The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-04

fher communication from Francis James
Jackson.
TUESDAY, Dec. 30. e
In committee of the whole, Mr.. BAssET
in the Chair-
MIR. M'kEY-I rise to submit few re-
marks on the subject of the resolution now
under consideration. i'm violation of "A rule
which l had prescribed to myself. which
was, to take no part in the public discussi-
ons OF any general question which might
come before this house during the present
sesslon-a rule to which might have adj
hered. had it not been alledged that those
who were opposed to resolution Of last
session, approaching the President for the
prompt manner iii which he met the over
ture made to this government by Mr.. Frs.
kline, would act Inconsistency by support
ing the resolution now your table.
AT the opening OF the last session OF Con-
gress, the President or the United States
communicated TO us AN arrangement enter
ed into between this government and Mr..
Ersklne, the representative Of the British
government III America, Important in Itself
ana more so when considered as onening
the way to a more extended Accommodation
The terms or this arrangement were carri-
cd fully into effect BY the United States.
agreement thus concluded would have been
Carried into operation by the British govern
ment. But, sir, it is now found that tiiis
arrangement has been disavowed, the minis
ter by whom ii was made recalled, and Nlt.
jackson sent 10 replace him.
. Ihs new minister in the explanations
which he found it necessary to make to this
government OF the causes producing this
disavowal on the part OF Great Britain,
thonght proper to use and reSpeat a language
highly indecorous and offensive and our Of
these circumstances the present qaestion
has arisen.
we Ind, sir, that this new minister, in
the threshold of his correspondence with
Mr.. Smith, insinuates that the arrange
nent made with Mr.. Erskne, was entered
INTO with bad faith on the part of this gov
ernment; tor we find the following state
ment in pages so and 81 of the printed docu-
ments.
+" You state, sir, very truly, that an ar
rangemeRt had been made between YOU and
Mr.. Erskine, and that his majesty had
thought proper to disavow that arrange
ment.
have here i'll the outset, to regret the
loss or the advantage of verbal intercourse
with you, as 1 should have availed myself of
1t to enquire whether by your statement, it
vowal itself, or of a total want of explanati
on OF 1t, or OF the circumstance of that ex-
PLANTATION not having been made through
me. observe that in the records of this
mission there is no trace of complaint, on
the part OF the United States, of his males
" having dlsavowed the act of his minister
You have not, IN the conferences we have
hitherto held, distinctly announce any such
complaint, and have seen with pleasure,
IN ellS forbeara.'ce on Your part an instance
OF mat candor, which l doubt not will pre-
van III all cur commune tons, inasmuch
as YOU could not but have thought it unrea-
sonabie TO Complain of the diSavowal OF an
act done under such circumstances, a.
cc0Wd oniy lead to the consequences that
nave actually fo'lowed.''
Mr. Jackson here congratulates himself on
the caodor and forbearance of Mr.. Smith In
MS failure refusal to make any complaint
whatever OF the disavowai OF the arrange
ment made with Mr.. Ii kline, aliedging as
a reason for the absence Of every trace Of
complaint on the part of the United States
tnat The arrangement was made under such
circumstances as conld only lead to the con-
sequences that have followed The conse-
4uences here alluded to, are disavowal Of
the act of Mr.. Ersl.ine.
ROW, sir, If our executive negotiated An
e.
ther minister, under such circumstances as
couid only lead To a disayowal of the act, by
the government with whose IN mister the ar
rar cement was made, and a KNOWLEDGE. of
these circumstances rendered it an act of
iplDearance and candor to make no com
plant Whatever OF the disavow Alt must
necessarily follow, that the Arrangement
mus made WIS Improperly entered into by
this government; iDaSmuCh as reliance on
tD'S arrangement by our citizens had over
spread the ocean with American commerce.
whlca was waited by every gale To distant
regions, all subject to the svarcc Of British
crhzers. and dis FACT was known TO those
VINO administered our government at the
lrne this delusive arrangement was made.
bis, sir, appears to me 70 be the fur in
tsfence resulting from this sentcnCe. when
Invested of rs diplomatic hummery and re-
duced to plain English.
Mr.. jackson seems to find a motive for
TINS inslnuation from u Communication made
D. Mr. Erakinc to the British COVER einent.
~ which heStates that he had submitted 20
the consideration of Mr.. Smith the three
Conditions mentioned in Mr.. Cummings des
pa,ch OF the Esd Of January, and inasmuch
as the arrangement Of April is variant from
these three conditions, aHd submitted rs he
statCs) im lieu Oftne,n, he hence inleIs the
undlb.ed right Of bis ri2 ;es,y to disayo;y
the arrangement, and .alcntaiy declares ,hat
this vas the oHly despatch oy which she
Conditions we're prescribed to Mr.. Erskjne
Tor the conclusion Of an arrangement with
this country.
MFR SMILEY r.pt,aq to ~ T. II . & 4