Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-01-10
:. c o N G Z E S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
&c. TUESDAY. December 10.

- DEBATE :
.TONTHE JOINT RESOLUTION '~-
approving the conduct Of the Exec'ff'0e
in relation to the fcfasdl to receive any
further communication from Frances Jas.
'Tsc&son.,
TcoNTINUE2.
In committee of the whole Mr.. BAssEI
in the chair -.
= [Mr. Emos.'s Speech continued F.
I will now proceed, sir, (said Mr.. E.)
20 consider whether the executive in refus-
ing to receive any farther commune atoms
from the British minister, has manifested
q Just regard to the interest OF the Amerl-
can people. have already remarked that
iii NV opinion the true interests OF the coun-
try was not .eonsuited ia or promoted by
this measure /; ieremains then for ME to
explain the grounds of that opinion.
1t would be- superauous in nae at this
time to attempt to prove that the interest
OF this country is best promoted by state
OF peace and of free intercourse with Go
Br;.si7ss Fire rsusual wants of the two ma
~ifor&Might be brought to prove this, but
the genefaljoy of-the country so audib'y
expressed at the time it was thought our
restrictive system as to that nation was a
bou, to be abandoned, is sufficient for my
purpose, as it shews as we'll the general
wish as the general sense OF the commu'
nifty ON this subject. lfthen it is the in
terest and the wish of the nation to be at
peace with Great Britain, it ought to be a
primary point in the policy Of our admins
esa,ion to form treaty with that country
on Just principles. Matters of etiquette
and personal considerations ought to give
way to this greater Object. ! cannot there.
fore think that the interest of the country
was promoted by refusal in the coutse OF
a few,iays, to communicate with the man
~ who came (os.cnsibly at least to form a
treaty with Us.
It has been remarked, however, that
Mr.. Jackson had no power to treat, and
that therefore any farher communication
with himeould answer no desirable pur
bose. will not ask your attention to all
tho: passed between Mr.. Smith and Mr..
Jackson on this point, but will merel y pre-.
sent 10 yeG the call which Mr.. Smith made
for the authority andthe answer which MIR.
Jackson gave.
Mr.. Smith in his letter Of the list OF
November, Says 49,.
Forthe first time it is now disclosed
, that the subjects, arranged with this 60.
vernmen. BY your predecessor, are held
. not to be within the authority ola minister
plenipoten,iary, and that not having had a
"full power distinct from that authority,
his transactions on those subjects might oil
right be disavowed by his government
This disclosure, SO contrary to every ante
-cedsns supposition and just inference, gives
a new aspect to this business. 1t the au-
shority OF your predecessor did not en-.
brace the subjects in question, so as to
bind this government, it necessarily toll
lows, that the only credentials yet present
<ed by you being the same with those pre-
sented by him, give you no authority to
bind il, and that the exhibition Of a 'hll
power for that purpose, such as You doubt
less are furnished with, is become an In.
dispensable preliminary to @nrsher,negocia.
zion or, to speak more strictly, was re-
CURED in the circumstance by the view Of
the matter now disclosed by you. Nego-
citation without this preliminary, would not
only be departure. from the principles of
enuality., which is The essential basis Of il,
but would moreover be- disregard of the
precautions and OF .ae self-respect -njoin-
: I'd on the attention ofthe United States, by
She circumstances which have hitherto TAX
en- place. :,
. need scarcely add, that in the full
power alluded to, as a preliminary to ne
roeiation, is not intended TO be. included
either the whole extent or any part of your
anstruesions for the exercise of st. These