The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-12-30
Gnngree9.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
DEBATE

ON THE JOINT RESOLUTION
Hhftrouing The conduct Of the Executive in
relation to the refusal 10 receive any FIR
tAer communication from Francis James
Jackson.
TUESDAY, Dec. 10.
| In committee of the whole, Mr. BAssEr
in the chair
(lNr. Dana's sheech continued.
If the principle of appreciation be consi.
dered as involving an equal right to csnsure,
make no objection to the resolution on that
account. But on this subject I would be
cautious. because might censure wrongly.
The President might have reasons for his
conduct which did not know wenld be
cautious also. because if I should censur
where censure ought not to be prunouHced,
l might do injury by concurring in proce-
dure tending to diminish the confidence of
the nation in the Chief Magistrate.
But this is not resolution merely appro.
batting the conduct of the President of the
Quilted States. 1t is not called for by any
thing which has been done. 1t is not con-
formablc to the true spirit of what has taken
place. 1t Is rather reproachful to tine Pre-
sident than honoring him with praise. 1t is
remuneration of a foreign minister here
accredited; it is expressed in language
which your Chief Magistrate would not a
dept in his message to Congress. and which
he did not authorize in addressing our mi
mister abroad. Sir, public ministers and
other public men may be exposed to wrongs
OF two kinds, personal violence and violence
done to their reputation. The case is rare
indeed IN which public minister, Seere-
sary OF State, or Head of any other depart
ment, commits an offence legally exposing
him to corporal punishment. But on ques
ton of decrrum, should we permit ourselves
TO outrage it? When reprehendng a viola
ton of decorum, shall we ourselves violate
1t! Sir, lrequest you to look at the letter
written by the Secretary of State, under
the direction Of the President, to our minis.
ter Ia London. will not say that the Sc
cretary Estate in his letter to MIR. Pinkuey
Liant to affirm that those printers in this
country who publish matters affecting the
reputation of a public minister might be pro-
secuted at common law here, and be sub
Jected to fine and imprisonment at the dis.
cretion OF the court; and yet, if that be not
his meaning, where is the law to which a
foreign minister could have recourse? But
his language at least shews, that he consi.
ders wrong done to the reputation of pub
lie minister as an injury for which he may
reasonably complain, as he may for a wrong
done to his person, and that however freely
cur Citizens may speak or publish their SEN
timents, 1t is not proper in our public acts to
speak wantonly against any person coming
here In public character from a foreign
government. When a public minister has
been admitted to come here in the faith of
an renorabie reception, shall the National
Legislature undertake to blast his charac-
ter! Gentlemen will fee! it as becoming
them to'be cautious of inAicting this wounsI
on the reputation of stranger, having
public trust IF high distinction and thus ho-
morally received by our administration, es-
peciaiiy when they are not warranted by
the course adopted on the part Of the admi
nistration.
Let us then, sir. compare the language
OF this resolution with the language adopted
by the President of the United States. The
re solu4ion charges Francis ]. Jackson,
minister plcnipotentiary Of his Britannia
majesty near iae United States," with hav-
ing used in official correspondence a Ian
guagc highly INDIGENOUS and insolent and
then, going on in form of elaborate climaA,
language sill more insoient and a6ronting
next outrageous and fremcditated insults
then a still more direct ard aggravated in.
Spfi and afront to the American people and
their governmen,-an insidious atten,ht to
excite resentments and distrusts and lastly.
appealing through false or faAacious dis
B'HSes. Let us now observe in what man
ner the President has thought Droper IN
speak by the Secretary of State, with res
pect so what is called the appeal in the
letter, headed "Ciroular," and purnortine
to be letter from MIR. Jackson to tae Bri.
tish consuls in the United States. After
stating 1t IN the letter to Mr.. Pinkney, the
Secretary OF State remarks, cit can only be
regarded as virtual address to the Ameri-
car people of a representation previously I'd
dressed 10 their government proc, re
which chnnot fail to be seen in its true Light
by his sovereign" So much on that subject.
With respect to the other, there is this pe-
neral phraseology: " The observations to
which So much extent has been given in
this letter, with those contained in The cor.
reSpondence With MIR Jackson. viii make
you fully acquainted with the conduct and
the character he has developed with tbe
necessity OF the step taken in REFUSING Eur
Their communications with him, and with the
grounds on "hIch the President instructs
you to request that he may be Immediately
recalled. You are particularly instructed
~ the same time. in making those commu
nicationo, to Go 1t IN manner that will
Ieave no doubt of the unGiminshed desire
OF the Onlt'd States to ui!ite in all the mean.
the best Calculated to establish the relati.
ons OF the two countries on the solid fonn
datioA OF justice, offriendship and Of mutu.
az interest Considering this instruction
az marking the disposition Of the Executiv.
does the resolution before us correspond
WIN that disposition as expressed in the
IasEf