Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-12-27

Mr.. Efskine sc the asd of January, 500,
especially the two last Of them arsssueh AS
cught NOT 70 lie aslnitted explicitly Or By
5iiInT.sicasiol on the Part III this government
i admit, not onlysthar se ought not % sti-.
pulase that the British navy might take our
vessels, but that we should not even by I'M
plication cede the principle itself OF course
therefore, I do not admit, when any vessel
fthe British under their orders in council,
should have taken one of our vessels yio.'
lating u law Of the United States, that 1t
would not be perfectly competent tor tiie,
United States 20 take cognizance OF the
Question whether she had violated our lass 3
or not ;sfor il would be q question solsly
between our government and itscitizens.---
Tp-ieaye law Of the United States % be
executed BY the British navy under the
cognizauce Of their admiralty, woatd pe 10
.relinuuish an attribute Of our sovereignty,
and TO abandon the precious duty OF exc
cutting Judgment mercy.
i further agree tina. the privilege OF ato-'
reign minis ter here accredited does not ex-'
tend 70 charging the government. OF my
country with the dstestable turpitude ofin-'
tessticnal Justification in q matter OF fact
And on this subject / do not enquire whe.
Their the charge be well or i'll founded. II
is not admissible within the principles Of
diplomatic inseycourse. 1.-THE government
submit to il in terms, intercourse on the
principles Of equality must ccase.
I agree further that the immunity of a
foreign minister here accredited does not
extend TO entering public appeal against
the Executive administration. Whether
the appeal be well or i'll founded in. point
of fact, it is not for the foreign minister to
put the administration of this country upon
Its arraignment az the public bar ;isis not
for him, through the medium OF the press,
to profess peace towards the people and
proclaim war against the palace.
Iagree furtherTthat the presidens of the
United States has the constitutional compe-
tence to receive ambassadors and other
public ministers, and that in the power to
receive is included the power,to refuse for
reasonable cause, and that he IS constitu-
tionally the Judge of this reasonable cause.
When ever therefore foreign minister has
committed an offence for which he ought
to be refused liberty to communicate with
the administration, the president may re-
fuse it. Hsan offence~n gross has been
committed, for which the minister ought
to be required to depart from the United
States, the president maytorder his depar-
turs. 1t the minister has committed an a.
trocious crime for which he ought 70 suffer
corporal punishment, the president may
order him to be sent home tina, be may oe
punished by his own government. And
the gentleman of the sword are the proper
officers to be employed for this purpose.
As the minister has arank of high public
trust, let him be treated with public de-
cency! But in case of atrocions crimi-
nality, let the proceeding have the charac-
teri of decision, that@he, may be. duly pun
ished! Such admit to be the power of
the president of the United States without
any statute whatever existing ON the sub
ject.
Having made these admissions, l. may
hope gentleman will acknowledge that am
not solicitous to extend the points OF differ
ence between us.
The inquiry arises whether the language
Of this resolution is warranted by facts as
they appear before as On this point I
am willing at this time to wave dispute /;
not that admit the resolution TO be war
ranted inpoint of fact, for the documents
laid betote US, together with the messages
OF the president of the Udited States, at
ford matter for much, very much observa-
'tion interesting TO the country. But on
that subject will not now occupy the time
Of the house. For in the view which take
of the resolution, propose to consider it
on the basis of WHAT'S contained in the let
ter of the ,22d of Nov. from Mr.. Smith the
ssc,a,arv tof state 70 Mr.. pinknev our min.