Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-19
[1a 1-2 Gents Singled

rangement with this country on the
matter to which it relates"
Permit me, sir, to call your arteuti-
on to the first paragraph of this quota
ton in the following. words
sing himself to Mr.. Smith Mr.. jackson
says, b ,,,.,.o>, ,,..., ..-.
you have not in the conferences.
we have hitherto held, distinctly an
nounced any such complaint, and I have
seen with pleasure, in this forbearance.
on your part, an instance of that can
dor, which | doubt not, will prevail 10
all our communications, inasmuch as
you could not but have the ,syht K IN
reasonable to complain of the disavow-
al of. an act, done under such .circt.n-
stances, as could only lead to the "a
lseq, fences that have actually folloS.
ed"
First, let me ask, Mr.. Presidenr,
what were the consequences that actu-
ALLY followed this act! The obvious
answer Is, the disavowai of it. Who is
1t that must have thought it unreason-
able to complain of this disavowal
The answer is, Mr.. Smith, Secretary
of State. What are here suggested,
as the materials for his thinking or up
on which his thoughts must have been
exercised The answer is, the cir
cumstances under which the acswaS
done.
Mr. Smith then must have had knowIedrs
OF these circumstances, uRsn whica he ex.r
cIsed his thoughts-because it is impossible ,
Il IN awa~T-a NhNr,- -
thinking upon circumstances without the
knowledge of those circumstances ,Vhat
\ must have been the character of such circuu
stances as could only lead to the disayowal Of
the act done under them Could it have
! been fair Could it have been honorable
Certainly not; because an act dohc under
| circumstances, the character of which was
| talr an honorable, might merit better dea
/ tiny, than an unqualified disavowaI; but this
act was done under such circumstances with
IN the knowledge of Mr.. Smith as could om,y
lead to disavo wal of it. The character Of
such circumstances must thea have been ds
honorable and scandalous or certainly snme
better fate, than disaVowal of the act don.
under them, might have attended it-but An
TINS case, Mr.. Jackson says, no better fate
Could attend the act--the circumstances wers
such as could only lead to disayowal. Now.
Sir, after thus stripping this extraordinary
sentsnee OF ali its disguises, aud translatine IL
INTO plain ERgllsh--to what does it amount
why sir, certainly and uuJuestionably to
TINS You, MIR. Smith, Secretary of State of
the u. 5. have entered into an arrangeinent
with my predecessorj Mr.. Erskine, ulder
such sc2ndnious and dishonorabe circumst4n
ces, as could only lead TO a disavowal OF it,
and you yourself were so well appri,ed OF
thems and so conscious of their inevitable nm,
Grafton, as even to think it unreasonable 10
complain OF the dlsavo val. l defy gentlemen
GO give 70 thls offensive Paragraph any other
ialr and correct interpretatioI-and If tbjs b.
the falr and Correct one, can YOU conceived
slrs OF an insult more outra geous Stpremedita-
TED And Wall you not be surprised, SIR To-
be told that the insult does not atom her,.
| That as offensive as it already appears, il doe,
not stop here-that 1t is still further aggravated
les sT' MT Jackson, not content with max.
\ ing THIS extraordinary and insolent communicp.
ton in Its ordinary form, underscores th.
words could only" containing the point ~
gist of the insult-thus aggraystins Tie 49,,
either by the distrust thus manifested OF Ma
Smith's aental perceptions, or by letting Mr.
omlth knows that the insult was known 10, ava
Intentionally gwen by Mr.. Jackson for tb.
! understanding could not have had any otl,gr
\ opJec IN view In this impudent act OF under.
scoring MT. Jackson reminds me, sir of Z. bet
OF miserable conceited pretenders TO VIII. yin,
| having great confidence in the acuieie.S a.
their own mental perceptions and very iuu. "a
that OF their hearers, will kindly and cu,o,,a
| sionately explain the point Of Wit "a f,.:-
hearers, before they approach it in the recital
OF tue story 70 prepare and qualify the hear
srs minds to join IN the laugh intended to lac
produced by 1t. Yes, sir this pnderscoring
was as much as saying TO Mr. Smith, ann =.
Trad that have so nicely wrapped this insult
IN the veil OF mysteries and DISCUSSES, that n
may escape observation from the obtuseness Of
lyour mental perception--but am datarr,.i,,.,J
1t shall not' l have underscored IL for yn,r.
lyou shall look az it you shall know t6at
Mr.. Jackson, understand and mean Il. have
\ wrapped ~ up IN mystery and disguise. 10 be
sure, but Will rend the veil, win make an
eyelet boie for you, that you shall took tIrourh.
and behold the insult in all its front OF rross,
ness and impudence.
But sir, if Mr.. Jackson, hsd then kpr,vr.
as well as he now does, the digni6ed cbar,c
ter the high sensbility, and tie correct ;,tel
hgenes OF the Secretary Of State, he veol4
have found 1t more honorable 10 h,mscf, =,
have spared his insult altogether. oe NJ -,
might have spared himselftio trouble ~ ~
] derscorlng' Sir, ] conceive this insu Z =, ,-ros
] and on raseous that 1 an surprised 1900 ala
Executive government could reconeUz, n % =,
isclt 20 proceed another step In tbs cop,fo,,ri
1 cations with