The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-10-04
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70 fhs Printers sftAe Boston Patri0f. 4
SIRs,
NOT long after the foregoing letter, but
/ know not how long, the Marquis Of Vcrac
communicated to Mr.. Dana the following:
Erfroes from fAe y1nsyer Of ne court Of
France 10 the PROPOSITIONS made on fhe su6.
Jecs of the re-esta6Asnlesss Of Peace BY ne
Courts Of Peters6nrsh and IF visnna.
PRo3osITIox.
II Sere traite Vienne, entire Ia Grandc
Bretagne, ct les Colonies Amoricanincs, du
reimbursement de la Paix en- Amcrique mais
Sans rintervention des Puissances belliger-
cntes.
The two imperial Courts cannot ilattcr
themselves, that they can conduct the media
ton to an happy conclusion, il they do not
provide against the subterfugcs, the subtiItics,
and the false interpretations, which any Of the
bciligcrent' powers may employ, for under
standing according to its views, the prclimin-
ary propositions. There is the difficulty
which would infallibly occur, il we do not de-
tormine, beforehand, the sense Of the expires
sions which relate TO the Americans. Tho
Court OF London, how'll clude as much and
as long as she can, any direct and Indirect a.
vowal of the Independence Of the United
States, will take advantage OF the general
terms we employ in speaking of them, to
maintain that she is not Obliged to treat with
her ancient Colonies, as witha free and indie
pendent nation: That she is not, consc-
quently, IN q situation 70 admit a Plcnipotcn-
tiary on heir part That she is the mistress
to see nothing in their rcsprcscntativc but the
Deputy of y portion Of her subjects, who ap-
pear to sue for pardon from which it
would result, when the mediation should be
in activity, and the question should be 10 o.
pen and commence the negotiations, that
they would begin to contest concerning the
character which the American Plcnipotentiary
may display That the King Of England
will not regard him, but as his subject, while
the Congress shall demand that he be admit
ted as the reprcsentativc of a free people 49,
by which ne<n5 the modiation will End itself
st<a>te<s M {( irsf 6kcV. u n. M n #
To prcyent This Inconvenience, Il seems,
sthat, before all things,thc character Of the A.
mcrican Agent ought to- be determined in
manner the most precise and positive, and
that the congress ought to be invited to confdc
its interests TO the mediation. This invita-.
ton is SO much the more indispensable; as
the negotiations relative to American must
march with an equal step with that which the
Courts Of Versailles and Madrid will pur-
sue ; and by consequence, these two ncgoci-
atoms, although separate, mtistbe coramcnc-
ed at the same time.
But who will invite the Congress to treat
with England |! The King cannot do il, be-
cause the preliminary articles exclude him
from the negociation. This task then, can.
not be fulfilled but by the mediators them
selves. AN that the King can do, and that he
that is, exhort the Americans to make peace
and to all the faciliSies to that end, whichth they
shall believe compatible with their essential
interests. But that the King may take this
step with safety, with the hope Of success,
and with certainty o., not rendering himself
suspected, by the Americans, it is necessary
that he should know beforehand the dctcrmin-
ations of the mediators concerning She obscr-
vations which are here submitted q heir con.
sideration, and dhst such determination be
proper to assure the American Provinces,
concerning their political existence. The
two high 1nediators and their Ministers aro>
too enlightened not to perceive, that without
these previous conditions the Congress will
send nobody to Vienna and that the King
cannot make ny attempts to persuade them
to send any one, without running the risk of
compromising himself BY means Of which,
AZ has been already observed, the mediation
wouIds6nditsc At full stap, from its first at
tempt at motion. This reflection seems to
mcrsx the most serious Attentions, on the part
of the mcdizting Courts.4
As to the proposition 6f al Armirtice and
Of disarmament. LET 1t be observed, that
even suppcsing that all parties were agreed
upon these two points, there still wiIIrco4ain<
another which Is not less important, and that
is the statu quo. Neither Frsuce nor Spain
have cause to reject IL, as il concerns them
personally; but Il is not SO with the Amcri-
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