The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-02

letter Of credence to the President of the
United States and been received accordingly,
and because too he had Instructions 20 regu
late his personal conduct. but which he did
not think proper to communicate, & which
he does not appear to have been at lber-
ty to communicate to the American govern
msnt.
ifthe letter of credence could be regard
ed'as authorisng the negotiation, it had al
ready been presented to the President of the
United States. That this did not constitute
the competent authority, therefore, must
have been decided by the President, beyond
controversy, ut tho date of the letter which
invited the British minister plenipotentiary
to communicate his full powers.
1t is now to be recnllected, that in his let.
ter of the 3oth of November. the minister
had mentioned his being instructed to enter
into discussions with respect to articles of a
dehnitive treaty, which had been concluded,
but not fully executed. According to his
own decision, he wanted competent authori-
ty to conclude a dehnitive commercial ar
rangement between the two countries-and
according to the dession of the first Presi
dent of the U. S. undoubtedly he wanted the
competent authority to negotiate such ar
arrangement. Any opinions exp. essed by the
| minister in his letters of the 9th and 18th Of
December could not be supposed to reverse
decision deliberately formed by President
Washington; and controversial core
spondence relative to such opinions might
be worse than useless. Of course, it would
accord with sxpedience as we'll as diploma.
tic decorum to abstain from remarking on
| those letters in future correspondence. But
to discuss the respective claims & complaints
might contribute to a distinct knowledge OF
the affairs, and undoubtedly the minister
might enter into such discussions. No dis
cussions, however multiplied, could constitute
a stipulation for any thing to be done on the
part of the government OF either country
Accordingly, it is worthy of observation that
the letter of the 18th OF December, from the
British minister plenipotentiary is not ncnti.
oned i'll the letter CT the next day from the
Secretary of State, who acknowledges the
minister's letter of the S0th of November,
without seeming to recouect any thing of
the Intervening correspondence. l will now
state the Introductory part of this letter from
the Secretary of State:
"PHILADELPHIA, Dec. IS. 1871.
" Mr.. jefferson, Secretary Of State, TO Nh.
Hammond, Minister PieniNotentiarY o,
g. Britain.
"Sir-I am to acknowledge the honor O
your letter Of Nov. S0th, and TO express the
Satisfaction with which we learn, that 70,
are instructed to discuss with us the measure
which reason and practicablity may dictate
for giving effect to the stipmlations of ou
toy yet remaining to be executed. Ca,
assure you on the part of the U. States, o.
every disposition to lessen difficulties by pas
sing over whatever is of smaller concern S
insisting on those matters emily, which either
Justice to individuals, or public policy rem
der Indispensable: and in order to simplif,
our discussions by defining precisely their
object; have the honor to propose that We
shall begin by specifying on each side tn.
particular acts which each considers t,
) have been done by the other in contraven
ton of the treaty. shall set the example
Such authorities we have before us in tn,
political history of our own country.
On considering the resolution from tn,
!, Senate. the subject does not appear to b.
: placed on the proper basis. am agains
the resolution.
(De5ate TO be continued.]