Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1810-01-15


IF belligerrnt blockade without a
ol0ckadine force. The principles on
which thele opinions are founded, |
gill not >stain the houfe by Eating
At the prelent time.
Further, agree that the condi-
tons ltated in the defpatch from Mr..
Canning 10 MIR. Erikine Of the 23d
of January 1879, Especially the two
lalt Of them, are fuch as ought not
to be admitted explicitly or by impli-
cation on the part of this govern
ment. admit not only that we
ought not TO iti2ulate that the Brit
iih navy might take our vefiels, but
that we ihouid nor even by implica-
ton cede the principle itlelf. Of
courfe, therefore, | do not admit,
when any veiIel of the Britifh under
their orders IN council, fhould have
taken one Of our ve1els violating a
law of the United Statet, that it
would not be perfectly competent for
the United States to take cognizance
of the queltion whether ihe had vio-
lated our laws or not for it would
be queltion foley between our gov
eminent and its citizens. To leave
law of the United States TO be ex-
ecuted by the Britifh navy under the
cognizarce of their admiralty, would
be to relinquilh an attribute of our
fovereignty, and to abandon the pre-
cious daty of executing Judgment in
mercy.
further agree that the privilege
of a foreign minilter here accredited
does not extend to charging the gov
eminent of my country with the de-
teftable turpitude of intentional fall
flhcation in matter of fact. And
on this fubje6t | do not enquire
whether the charge be well or i'll
founded. Ii is not admiilible within
the principles of diplomatic inter-
courfe. If the government fubmit-
ted to il in terms, intercouric on the
principles of equality mutt ceale.
| agree further that the immunity
of foreign miniltcr here accredited
does nos extend to entering public
appeal againit the Executive admin
filtration. Whether the appeal be
well or i'll founded in point of fact,
it is not for the foreign minilter to
put the administration of this coun-
try upon its arraignment at the pub
lie bar it is not for him, through
the medium of the prefs, TO protefs
peace towards the people and pro-
claim war againit the palace.
| agree further that the PreGdent
of the u. States has the conltitution-
al competence to receive ambahadors
and other public minilters, and that
in the power to receive is included
the power to refuie for Reasonable
caufes, and that he is conlfitutionally
the judge of this reafonable cauie.
Whenever therefore a foreign ninif-
ter has committed an offonce for
which he ought to be refuled liberty
TO communicate with the adminilira-
ton, the PRECEDENT may refuie it. If
an offence more grois has been COM
mitted, for which the minilter ought
to be required to depart from the u
nited States, the PRECEDENT may order
his departure. If the miniiter has
committed an atrocious crime for
which he ought to Gufer corporal
Punilhment, the PreGdent nay order
him to be tent home that he NAV be
punilhed by his own government.
And the gentlemen of the fword arc
the proper officers 10 be employed
for this purpote. AS the minityr
has rank of high public uult, let
him be treated with public GcceuCy !
But in a cafe Of atrocious criminality.
LET the proceeding have the character
Of cecilion, that lie may be duly pun
iihed ! Such | admit TO be the pow
or of the Preidcat Of the United
States without any ltatute whatever
exiting on the lubjett.
Having made theft admilIions, |
may hope gentlemen will acknowi-
edge that am not ioIicitous to ex-
tend the points Of difference between
US.
The inquiry arifcs, whether the