The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-06-28
s9iyfelIaily.


SaRs,
Mn. HAxiL1ox, in bis pamphlet, page ssi
speaking Of Talleyrand's dispatches, says,
:. '.oyertures SO circuitous and informal, ,through
a person who was not the regular organ Of the
French government for making them, to q
person who was not the regular organ Of the
French government for receiving them, &c.
were very inadequate basis for the institus
ton of new mission"
Here, again, Mr.. Hamiltbn's total ignorance
or oblivion Of the practice of our own govern
ment, as well us the constant usage Of other
nations in diplomatic procccdings, appears IN
all its instre. In 1884 the Congress Of tho
United States, the then sovereign Of our conns
try, issued khecn commiSsions, As rcmcm:
Der i'll mistake tho number COL Hum:
phreys can correct mc, for he was the secres
tary of legation to them all, and possesss, q
] suppose, tho original parchments, - John
Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and T6dnAs
Jefferson, TO form commercial ttestics with
all the commercial powers Of Europe, and the
Barbary states. Our Instructions were to
communicate these credentials to the ambass
ssdours Of these powers at Versailles, n0l
10 60 TO those courts. And we did commune
cate thsm in this informal and circuitous
manner, and received very civil answers. We
were not told, II Congress wishes any cons
ncctions with us, commercial Or political, let
them send ambassadors directly to our courts.
1t is inconsistent with our dignity to receive,
tous, and informal ovcrtures.
These indirect and circuitous coh,munica-
tions, as Hamilton calls them, are OF establish
cd usage and daily practice all over the world.
Instances of them without number might be
quoted. I shall only recitc two or three.
The Baron dc Thulemicr ambassadour from
Frederick the great, king Of Prussia, whose
name and character Mr.. Hamilton Affects to
admire, wrote me letter when was minis.
ter plenipctcntiary in Holland, informing me
that he had received the commands OF the
King, his master, to make me visit and
communicate something to me 40 minister
from the United States Of America; and de-
sired to know at what hour would receive
him. / wrote him in answer thai would
have she horour. Of receiving bIn q twelve
oseiocE, of the next day, br,H ~ Wished ~
earlier interview I.woSid ta2l on. klms st his
hotel, at any hour he sllo01d ~ plsased e In
dicsts. To this received hb knswcr, bat q
the hour I had menti6nsd, Me SxcoIIency sps
peared Il my house, "a ne habiIiments ai,i
With the cquipace Of hiy ministerial character.
He said that the King his y,astcr, had order.
ed him TO visit n,e a1d AN my opihion ofA
connection and treaty between Prussia s1Id
the r.. States OF America: What 4 6gsire
should have made, If ! had said, this is at
cirruitous and informal. Your master, if M
wishes connection, commercial or political
with America, must send an Aribassadour to
Philadelphia, ana propose It to Congress
Yet Mr.. Hamiltons doctrine and reasoning
would have required this. The king however
would have expected more. sense Of propric.
", more knowiedgs Of the intcrcoursc Of ma.
lions, and more rational answer from de-
putty Of dnc Of our savage tribes, or one Of the.
migratory hordcs Of Africa orTartary. My
answer was, be pleased, SIR, to present my
most profound respects to his majesty, and In.