Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-05
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made TO his malesty's government re-
lative TO the unofficial conversations |
which had held with MIR. Madison,l
then Secretary OF State), Mr.. Gala
lin and yourself at the time and upon
Qe occasion alluded to by his maiesty's |
Secretary OF State (AGr. Canning) in
chat part of his Instructions to me of
which you inform me YOU have receiv-
ed printed copy from Mr.. .Pinkney.
Upon referring TO my dispatches, adj
dressed to his pajcsty's government of
the 81 ard 4th December last, in which
these communications are detailed, L
conclude that the conversations alluded
10 mast have been held some days pre-
yions to that period, and were to the
following effect.
Nj, Madison, (then Secretary OF
State IS represented by nae to have
urged various arguments tending to
prove that the United States had ex-
erted MI their Efforts 70 persuade the
French government to Withdraw their
unjust restrictions pm neutral con
merce, and that recourse might have
been had to measures of more activi-
~ and decision against France til
mere remopstrances, but that, III the
mean time Great Britain had issued
her orders IN council, before i was
known whether the United States
would acqaicsce in the aggressiops of
France, and thereby rendered it i'm
possible to distinguish between the
conduct OF the two belligerents, who
had equally committed aggressions a
gainst the United States.
Alter some other observations, Mr..
Madison is stated by me at that time
to hare added, that as the world must
be convinced that America had in vain
taken all the means III her power 10 OBJ
tain from Great Britiin and France a
Just attention 80 her rights as neutral
power by representations and remon-
strances, that she would be fully JUST.
fed IN having recourse to hostilities
with either be.iigererg, and that she
only hesitated to do so from the diff
Guilty of contending with both; but
that she must he driven exon to en-
deaYor to maintain her rights against
the two greatest powers in the world
unless either Of them should relax their
restrictions upon neutral commerce;
in which case, The United Srates would
at once side with that power against
the other which might continue its ag-
gressions.
That every opinion which ne enter
tanned respecting the best interests of
bis country led him to wish that 4 good
understanding should take place be
tween Great Britain and the United
States, and that he thought that the
obvious advantages which would there
by result to both countries were
a sufficient pledge Of the sincerity of
his sertiWents.
These observations, sir, [ beg leave
to remark, were made to me by Mr.
Madison about month after the intel
ligence had been received in this coun-
try OF the rejection by his majesty's
government Of the proposition made
through Mr. PirkRey by the President
for The removal OF the embargo as res
pected Great Britain, upon condition
that the orders in council should be
Withdrawn as respected the United
States: aud his sentiments were, as l
conceived, expressed to me, in order
that ] might convey them to his majes-
TVS government, so as 70 lead to are
consideration Of the proposition above
mentioned with view to the adjust
rGent of the differences upon that sub
ject between the respective countries
but never considered that MIR Ma
olson meant that the government of
the United States would Pledg them
selves 5eyond the proposition respect
ing the embargo, as above stated /;
because th u was the extent of the
power Of the President by the consti-
tuition Of the United States.
| understood, very distinctly, that
the observations Of the Secretary of
State were intended to convey an OPT
pion as TO what ought and would be
the course pursued by the United
States, in the event Of his maiesty's
orders in council being Withdrawn.