The Delaware gazette. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1809-1810, 1809-12-23
coHIINUED.)


In conclusion, Mr.. Jackson confesses in his
letter OF the l2,h of October, that he is not in
structed g" to promise to the government of
the United States any formal agfeenien' to be
substituted for that which his majesty had been
under the necessity OF disavowins," and that.
as to the orders in council, it is matter Of
Indifference to G.. Britain, whether the order
in council be continued, or an arrangement by
mutual consent substituted in its room." This,
with his preceding observations, furnished near
ly complete tevclopement of the nature and
| tendency OF Mr.. Jackson's mission. The
real and unqualified introduction Of all trade with
the enemy, he con,endeal to bccovcc Tin principle
declared i, to be doctrine which Great Bri-
| tain would never cease to maintain, admitted
that he had no new propositions to make, and
that his sorerc;sn, adhering to the spirit OF the
| orders in council, wa, totally Indifferent as to
the form, but would by no means relinquish
| tn. yu5staace of them; or, in other words, if
the United States would by compact accede to
| the provisions OF toe orders, then. indeed, his
Britannia majesty would agree TO substitute
| such compact for the orders in council. So
Gar f,om this being refcat Of the orders in
council, it was a0.mana on The American gov
eminent to ratiE iacm ~ ho7p.
dent would have acted perfectly correct in re-
lnuu;si.ng all correspondence with Mr. Jack
| san on the subject OF reconciliation. Great
| Britain was resolved to maintain her anti-neu.
trail system, Mr.. Jackson had nothing new to
offer, he did not even come prepared to make
an explanation his style of correspondence
! was supercilious, his predominant temper irri-
| tatine, and the whole train Of his logic repu'-
1 =, "A bat1y
countries. He was, to he sure, it that which
he says be true, IS directed to receive and discuss
| proposals which the secretary OF state might
be authorized TO make to him." In other words,
he was TO constitute himself a tribunal for de-
| Gliding upon the propositions of the American
! government. He would g rfceive and disrass
proposals." Just as the war Office or post office
| of the United States would receive and discuss
proposals for supplying the troops with provi-
! sions or for carrying the mails; and the sum
! total of his instructions seems to have been to
advertise the secretary of state tina. Mr.. Jack
son would thus sc receipe and discuss proposals.
and by family intinstng that he was authori-
sed " cv,@yalyy'' to conclude convention, to
enticeAhr president to bid up for contract,
! Mr. Jackson would not come out forthwith and
l., IRE that would be acceptable 10 him; but
III Mr.. Smith could reach his mark, if he could
guess flor it amounts to this,l what the instruc-
| tons Of the new envoy were, then Mr.. Jack
son would unfold the true object Of his mission !;
| he would condescend to open his port folio end
expose his secret. His conduct in this parti-
! cuiar is precisely as if a man should say g !
| have nothing to oTer in behalf of peace, nor
can I, indeed, say exactly what will agree TO ,
but you may so on proposing, and if the presi-
l ~, fa, =
convention" Even admitting the president
could have demeaned himself to this species of
diplomatic legerdemain, to this kind Of hide AMI
seek correspondence, what prospect did MIR.
Jacksons actual limitations hold out to him ?
None, that was at all consoling the whole pc:
itical landscape painted by the new minister
was barren and dreary. Although the success
! sor of Mr. Erskine would not affirm positire!g
what his sovereign zvouM do, we, he very plaia-
| Nv designated what he would nat DO. He would
not rescind he orders in council upon any other
terms than substitution by compact Of similar
provisions in their stead he would never cease
10 maintain the prerogative Of a total and ur-
qualified Introduction of all trade with the enc
my; and, essentially speaking, he would not
| consent to abandon single prominent feature
of that maritime policy, against the whole sys'
tenn of which the constituted authorities Of
America had uniformly protested. Where,
then, was the use of making proposals to Mr.
Jackson? Did he imagine that the American
government, in the pursuit of its rights. woud
| waste its time and its labor for his amusement
to frame propositions merely TO be recei1'ed, ane
discussed, and rejected by him? The gentleman
has by this time discovered that he undervaluet
the cabinet of Washington, and comn,ittef hi
fame and lis feelings Gf feelings he has any,
to the thorns cf ridicule and contempt
But the American administration would no
be provoked into an early and abrupt rejection
of the hope of accommodation. even throng
such an ungracious minister as Mr.. Jackson
The president and his counsellors appear
L,,,a heen determined to probe Mr.. Jackso