Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-07-24

"hN siitu iu tuC CfCut "a 10 CttduSC
taking place in the conduct of the bel
ligerenis towards the United States,
to endeavor to assert their rights a.
eainst both powers but that ii either
.hould relax In their aggressions, they
said they would vote for taking part
with that one against the other which
should continue its aggressions.
Mr. GaIla,in remarked to me, that the
resolutions which were proposed by the
committee of Foreign Relations inlheir
report to the House of Representatives,
audt which had already passed in the
comm ttee of the whole House, and would
perhaps soon pass into law, seemed to
himto remove twovery important grounds
CT difetence with Great Britain, viz. the
ron importation act, as applicable to her
alone and the Presidents proclamation,
whereby the ships of Great Britain were
excluded from the ports of the u. States,
while those of France were permitted to
enter, bu! no~, by the non.in.ercourse
law both powers were placed on the same
footing; he did net pretend TO say that
this measure had been taken from any
motives Of concession to Great Britain;
but as in fact those consequences follow.
ed, he conceived they might be consider
ed as removing the two great obstacles
to generalization. This he wished NIGH.
be the case, as he minated to me that
such steps were about 10 be taken by
Cong ess upon another very important
subject Of the differehces between the TWO
countries, as might have farther effeGt
Tin leading to favorable adjustment of
them. He informed me, that o law was
about 10 be proposed TO Congress, and
which he believed would pass, to in erdiet
all American vessels ftom receiving on
board any foreign seamen. under heavy
penalties or lorieitures, and that already
/. the ships OF war of he United States had
been ordered not 10 receive any, and to
discharge such as were. at that time on
board. This subjeel is also alluded 10 by
Ma Giles, the Senator, in his speech, who
Is high in the confidence of the govern
mint, and !, is said, is to be Mr. Madison's
Secretary of State. MIR GaIatin also said,
tina, he knew tina, il was intended by the
, United States 10 abandon the attempt
10 carry on trade with the colonies of
SLOWED in time of peace, and to trust to
the being permitted by the French to car.
fy on such trade in peace so as to entitIe
,hem to a continuance of it in time of
wa.
In this manner he observed all the points
&c differences between Great Britain and
the Tilted States might be smoothed
away twas his expressionl and that the
United States would be willing 10 put the
intercourse with Great Britain upon per-
ieet footing OF reciprocity, and would eli.
'ihet consent to the arrangement that the
shibs OF both nations should pay the
f4tne duties reciprocally, or place each O.
,her simply upon the footing Of the most
favored nation.
/ have no doubt that these communi.
cations were made with a sincere desire
that they might produce the effeci ofccn.
citation, because it is well known that
MIR Calai;n has long thought that the res
tricsiye and jealous system Of the non-im-
.portalioB laws, extra duties. and other
modes of checking a free trade with G..
Britain have been erroneous and highly
iriurious 10 the Interests Of America he
siniormed me, distinctly. that he had al.
ways entertained that opinion; and that he
had uniformly endeayoIed 10 persuade he
PsesMsnt e place the conduct of Great
-GFtaiha and france towards The u. States
ida fair ligH before he public, He seem.
ed tc chsRk himself az the moment he was
speaking upon that subject, aud I could
not get him 10 express himself more dis
,inctiy. bot Icoutd clearly collect from his
manner, aud from some slight insinuaii.
ons tina, he thought thc President had
acted with Partially towards France. For
he turned the conversation Immediately
upon the c6asscler of Mr. Madison, and
said ,ha, he could not be accused of hay.
ing snch bias towards France, and re-
marked that Mr. Madison was known to
be an sdmirer of the BRUSH constitution,
TO be generally web disposed towards the
nation, and 10 be entirely free from an,
rnmity 10 its general prosperity. He sp-
pealed to me, whether had not observed
that heFfrsquentIy spoke with approbali.
on, is energy and spirit, and that he was
thoroughly veil versed IN its history, lite.
nature and arts,
These Observable he made at thst
time for the purpose of contrasting the
senIiments Of Mr. Madison with those OF
the President, as he knew bat musl have
observed that MIR Jefferson never spoke
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