The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-07-24

10 DC waved ny the u. States: provided,
that the trade between the u S. and the
colonies, and that in colonial articles be-.
tween the United States and other coun.
tries was formally recognised, according "a
the principles contained in the same instruc
lions.
s.. Commercial Relations The partial
non importation act of the UHited States
aud the convoy and other extra duties of C
Britain to be repealed; and generally eve
ry source OF collision arising from that spe
cies OF commercial warfare, TO cease by a
mutual repeal Of all discriminating duties.
IN conformity with the instructions TO Messrs
Monroe and Pinkuey before mentioned.
The two nations to place each other, i'm eve
ry other respect, on the footing of the most
favored nation.
On this last point. my observations were
general and equally applying to both coun.
tries. The system of restrictions which
those ct Great Britain had forced the Uni..
ted States to adopt, being equally injurious
to both. And Mr., Erskine is mistaken in
supposing. that would have preferred,
at trst, measures OF a more decided nature
to the embargo.
!. Mr.. Erskine appears. so far as can be
inferred from the correspondence now pub
tihhed, to have supposed that, in order TO
induce his government to take into con-.
sidera'ion those propositions, and to adopt
conduct consisteAt with just principles aud
with the great & permanent interests of G.
Britain, 1t was absolutely necessary to dis
slpate the prejudces they had irnbibed -
And his efforts seem accordingly to have
been principally used ia irving to convince
them of the sincere disposition OF the mem
oers OF the American administration to ad
Just the differences between the two coun.
tres. hnowing the earncs;ness of his en-
deavorsi IN promoting that obi ect, the diff :
culties ne had to encounter in his attempts
to induce the British ministry to take
comprehensive and correct view of the sub
Ject. and the sanguine temper which he dis.
covered throughout the whole transaction,
1 teel no disposition to cavi at the general
colering OF the language ascribed either to
tne other members oft &c administration or to
myself. But there is part of the despatch in
winch cansot for a moment acquiesce.
From casual expressions imperfectly un
derstood. and incorrectly stated, and from
what he calls " my manner and slight insn
nations. Mr.. Ersk,ne infers that thought
that the president (Mr. Jefferson) had acled
with Partially towards France, and hat l
mad attempted to contrast Mr.. Madison sen
timents In that respect with those OF the Pre-
sident.
That Mr.. Erskine's object was to use the
change OF Presidency as an argument to in
dnce the British ministry to alter their mea
sures towards America /; and that the opinions
mus ascribed to me were his OWNS sufficient
~ obvious from tn whole tenor of his des-
patch. But the inference as il relates TO me is
totally erroneous: & Mr.. Erskine mus have
mistaken my assent, to the existence of sur
misses of partially in Mr. Jefftrson towards
France, for an acquiescence in the truth Of
them.
might with truth have spoken of Nh.
Madison, not as feeling any particular adj
mlration for the British constitution and in
stiturIous. but as having neither bias or enmi
ty towards France OF England But l never
ouid or did contrast his sentiments in that
respect, or ascribe to him opinions on The
subject OF our foreign relations at varla ncs
with those of Mr. Jtffarson.
L knew those surmises respecting Mr.. JET
ferson TO be altogether destitute at founaati
on 10 have, in the most indirect manner.
suggested or countenanced a belief in them
would have been direct falsehood SO far
from having, even by my silence. acquiesced
IN insInuatlons OF that nature; When MIR.
Ersklne, once, and once only drops a hint %
tnat efece, lntimat:ng supposed hostility to
Engiand, and that the President had not
placed her conduct in a fair light before the
public. Immediately repealed the charge.
aud, amongst other observations, remibde d
nm that the only time when the British GOV
eminent had. by the proposed equaiisatien
OF duties. made an approach OF liberal aud
conciliatory nature towards America, il was
met by the President who had
expressly recommended the subject to Con
gress IN his message and that the plan had
been defeated by the clamor =. that party in
America, which was considered the best dis
posed towards G.. Britain. That, on that oc :
casion. change took place in my manner is
very probable bat Mr. Erskine has ascrib
ed 1T to source very different from that
which occasioned it. had very lately been
zeaiousiy employed in repeling the charge :;
charge which i never could hear without
indignation. ErghI years of the most inti-
mate intercourse, during which not an act, ,
nor hardly thought respecting the foreign
relations oil America was concealed enable
me confidently to say, that Mr.. Jefferson ne
yer had In that respect any other object in
view, but the protection of the rights, Of ohe
United States against every foreign ageres
sion or injury from whatever nation il pro-
ceeded, and has. in every ms ance, observ
ed towards all the helligerents the most strict
Justice and the most scrupuious impartiality.
lbs character stands not in need OF this de.
ciaration 1t is due to myself.
The grouadless accusations of foreign bias
and influence have been generated solely by
the Vrulence OF party spirit and they were
adopted abroad as an apology OF pretence for
unprovoked aggressions A just sense of the
injuries received, aud the most temperate
efforts to obtain redress, constitute what has
been called partially. And it seems to have
hi fge 81. II