Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1810-02-19
nm,
Communications.
FOR THE GAZETTE.

THOSE of our citizens, who take
the erty to think for themselves, and
who do not take upon trust every thing
asserted by the tools of administration,
are desired to consider, whether the
following things do not appear, from
the late arrangement with Mr.. ErSkine,
and rupture with Mr.. Jackson.
Does it not appear, that Mr.. Madi-
son and Co. SO long ago as Dec. loO8,
were sick Of the Embargo, and desir-
Gus of throwing off this dead weight
from the shoulders Of administration ?
Admit, that Mr.. Canning mistook Mr..
Erskine, and that Mr.. Madison never
proposed some of the conditions, which
The British pretended he would accept.
1t is in evidence, that proposition was
made 10 raise the embargo. Our gov.
eminent then found, what the federal
lists had before declared, that the en-
barge was more injurious to ourselves
than 10 other nations.
Does 1t not appear, that our cabinet
were ignorant, whether Mr.. Erskine
was instructed and authorised TO make
the agreement with such conditions as
were connected with it +? And was it
not their duty TO have known that he
had full and precise powers for his con-
duct /!
Lay out Of the question two of the
conditions, which ought not to have
been agreed TO, viz. the relinquish-
ment of the colonial trade, and permits
sion to the British navy TO enforce our
iaws-the other was not complied with
or engaged by orr government 10 be
fulfilled. 1t was this, that we have mol
trade with France, or her allies, or de-
Tendencies, so long as her DEGREES were
In force and that her armed ships
be forbidden our harbours. / his was
not done by cur government. There
was then no foundation for the COM
plant made by Mr.. Madison and his
party against England. No man, who
knew all the circumstances OF this at
fair, could in reason expect any thing
else but disavowal on the part of G..
Britain.
Does it not appear in the first letter
OF Mr.. Smith, that he meant to pro-
woke Mr.. Jackson to some unguarded
and hasty expressions with an inten-
ton to have it look as if Jackson were
wholly or chiefly IN the wrong) by in
timating that the English government
were chargeable with a breach Of faith |;
and by refusing all verbal discussions
IN future ? III Mr.. Jackson had not
manifested some resentment at this
treatment, he himself would have mer-
lted the deep resentment Of his govern
ment.
Does it not appear that MIR. Smith is
incorrect in saying, and that he wilful-
ly persists in the misstatement, that
Mr. Jackson required certain condi-
tons, viz. those before mentioned, of
giving up all colonial trade, and per-
hitting the English ships to capture
our vessels when evading the law by
gong to France, as prehminaries to
negotiation ? Mr.. Jackson requires no
such thing, and he repeatedly declares
The Willingness of the British govern
ment to wave these articles, or have
mem subjects OF negotiation. Mr..
omlth could not be SO ignorant-he
must have designedly nlsrepresented
we correspondence as to these points.
DOES 1t not also appear, that Mi.
jackson never asserted, nor insinuated
wat our government had a knowledge
" Mr.. Erskine's powers being incom-