Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1810-08-13
Letters upon French Influence
NUMBER TX.
10 ne People Of the United Slate8.

y
! The secret message ofthe President Of
the OH of December 1905, which was an
neXed to the last number, Onens an ample
III Id for investigation and criticism. 1t is
MT probable tn at all history can produce an
instance of conduct at once so unprincipled
and uRdignified, in the ruler Of free peo-
pie, as that of Jefferson upon this occasion
viii appear to have been when fairly and
fully developed.
Acknowledging the dug incumbent up
sou sle Executive of the UnteG States to re-
qutre from the government of Spain indem
nitcation for cur injured citizens, the mes
sage announces that convention was &C.
cordlngly entered into between the Minis
ter OF the United States at Madrid, and the
Minister Of that government for foreign az
fairs, by which i was agreed that spoia
tons committed by Spanish Subjects, and
carried into ports of Spain, should be paid
for by that nation, and that those commit
ted by French subjects, and carried into
Spanish ports, should remain for further dis
Cussion. II would seem 10 appear that the
transfer OF Louisiana by France to the Uni
ted States occ2soned the rejection of this
convention on the part OF Spain. BIT it is
believed that this was not the case. In this.
as IN all other instances, Spain was bound
To know what the commands of France
were, and TO obey them. France would not
suffer Span TO make an arrangement with
Us, unless we would give cur discharge in
fAll for what France peremptorsy pronoun.
ced an untUunded claim on our part. that If
payment tor French spehations carried mo
spanish ports. Aud why Because az han
pens TO leak out, towards the conclusion liz
the message, " France was prompt and de-.
c,ded m her declarations. that our demands
on SPAN tor French sp0JIation, carried into
Spanish ports, were included in the settle
ment between the United States and
France" That France In ceding Louisiana
TO the United States locked forward n an
the difficulties which the omission of bour.
DIARIES mast naturally produce and that she
even then intended 10 take the atlvsntage If
her own wrong IN this respect which she
has since done, by preventing an adjustment
between us and Spain, expect upon terms
which should rePlenish the French treasury
there can no" be no doubt IN the mind of
any man OF commoA apprehension II was
one object, indeed, 10 have plausible pre-
text tor eVadlng payment for French sDolia-
tUns ~ SPAN, the existence of which BRO
we'd that, politically speaking, there was no
Span But It wa, another and greater oh
Ject ID keep tie boundaries Of LoI,isian, M
settled IS the instrument Of establishing n
strong French influence over the United
States, whether IN expectation Of obfainins,
more money from us or not is immaterisi
let facts abuEdantiy and conclusivcly sbew
that such an expectation must have been
entertained. Nj. I alleyrand was chen chief
counsellor 70 his Imperial Majesty and
had he not been, Napoleon would b,ye
known The true character and situation M
our country. lie knew our extreme love of
peace our anjmOsities against ENGLAND
the III conduct OF England towards us ; oar
ardent attachment, from revolutionary recol.
lecuons' TO The French nation our conse.
quent Ind'spos'tiOn 10 view tie wrongs ar
France ~ 50 strong light as those If En-
gland our deficiency ~ military & naval
power the unpOpularty winch would N ].
lend tie creation Of armies Z. nayies tl,e
ldoialry Of the people for the er.stjnp. III.
mnis'ration the probability that that ififI
AIRY would continue white lie pcoDle sho.ld
beleNe the s,mniStrati0n 10 be devotel ~
economy and peace & the ceriain,v tbat
should We be impelled 10 war WIN /, c,r
elgn power, every disposition wou,d exist
among us to go to war with England rather
than France He was also acquainted with
Jetierson'S philosophizing, theorizing and
timid disposition, with his total wan. of
nerve AMI with his ardent hatred nj En-.
gland, and profound devotion 10 France
He knew that the same President Jefferson
excessively ambitious OF literary fans. etacly
/ ed his reputation as a writer npon 4 rred;r.
ton that tic Sun q Brisin's cIorv was I.
\ bout 20 set forever, anG Of course that ~
was deeply interested % torn lis own nre
dCtion lntO prol hecs. Under al th,>. cir.
cums ances lie must have been E5ol ~
doubt that the American President was
,ipc 50 far A deP-nled Oh himself alone
for the great anat good work OF com9Ietir,r
The destruction OF Old England. He could
not therefore but expect with confidence q
rertect submission 10 has dictates IN regard
% our relations with SPAN
There NCre several statements IN the
message, which, ii Hot IN fact false, were ex.
uemeiy deceptive. AFTER the Pses;den,
lhad spoken OF SPAN as tie efficient power
pa reference 70 he contested boundaries of
Louisiana, ne ncautlousIy admitted, in the
sery same paper, that France was mana
Smg The businc 10 promote her own pur-
pose, as appears W the singular expression,
Rbaiever aeectIoa she might nlcaE 70 give 10