Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-01-02

strangely to imsgine that they contain some
inadmissible insinuation, and premonisaes
him against REPETITION. In aaswer TO this
Mr.. Jackson says that he had been-caretul
to avoid drawing conclusions that did not
necessarily follow f.omths premises ne had
advanced, aud not to utter an insinaat'on
where he was unable to substan,iate tact.
Mr.. Smith has asserted that our government
had no knowledge that what was made known
of the despatch of the esd January wasthe
only authority Mr.. Erskine had to make the
arrangement in question, and yet by init
mating anopinion that,his general authority
as minister plenipotentiary was sufficient,
seems to admit that he might not have had
any other special authority for the purpose:
Here it would not be strange if the busy
meddling mind of NAN should suggest an
enquiry how i. should come to pass that au-
thorities or instructions which were unexhi-
bited and unknown, should be substituted as
the basis of an important arrangement, in
the place of those that were exhibited, dis
cussed and rejected. Ifnone had been ex-
hibited and found to be ipadmissible, it
would not appear so strange if the general
authority had been relied on. Mr.. Jack.
son, however, no where asserts, that | can
find, that our government knew at the time
of the arrangement with Mr.. Erskine, that
he had no other instructions or authorities
to make it than such as were exhibited, but
simply that HE know such to have been the
fact, and fact to which he felt himself
bound scrupulously to adhere, in order to
vindicate the honor and dignity OF his 60
vrrnment whenever its good faith might be
called in question upon that point.
In all this can see nothing but severe
civility. And yet this is made the occasion
for suddenly breaking otfa correspondence
that might have led however dubious the
prospect in the beginning oft, to an AMIGA
bic adjustment Of all the points in dispute
between the two countries, and we are now
called upon 70 prepare ourselves for war to
avenge the imaginary aftons. Not TO get
redress for the wrongs we have suffered nor
to regain eur commercial rights, for I do
not perceive that any Of these subj cots are
embraced by the resolutions. 10 be sure,
sir, while feel that am an An American,
would not agree to submit to the condi-
tons contained in the despatch to MIR. Er.
sk,ne of the 23d of Jan. and which wire said
to have been proposed by our government,
but MIR. Jackson intima,es at least, that the
object of the British government might be
attained by the substitution OF some others
less exceptionable. at any rate, if we carr
not, at present, have the offer Of terms that
can be considered by US as admissible, On
which to form the basi, of a treaty with the
British government ; i we cannot, at pre-
sent, make any treaty at all with them, we
ough, not 10 be hasty in going to war.
1t is plain dictate Of s,on and to be
found among the precepts of revelation, that
any nation even under the creates, pressure,
before they go to war, should count the
cost. We should estimate the losses to
which war with the British may expose US,
as we'll as the amount OF the probable gain,
as also the means in our power of gaining
any thing at all. That sentiment contained
in the presidents message to Congress at
the opening of this session, perfectly accords
with my own, that in the midst ct the wrongs
and vexations: experienced from external
causes, there is much room for congratula-
ton on the prosperity and happiness flowing
from our situation at home and it may be
added that since by the indulgence Of our
own govtrnmens, our citizens have been
nermitted to return to that commerce, to
which they have been accustomed, and with
which they are so much delighted, their
en,s,p:izss have been rewarded by pretty
ample returns of gain from abroad. AS an
evidence OF this we need only look into our
grea. sea.ports, and view the hurry and zeal
with which our merchants are preparing and
sending their vessels to sea, fearing new re-
ssrictions and embarrassment from our own
government, more tran any orders or de-
crees originated in foreign countries. So
tina, amidst all our difficulties, our desires
do not more exceed our snjoymenss. then
these exceed those Of every other people in
the world. To the loss o! many, il not all