The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-09-13

easily regain whatever they may now loose
This opinion Of theirs may be cxravagant
and enthusiastical, and they would not fiE,dit
SO easy to recover their losses (; but they csr-
tainly entertain il, and while itrcmainss / ber
they will not make peace.
Yet il seems they have negotiated than.
selves into delicate situation. fthcy should
obstinatciy adhere TO their two prclimiharies
against the advice fthc two Imperial Courts,
this might seriously affect their reputation, if
they have any, for moderation and for pacific
dispositions, not only in these courts, but in
all the courts and countries Of Europcs and
they would not casily answer Il to their own
subjects, who arc weary Of war.
Peace is SO desirable an object, that humane
ity, AS we'll as policy, demands Of every nation,
N war, serious attention to every proposi-s
ton which seems to have tendency to Il, al-'
though there may be grounds to suspect that
the first proposcr OF il were not sincere.
think that no power can Judge tho Unit
cd States unreasonable in not agreeing TO tho>
statu quo, or the armisticc. WIS., ~ 4:
y But perhaps have not boon sufficiently
explicit upon another point. ..ss
The proposal OF a separate treaty between
the British minister and tho representative 81
the United States, seems to be q bcneyolcnt
invention 10 avoid several difficulties Among
othcis--l. That England may be allowed to
save her national pride by 'hinking and say
ing that the Independence of AxRerica was.
agreed to voluntarily and Mas mol dictated to.
her by France and Spain. q. To avoid tho
previous acknowledgment OF American indc-
pcndencc, md the previous asccrtainmdnt Of
the title and character OF the American repre-
sentative, which the Imperial Courts mag
think would be a partially inconsistcnt with
the character Of mcdiators, and even Of heu-
tcrs, especially as Englnd has uniformly con
sidercd any such step as an hostility against
her, though know not upon what law Of i,a-
tons or OF reason. cannot see that tho U
nitcd States would make any concession or
submit to any indignity, or ,lo any thing ir-
consistent with their Character. .if their minis
Ter should appear at Vienna, or elsewhere,
with the ministers Of other powers, and con- \
duct any negotiations with British minis
ter, without having the independence ofthe
United States, or his own title and charactcr
acknowledged or ascersaincd by any other
power, except France, until tho pacifcation
should be concluded. do not see that A.
mcrica would lose any thing by this, any
more than by having minister in any part Of
Europe, with his character unacknowlcdgcd
by all the powers Of Europe. 3
In order TO remove every cmbarrassment,j
therefore, as much as possible, if youf excel
lcncy should be Of the same opinion, and ad--
wise me 10 1t, would withdraw every obicc-- /.
ton to the congress, Oh tho part fthc Unitcdl
States, and decline nothing but tho stats GRO
and the armisticc, against which such scasous
might be given, as, i think, would convinc .
all men that the United States are bound e,
rclusc them. II your cxcclcncy should
think II necessary for me to assign these rca-
sons particularly, will attempt xornc Of
them But II is sufficient for me 10 sav =.
your exccllcncy, that my positive instructions
forbid me to agree either to tho armistice or
statu quo.
have the honour to be, SC.
JOHN ADAMS.
ne Ereeiency The Camhfe De yerxennes.
Two days after this, received Iefter
from court, of which the following is : tyana.
lation
III Versnfnes, The isfA Of yph, I7sf.
have received, sir, tho letter which vor
did me the honour TO write me, on. The fsth
oil tins mobth II was in consequence fhe
confidence ,Aich place in your informstim
(vos Lumierers) ard in your zeal for vo,,,-
country, that have committed 10 Won, in cone
iidcncc, the propositions Of the two Imperial
Courts, and that have requested vou 10
make such observations ON them an YOU shall
Judge them susceptible or Things are not
yet sufficiently advanced, to permit them TO
DC communicated to the two mcdiatipg
courts. As you have seen in our project of
an answer, there are hreHminaries 70 Be sef-
hed and inserted, in regard to me Unifed
Sfafes, and az long as they shall remain un.
settled, you cannot appear, nor, by conse-
qucncc, allow yourself to perform tho small
lest ministerial act towards the two media
tors. By doing 80, you would expose your
self to the risque Of compromising, to no pur-
pose, Zen pure pertc) tho character with
which you are invested.
have the honour fo L. s.,os4 s,eeGeeal.. *.