Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-08-03
From the Fyeemans journal.
Letters upon French Influence.
No. TX.
To the Pssbls otrtde United States.

~ Z
the 6sh of December, 1905, which was an
nexed to the last number, opens an ample
field for investigation and criticism. 1t is
not probable thar all history can furnish an
instance of conduct at once so unprincipled
and uudigni6ed, in the ruler Of free peo-
pie, as that of Jefferson upon this occasion
will appear to have been, when fairly and
fully developed.
Acknowledging the duty incumbent upon
the executive of the United States to re-
quire from the government OF Spain indem-
MITIGATION for our injured citizens, the mes
sage announces that convention was &C
cordinglv entered into between the minister
of the United States at Madrid, and the
minister of that government for Foreign at
fairs, by which it was agreed that spolia-
tons committed BY Spanish subjects, and
carried into ports of Spain, should be paid
for by that nation, and that those commit.
ed by French subjects, and carried into
Spanish ports, should remain for further
discussion. 1t would seem to appear that
the transfer of Louisiana by France to the
United States, occasioned the rejection OF
this convention on the part of Spain. But
III believed that this was not the case
In this, as in all other instances, Spain was
Ie ~
France were, and to obey them. France
would not suffer Spain to make an arrange
ment with US, unless we would give our
discharge in full for what France peremp-
torily pronounced an unfounded claim on
our part, that of payment for French spoil
atoms carried into Spanish ports. And
why? Because as happens to leak out, to-
wards the conclusion Of the message,-,
" France was prompt and decided in her
declarations, that our demands on Spain
for French spoliations, carried into Spanish
ports, were included in the settlements be-
tween the United States and France" That
France, in ceding Louisiana to the United
States, looked forward to all the difficulties
which the omission OF boundaries must ma
turally produce, and that she even then Ia
tended to take that advantage OF her own
wrong in this respect which she has since
done, by preventing an adjustment between
MS and Spain, except upon terms which
should replenish the French treasury, there
can now be no doubt in the mind of any
man of common apprehension. 1t was one
object, indeed, to have plausible pretext
for evading payment for French spollatlons
in Spain, the existence Of which proved
that, politically speaking, there was no
Spain. But it was another and greater
object to keep the boundaries OF louisiana
unsettled, as the instrument of establishing
a strong French influence over the United
States, whether in expectation OF obtaining
more money from us or not, Is quite lmma-
terial. Vet facts abundantly and conclu'
sively shew that such an expectation must
have been entertained. NJ. talleyranc was
then chief counsellor to his imperial majes-
ty; aud had he not been, Napoleon would
have known the true character and situation
of our country. He knew our extreme love
ofpeace; our deep animosities againstE
land; the i'll conduct of England towards
as our ardent attachment, frcm revolt
sionary recollsctions, to the FTsnch nation /;
i