Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-01-13
CO N G r E S s..
HOUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
d THURSDAY, December 81.

ts'.e THURSDAY, December 81.
DEBATE ~
ON THE JOINT RESOLUTION
Asbroving the c0nduct Of the Executive
in relation to the refusal to receive any
further communication from Francis 7as.
jackson. ii
7, committee of the whole MI. BAssET
IN the chair .
[M. Ghehon's speech concluded I
In Mr.. Smi,h'. letter to Mr.. Jackson Of
,be 1st of Nov. he intimates to Mr.. Jack.
son that language implying such know
ledge on the part of the American govern
ment was altogether inaamissib!e. What
!. Mr., Iackson's reply in his letter ct the
4,h of Nov. which is the last comnunica-
ton tina. proper self'respect ON the part Of
the American government would permit it
TO receive from him ? After again insinu.
a,inr that our government, had a knowledge
Of Mr.. Erskine's ms truc.ions, he says,
"Tha. any thing therein Gin his former let.
,er) contained may be irrelevant to the sub.
iect, it is Of course competent to you to en-
deayor 70 shew and as Tar rs you succeed
il SO doing, SO far will my argument lose
OF its validity; but rs TO the PROPHECY OF
nv illusions, YOU must allow me to &C.
knowledge only the decision OF my own
sovereign, whose commands ! obey, and
to whom alone l can consdcr mysclf re-
sponsible." In speaking of the propriety
of his illusions, he acknowledges that he
had made chem, and does NOT deny that
they are Of the character ascribed to them.
This insolent letter is concluded Ivy ex.
pressions too plain for my misconcept;on
whatever. He saws, have carefully
avoided drawing conclusions which did not
necessarily follow from the premises al.
vanced by me, and last of all should think
of uttering an irsinuation where WAS I'M
abls 10 substautiate a fact" He here in
fact recognises the insinuation imputed to
him, and says he would not have made il
if he could no: have substantiatcd it. Col.
lectng all his ihsinuations on the one hand
and the retu,ation Of them on the other, T.
draw the conclusion that Mir. Iarkson NOT
o..!y insaittt. the government, bu, charged
it with enc of the foulest crimes-with d.
rec. falsehoud. H.. :.
If the circumstances under which he
was scnt and his conduct after he had ar
rived here were :cch Is have described,
ask if the occasion does not require that
the American government should take 4
firm and dignidsd seaudi Fha. we should
repel insults and respect oErsr!ves? Sham.
the authority to whom only is satrus.ed the
most solemn act OF government which can
be performed, the &c: Of deciding on the
Las. appeal of nations, stand by and see the
executive insused, by an cm:ssary, such as
Mr.. Jackson Was? Ihope not, sir.
The gentleman from Connecticut (Mr.
Dana) seems to have eadeaY ored TO throw
the whole blame ofthe transaction On our
own government, because, he says, the ar
raneelnent ought not to have been entered
into, h;r, Ersk'ne not having exhibited for
that purpose, what is termed in public law,
full po10er, and the gentleman has refer
red to variety Of authorities to supper, his
doctrine. would IN 10y turn, refer thu
gentleman to the declaration of Mr.. lack
son himself to shew tina, MIR. E4skine hsi
what was considered as squivalen, to fill
po1ucr. Says Mr.. Jackson" Never did
1 insginr, or any Where attempt to rest the
rishs OF :!.savcwai upoa saas circumstance.
(ths want 1t n full power.) His agree.
ment Mr.. E5s9lne's) would nevertheless
have Lsen ratified mad not the inst,uc.,ou.,
which IN mis case ''0k the place Of q tuH
bs1ver, been violated" Here 10 = direct
recognition that Mir. Erskine had what WA
tantsmoaht 10 q full power-sud indeed the
government Of Lrva. Britain never object.
Cd 10 the arrangement on the ground ,h.,
that gentleman had not power 10 neaociNe.
1t never has been denied, and ,he disavow.
al HIS always been rested on an slled,ed
departure from instructions, which 10 isct
ADMITS the power 10 treat.