Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-01-17
! G o N G r E,SsS.
MOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, Dwsmber 81.
-.. AnERATE .... ..

VHURSDAYs DEcem0er IL. .r
lDEBATE ., ...'
UN THE JOINT RESOLUTION
Approving the coadnct Of the Executive
asrelssi,n to the refusal to receioe amy
farsherfc,mmunication from Francis jas
Jackson. ,......
[cosTrNuEo.
In committee of the whole Mr.. BAssEr
in the chair
Eff. Ross's speech c0ntinued.f
Il has not been made to appear what
were the particular conditions on which
Mr.. Erskine was to act with respect to'the
Chesapeake; all that.we know on the sub
ice. we know from Mr.. Jackson; and /
must confess that after the evasive and IN
.sidiou. manner in which he conducted in
his correspondence in this country, l am
disposed for one TO give but little credit to
him. Pope says somewhere "the proper
study OF mankind 10 man. know no use
of this study, unless the characters of men
are to have an influence on the opinion
which We form of their actions. Mr.. Cam
ning's character appears to me to have been
such one a might be expected to produce
such minister as Mr.. Jackson has proved
himself He who would undermine his
friend and colleague, as Mr.. Canning did
Lord Casslereagh, could not be expected
no do better by Mr.. Erskine, or to act fair
.ay and honofably with us; and therefore
: Mr. 1aekson, whose abilities, whose inso-
.3ence aud whose per6dy had already been
proved TO be equal to any political project.
however dishonorable, was commissioned
tssby My. Canning to succeed Mr.. Erskine.
This observation with respect to the cha
~.rscter ofaMr. Jackson, hope will be re-
,.roliected by the house during the remain
s>dsr,of my observations. .,.. :,
=. : r NOW come 10 what / conceive TO be the
n~scond point, and the great and important
So;nt necessary to be decided on this occa-
sion. Jf the gentleman from Connecticut
, SMr. Dapa) was really in sarns:swhtn ne
I declared 10 this house that, 1t the govern
!, 2mens of dis country had been charged
with falsehood and iusulted, twas such an
SnsIisnitpas ought to receive the reproba-
zion of every American--l might entertain
m hone chat he would yet be induced to vote
Nor this tesolution. For think it as clear
" derlonstrahle as any thing that could be
,.ueers,rd, not only thar Mr.. Jackson did
.i,ske use of those expressions attributed to
him, But that he did it with intent TO insult
the government.
.Whas are the enquiries which naturally
I arise under shis resolution! lst. Did MIR.
I Yacksou IN his letter of the Esd OF Ocso.
,vbsr make use Of expressions conveying
the idea thas che executive government OF
the United States had D knowledgs that the
arfancenlsn lately made by Mr.: Erskine,
: his Predecessor, OF, behalf Of his govern.
mens, with the government Of the United
Is States, was entered into without eompe.
: tent powers ON the part, Of Mr.. Erskine for
: thas purpose :" II that question be an.
swersd in the affirmative, the next question
win BE-. was such, an insiuuaticn " highly
INDIGENOUS and insolen, :" These arc the
Two enquiries contained in the FIRST part Of
The resolution. sdly. Did he repeat the
!. .ssme intimation in his letter dated the 4th
of ,Noveniber, 1909, after he was apprised
Eby the secretary of state shat the executive
government had no such knowledge, aud
that If it had possessed such knowledge,
such an arrangement would not have been
entered into on che pars Of the u States,
and after aisoN being officially appraised that
such intimation was iuadmissible !? And If
he did was NOT such intiinasion still more
irsolsnt and affronsing than the first intima-
ton shsreoff IF shall be able to shew
fhas the first qsestion mustbe answered in
! the affirmative, she same proof which,
! ahslt produce for that purpose, viii shew
also thar the other question must be an
sweresa IN she aiziimziivs. The first being
Che only dispated point, viii therefore alone
Yecuirs Investigation. Ills admitted thai
ir. Smith did BY bis letter ct the ls'h Of