Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-28

aliowed 20 DO that by the obligations
imposed upon him by his government
previously to entering upon his voca-
ton, is question which I cannot rea-
Oily answer. Mr.. Canning is a dar-
ing and atrocious scoundrel; but 1 1
should imagine that notwithstanding
his front OF brass he has taken care to
entrench himself against the venge-
ance of Erskine, whose family, and
whose father in particular, is very en-
inent and of honorable standing in G.
Britain. Yet, what chance has man
of honor in contest with the vilest of
miscreants
Let us now turn to our own admin
istration. A Boston federal print, y
already anxious TO save Canning from
the infamy of that pollution in which
he has irrecoverably plunged, has as
serted that our executive was zOeak in
acceding-to the terms proposed by Mr..
Erskine, without demanding sight of
his instructions. Such preposterous
accusation could not have been urged,
it the writerhad notsupposed he was adj
dressing an ignorant mob, INSTRUCT
ohs are all secret and con6dentially
transmitted by governments to their
agents. In charity I will suppose the
Boston editor knew as much. The
ministers of a foreign power are only
required to produce the evidence of
their. being ministers after that, let
their instructions be what they may,
they speak for themselves upon the au-
thority of their government, and what
ever they spledge their government to,
is always supposed to be valid. The
federal party, ever ready to absolve
Mr. Canning from all his crimes, may
possibly bring forward the rejected
treaty framed by Col. Monroe, as
set-of against the per6dy of the En-
glish ministry but in this they will be
defeated and shamefully exposed, be-
cause Messrs. Monroe and Pinkney
harmed the British commissioners, be-
fore the treaty was sent to the United
States, that the American government
must be considered as at liberty to ac-
cept it or reject it. would ask this
Boston writer whether, if the EXPOSE
ton of Mr.. Erskine's Instructions had
been made the first absolute condition
to entering upon the arrangement of
differences, the federal presses would
not have seized and commented upon
1T as most absurd and unprecedented
requisition, and have also adduced it
as proof of very hostile disposition
In the executive towards the govern
ment of England? As the opposition
are fond of aristocratical authority, I
will give them the opinion of a lord up
on this point, and that lord was Ches-
terheld, who was as well acquainted
with diplomatic usage and etiquette,
presume, as the. Boston apologist for
| Canning. Writing to a friend lord
Chesterfield says, &C IF minister of
state should have the impertinence or
the absurdity to demand sight of your
instructions, you would answer him, as
you ought, that he surely did not ex-
lpect to be grati6ed, and that if he did,
ne would certainly not be INDUCED"
hope the authority will be salts
factory to the federalists and l believe
it will, because it is English.
No blame in this AFFAIR, can at
tach to the American Executive. Mr.
Jefferson had offered to England what
England through Mr. Erskine offered
to America and when the offer was
made to the United States by Mr. Err
skine, orr executive could not, consis-
tently reject it. 1t was only fulfilling
what it had itself proposed.
In every thing which Mr. Madison
has done, he has shown love for his
country, and as much ability as the
violence of faction would admit of.
The embargo was remedy for the
evil but the federalists, assisted by
small band of indictments, apostates
from the republican party, cried down
the embargo.
The non intercourse was good
measure but the same men cried
down that.
The President, sensible that it was
the desire of the nation TO have com
merce restored, fastened to CRAFTY it.
Could h., Eo.,o M. n