he had not !:
because if he. had previous Instructions thar
| would have authorised the settlement th$s
he made, they certainly would have authoii-
sed hIm to have made the settlement con-
tempatcd i'll those conversations, which was
OF Importance to his nation. without wait
ing for the despatch of January. AS ne dill
! not lott. it is clear in my mind that he had
no power before that the despatch gave
him none !; aud it does not appear til '. he
had any afterwards.
Now, sir, what was the duty of our gov
ernment under all circumstances 10 have
done The parties are now liz the same ST.
tuation as to powers as before this despatch
arrived, although MIR. Smith informs Mr.
Jackson that he understood that Mr.. Frs
kline had two sets of instructions 20 regulate
his conduct and that upon one OF them,
which never had been communicated to him
self or the public, rested the justification oF
the terms finally agreed upon. This ga
Their from the following sentence in Il letter
from Mr. Jackson to Mr. Smith
You have informed me that you under.
stood that Mr.. Erskine had two sets of it,
structions, by which toregulate his conduct;
and that upon one of them, which had ncr
been communicated either to you or to the
public, was to be rested the justification OF
the terms finally agreed upon between you.
| and him."
Pray, sir, how did Mr.. Sraith understand
this? He says it was not communicated 70
him nor the public. How came he by this
information! Was it not the duty OK Mr..
Smith to have demanded Cf Mr.. Erskino
those powers before this settlement was
made aud finally agreed upou-- Because i.
was the opinion of AL parties, that before
the despatch he had no authority, and that
| gave him none, and il has never been pre-
tended that he had any subsequent instruc-
! tons. AS this agreement was on our pare
honestly and Immediately 10 be.carried into
execution. it was his indispensable duty to
have seen the powers of the British minister.
1t might have been otherwise ii il was not
no id ,rf,~ Ed Ix,x