The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-08-09


\ received with the respect due to his charac-
Ter, and treated With, in the ffankncss of a
sincere desire of accommodation. The sug-
lsestion was received in manner both indig-
nant and intempcrate.''
l demand again, how did Mr.. Hamilton
obtain this Information Had he spy in
the cabinet Ifhe had, own had rather
that all the courts in Europe should have had
spies there for they could have done no
harm by any true information they could have
Obtained there whereas Hamilton has been
able TO DO great deal. of mischief, by the
pretended Information he has published.
1t is very true, that thought this PROPOSE
tion intended to close the avenues to peace,
and to ensure war with France /; for did
pclcve that some of the heads of departments
we're confident, in their own minds, that
France would not send minister here.
From tho intimate intercourse between
Hamilton and some of the heads of depart
sncnts, which is demonstrated to the world
end TO postcrity, by this pamphlet, now APP
peal to every candid and impartial man, whe-
rhcr there is rot reason to suspect and to be-
Eeyc, whether there is not presumption,
&iolcnt presumption, that Hamilton himself
had furnished this machine TO his correspon-
cns,iarin,r me, at unawares, Of cnsuring war
with France, and enabling him to mount his
hobby horse, the command OF an army OF fif-
w thousand, tent k0usand OF them to be
horse
Hamilton says, /" the suggestion was re-
ceised in d manner both indignant and in
temperate" This is false. 1t is true, it was
urged with so much obstnacy, perseverance
hat
at last declared l would not adopt it, in
clear and strong terms.
2fr Hamilton says, " Mr.. Adams dcclar-
cd, as sentiment he hadadoptcd on mature
reflection, that if France should send a minis
ter here tomorrow, he would order him
back the day after"
Here ask again, where, how, and from
whom did he get this information Was it
from his spy in the cabinet Or was 1t the
fabrication Of his own " sublimatcd, exccnt-
rick" and Incorporate Imagination In
either case, it is an entire misrepresentation.
: l said that when in my retirement at Quin-
cy, the idea o! the French government SEN
ding minister here had sometimes occurred
10 me, my first thoughts were, that | would
send HIM back the next day after his arri-
val, as retaliation for their sending ours
back /; and because the ahront offered to us
had been at Paris, publickly, in the face of all
Europe, the atonement ought to be upon the
same theatre and because, rs the French
governments had pubiickiy and officially de-
clared that they would receive no minister
pleniposentiary from the United States until
the President had made apologies for his
speeches and answers to addresses, they
ought to be made to retract and takcback that
rash declaration, on the same spot where it
had been made. They might send minis
ter here, consistently with that offensive de-
clsraton. This was my first thought; but
upon m ,ture reflection, saw that this would
not be lustiiia able for, to retaliate one breach
of principle by another breach of principle,
was neither the morality nor the policy that
had been taught INC by my father and my tu-
tors. Our principle was, that the right OF
embassy was sacred. ] would therefore sac
redlv respect it, il they sent minister here.
But would not forecioso myself from send
ing minister to France, if l saw an OPEN
ing for it, consistent with our honour in
short, that would leave both doors and all
doors open for negotiation. All this refuta-
ton Came from myself not from the heads Of
departments.
All that he says in this place and in the be-
gininy of the neNt page, OF my wavering, is
ialsc My mind never underwent any rcvolu-
ton or alteration ct all, after left Quincy.
inserted no declaration in my speech, that
would not send a minister to France nor any
dcclarltion, that il France would give assur-
auces of receiving minister from, this coun-
try, would send one. Nothing like that de-
clara.icn was ever made, except in my mes
sagcto Congress, of the 2lst June 1893, in
these words " will never send another
minister to France, without assurances that he
wild be received, respected and honoured, as
the Representative of great, free, powerful
and independent nation" This declaration
finally affected the peace.
Both the doors Of negotiation were left
open. The French might send minister
here without conditions--we might send one