Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-03-20

on you AS the successor OF the min
istcr who had declined to execute
| them" The motives for the retract-
ling of this reparation we explained
yesterday, to consist in the insulting,
lhaughty, and offensive manner in
(which it was received. To tell an in
dependent government, even In ac-
Icepting iss humiliation for sup
Iposed offence, that cit would have
best comported with what 6 was due,
to its own HONOR" to have offered
more, is Language which ofi,se,f de-
mands an apology among civilized
States. When, therefore, MIR. Smith
talks Of the conciliatory temper
which has been evinced by the Un,-
ted States" he is certainly doing mel.
|ther more nor less than laughing in our
faces.
Upon the subject of Mr.. Jackson's
gong out to America without instruc.
lions, to tender any precise propositi-
ons for the general arrangement ofaif-
ferences, we have few words to offer.
This may at.irst sight appear strange;
but yet our surprise will abate when
we consider that our propositions are
in effect before the Americans. They
slre three In number, and were cited
in our paper ofyes;erday. But these,
it may ne said, the Americans again
and again declare, that they will not
entertain: true-@then the most ma.
tural mode Of proceeding is, that
they should now tender others which,
as Mr.. Jackson states, it was the OBJ.
ject Of his mission TO receive and dis.
cuss. 81 (says our envoy) have no.
thing farther to Offer; you know my
proposals and refuse them let me
hear yours" No." saws the Ame-
rican Secretary, even "werc the way
properly open for formal propositions
from this government, known der
termination on the part of his Britain
mic Majesty TO adher- to such extra
ordinary pretensions, would preclude
che hope of success in such advances,
whether regard be had to the conds-
lions themselves, or to tile disposition
they indicate. Was ever doctrine SO
monstrous as this advanced before?
Why, negotiation upon such a princi--
pie must always end &c its very COM
mencement, if one negociator makes
an offer which, the other deems extra
VACANT: the rejecting party has only
TO say, &c No, rhese arc your offers,
with which l cannot close you are OBJ
stlnate and ill-disposed, that know
IPriori you viii adhere to them; 1
therefore will make you no others
whatsoever"
BE it, therefore, always rccolIccted.
that the negotiation with America has
been suspended, not because we will
make her no offer, but because we
nave made her one, which she moi
deeming satisfactory, has refused TO
make any other. in return.
The only remaining subject of i'm.
Portance discussed in the American
Secretary's letter relates to the injury
said to be sustained by his country
men from the disavowal of Mr.. Erik.
ZINES arrangement. New, it is I'M
deniable that the, arrange ment itself
was beneficial to the Americans and
|the meaning of f3r. Smiths express
sion, that they faithfully, on their
part, carried such arrangement into
effect, IS precisely this, that they in
stantly availed themselves OF the adj
vantages resulting from it. True it is,
that the order, whereby it was disa.
vowed, ought not by us to have been
hastily carried into effect, so as 70 en-
itrap vessels which had come out ON
the faith Of the arrangement. But
that this was not the case will be tole-
irabiy evident to those who consider
that the treaty was concluded abou,
the middle of April--was known in
England, and disavowed by our minis
ters7 on the Oath of MAY; and vet
vessels were allowed to clear out uu-
lder it from American ports till the
izoth OF July; so that it must be steon-
4 iy suspected, that the list of erievan.
ces given in Mr.. Smiths letter, oil
lspringing from its abrupt Suspension
IS an imaginary on We cannot con.
lciude our observations to day with.
out remarking on the extremely bitter
acrimonious, and sarcastic style, in