Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-01-05
C o N G r E,S S.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY,, ; December 10.
DEBATE


.f 49,. A. s.. '.t
DEBATE ...
On THE JOINTkRESoLUTIoN
&bproVing sae conduct Of the Executive
inrelssion to the refused to receive any
further communicated fIam Francis Jas.
jackson.
rcoxrrsuEo.1
In committee Of the whole Mr.. BAssET
in The chair
Mn. EMorT said he rose with reluctance
% address the committee as the lateness lof
the hour and the discussion which had ia.
ken place led him to believe that gentlemen
would not willingly attend to the detail
which he had to wade through, but as he
found no person ready 10 take the floor, he
would not occupy the time Of the commit.
tee in submitting 70 them his view Of the
subject.
Sir, (said he the resolution on your ia.
ole calls upon us to give our assent to two
propositions. First, that Mr.. Jackson has
in HE correspondence with Mr.. Smith in
suited the governnatcat, BY insinuating that
the executive had knowledge that the ar
rangement entered into with Mr.. Erskine
was without authority on his part aud
secondly, that inretusing 10 receive any
further communications from the English
minister in consequence of this insult, the
executive has manifested just regard to
the character and interests Of the Ameri-
can people. Now can agree to neither
of these propositions, inasm UGH az have
not been able 90 discover the Insult, and "a
] do not achieve that the interest Of the
people has beentonsulsed in the measure.
In making this declaration, know |
subject myself (not here I hope to the i'm
pusasion Of being British apologiss and
partizan, and of taking part against the
government Of nv country. But if the
president las his duty to perform, also
as representative have mine; and although
! might have remained silent If his friends
had not called up this subject yet when
am thus pressed for an opinion it is my
duty 20 give it fairly, and 1 will do it. 1t
is not trust necessary in order to evincs
my respect for the government TO .aPpro-
bate every executive measure, or to Join
with the administration in its pions and
views. Our present chief magistrate will
doubtless reeollect the time when he did
Sss deem a love Of eouAsry anu dce re-
gard sci,s government incompatible with
marked disapprobation Of executive mea.
sures and an earnest opposition to the views
of the persons 10 power. In all this there
il nothing to blame when the oppositioa pro-
ceeds from good motives. lam not in the
habit, sir, Of making professions, hu, l will
on this occasion say, chat have not a drop
or blood running in my veins that is not
purely American, and that have not
wish bu. for the happiness, the prosperity,
and the honor offmy country and the pre-
ssrasion Of 10 government. ..
AS to the insult, said by Mr.. Smith, in
his letter Of the 9Th Of Nov. to consist in
The use OF language on che part of Mr..
jackson /" Implying q kns,viedse in dis 60.
ssrnment that the instructions Of his pre-
decessor did dot authorize the arrangement
formed by him." Had such language been
used in the commencement Of the CORES.
pondence, ie does noe sppear to me to follow
shas is would have been an insult, for it can
bensoffence fos our. government to enter
,ineo . provisional arrangement with resi.
-dens nsinisser who has not full power. Nay,
had Mr.. ;Erskine shswn his Instructions Of
che Esd Of January IN extenso, declaring
them 20 be ths saly instructions received by
him from his government, and had the
fersns held 0nf BY them been negasiy-d by
our executive, as they eersainly ought It
ixsuid have been competent for the minis
Ger 10 receive and negotiate On other pre-
pcsisiosls rnsrc Just in themselves land to
s<nd the result % his government for iss
aeeeptance. Indeed this 10 the view which
Mr.. Smith himaelf appears % have taken
se Nc Nshisek in kis lssts0 Of shs let
a