Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-01-02
c. O N G. R E S S.
MOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY, December 10.
DEBATE

DEBATE .e
ON THE JOINT RESOLUTION
AbbroUing the conduct Of the E*ecnt'Ve
m relation to the refusal to receive any
further communication from Francis Jfss.
jackson.
TcoNTISUE2. ,
In committee of the whsle Mr.. BA'srr
in the chair
(iNr. Wheaton,. Speech csneftded.)
I have no hesitation in saying, that &C.
eording to the common notions OF mankind
ON such subjects, q am not mueh fond OF
war nyself in any case) the conduct OF tie
British towards the people of this country,
has, in some instances, If not many, been
such, as to Justify forcible resistance pro-.
yidsd, from a true consideration OF their ST..
tuatiou aud our own, we could have ia
tional prospect BY such resis.anee, OF induc'
ing or compelling them TO redress our
wrongs and restore our rights. Yet am
no, prepared 70 say that any thing has been
done or said by the British minister to Sc
eresary Smith, 80 gross and insulting, SO far
40 can be discovered 10 their late cores
pondrnce, rs to justify the hasy, and, as I
think, injudieious step taken by our govern.
ment much less to induce me to pledge
myselfand the people whom have the ho-
nor 70 represent, to engage in 90 dis astrous
a measure ~ that Of war, as recommended
in these resolutions, If ne cessary to repel it,
however war, in the views Of any, mightbe
justified on other grounds. What, sir, shall
we, shall whole nation go 70 war, shall
tho usands Of lives be, lost, and millions Of
hard earned property be wasted, because one
man ina ines, in which Imagination, he
may be, az in this case, think he must be,
mistaken, chat another has made some re-
presentations or insinuations that might
seen, 20 affect his honor or character? Are
/. Won willing, sir, that our sons should thus
fall unpitied victims at ambitions shrine !!
l,nope not, sir.
II cannot admit that such an insult was of.
.Sfered 6y-Nr. Jackson as has been imaein-
ed. nor could aSsea-t that sach should be
the consequence if it had been fact.
After farming over every page and care
fully reviewing the whole ofthe correspond
enee between MIR. Smith aud Mr.. Jackson,
/ have really failed to end what Others think
they so plainly see.
Mr.. Smith in his letter 60 MI. Jackson of
the 9th of October, calls on thar minister
for prompt and explicit, explanation of the
grounds of refusal on the part Of his govern
i, meus TO abide by the arrangement lately
made with his predecessor Mr.. Erskine.--
Mr.. Jackson in his letter of the 18th of the
sarns month, replies, that, in his examination
ofthe records OF Mr.. Erskine's mission, he
found no traces of complaint, and that he
did no, hear any express annunciations Of it
in the several conferences he had had with
Mr.. Smith, on the part of the U. s. of his
Maiesty's having disavowed the act of his
minister in the ease alluded to :: and then
cand,dly supposes that the want ofcomplains
by them might be owing to consciousness
that & would be unreasonable to complain of
the aisayowxlof an act done under cue h
circumsssnces as gould only lead to the con-
sequences that had followed. What were
these circumstances as stated by Mr.. lack
son. They we're these: That Mr.. Erskine
had NOT only NOT roniormed with, but had
acted in direct centradictioa to his instrue-
lions in che sErangernent he lad made that
these instrneficns were contained in Mr.
Canning = despatch to him ofthe Esd OF ia.
nnary |. and, thar shat despatch contained
the only insrrsctions Mr., Erskine had re-
csiyed relating 20 thas subjerssand thas these
Instructions had been made known in sub.
stance, though not in extenso 20 the Ameri-
can government. Now can the most jealous
eve discover any thing in these assertions Of
Mr. arksoa ehat souh be offensive 60 she
most sqsseaEish stomach |; uniess il be in
The lsss add thas Mr. Smith confesses TO
be nus; md yet somshoW Or other, seems