The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-06

had any knowledge whatever Of the deficiency OF
Mr.. Erskine's instructions at the time of making
the arrangement. And what says Mr.. Jackson
in reply? He says again, tina. MIR. Erskins's in
struc,!ons were knowato N.r. Smith. Sir, nc.
knowledge very canhidly, that superficial
pcrusaiof the correspondence, the charge Of
talsehoo3, from the art and adroitness with which
1t IS wr:pt up, does not appear Ispable rs
when it is more closely examined. Yet, Sir, not
witbstanding all knowledge of the instructions
had been denied by Mr.. Smith, Mr.. Jackson re.
iterates the assertion that they were known Do
gentlemen say there is no insult in this (: That
there is noihng wrong in the assertion of
knowledge on the part ofthe Secretary of State
which he had before formally and solemnly dis
claimed
In MIR. Smiths letter to SIR. Jackson of the
first OF November, he intimates to MIR. Jackson.
that Language Implying such a knowledge on
the part or the American government, was alto
gethcr ina6,nissi6!e. What is Mr.. Jackson's re.
ply in his letter of the 9TH of November, which is
the last communication that a proper selErespect
on the part of the American government would
permit it to receive from him After again insin-
eatns; that our government had knowledge OF
Mr, Ers;,ne's instructions, he says, " That any
thing therein Gin his former letter. contained
may De irrelevant 10 the subject, It is of course
competent To you to endeavor to shew and as
far you succeed in 30 doing, SO far will nv ar
gument lose OFF validity but as 10 the propri-
ely OF my illusions, you must allow rae to n.
knowledge only the decision Of my own sove-
reign, whose commands obey, * to whom alone
1 can consider myself responsible" In speaking
OF the propriety of his allusons, he acEnovlcd
ges that he had made them, aad Goes not DENY
that they are of the character ascribed to them
This 'nsolent letter is concluded by expressions
TOO PLAIN Tor any misconcepton whatever He
says, " have carefully avoided drawing conclu-
Sons which did not necessarily fellow ifos, the
premises advanced by me, and last OF ali should
nv, CHM,
Die 10 substantiate fact" Ne here in fact re.
cosrses the insinuat,on uplted to him, and saws
ne would not have made 1t If he could not have
suhstantiated it. Collecting al his insinuations
on the one hand, and the retuiatOn ofthem on the
other, draw the conclusion that Mr. Jackson
not only insuited the government, but CHARGED
It with one of the foulest crimes--with direc.
| falsehood
1.-THE circumstances under which he was sen.
and his conduct after he arrived here, were such
as have described, asl, if,bc occasion does no.
require that the American government sl,o,ld
| take firm and dignified stand that we .boud
rePei insults and respect ourseiSes /? Shall the au.
thority to whom only is entrusted the most so
, Tenn act OF government which can be performed
the act OF deciding on the last appeal of nations
stand by and see the executive insulted, by an
emissary, such as Mr.. Jackson was hope MOI.
Sir. -
The gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Dsnal
seems to have endeavored to throw the whole
olame OF the transaction to our own government
because, he says, the arrangement ought not 10
nave been entered into. Mr.. Erskne not having ex-
hibited tor that purpose, what is termed in pnb,;c
law ajnH power, and the gentleman has referred
TO variety OF authorities 70 support his doctrine
would IN my turn, refer that gentleman TO the
declaration of Mr.. Jackson himself, 10 shew that
Mr.. Arskine had what was considered as eou;v,-
lent to fnH p,'ycr. Says Mr.. Jackson" Never
did imagine, or any where attempt to rest tl,c
n tlN-A.
want OF full powers9 HIS agreement (Mr.
ErsKine 81 would nevertheless have been ratified
had not the iastrac:;os, ,vich in this case tool ,k
Place Of afal! POSER, been violated" Here Is n
d'fect recognition tast Mr.. Erskine had what
vas tehtam0unt ola full power--and indeed the
government OF Great Britain never objected to
tie arrangement on the ground, that that een;lc.
man had not power to negotiate. II negsl. has
Deen denied, and the disSvowal has always been
rested on an ai.edged departure from INSTRUCT
ons' which in fact admits the power to treat.
AS 10 the observations of the gentleman from
Ne"-f"rk' (M'; EmotD though it is far from
my purpose and indeed very unnecessary. 60
sndeaYor to follow him through them think
IL proper to take notice of one remark made by
thst gentleman. He percsiyes in the correspond
ence between the secretary OF state and Mr.
Jackson, what am utterly unable to perceive. q
u'sPosi.ion on the Part OF our government on
which he POUNDS the charge ofhosti.ity against
Great britain, and Discrimination to treat with
her. can see no such disposi:ion-on the con.
trary' ihave witnessed on the part Of the rneri.
Can government only the greatest fGr,earance
ana believe IL has always been their earnest
WISH 10 conclude treaty with Great Britain on
lair and reciprocal terms
Sir, consider the present no time for the
causeiess examination of our own government,
and much less is it time to countenance anv
othei We should discard domestic difTaren
ces and party spirit, which, at = iuncture ike
Tins, may be disastrous to Our country Ii we
aHief among ourselves, in the name OF God, let
us Unite against foreign aggressions and foreign
insult. 1t IS admitted by gentIemen on the
Other side, that both Britain and France have
done us wrong Ifso, why not unite against the
one as well as against the other A conduct ike
thls must produce the happiest consequences
Ill any thing like union is discovered against |
insult aud injury, believe in God ihst il would
not DC long ere we were met on reciprocal terms
OF anity. Sir, for my country only disire the
RUE OF right That we must obtain. II tits
thought wish any disaster to befal he British
nation, L am misunderstood. ! am wiliint, that
britain should be great, happy, and prosperous.
should view her downfall as an inauspicious
consequences might result from il which
VIII not undertake to estimate--but hope that
me expectation never will be encouraged, frna
tins hall, that G.. II. or will receive any terms
from US other than such as are l..ir honorable &
reciprocal.
The terms which have been offered 20 rs are
not OF ihst kinj, 1 submit it to gentleJnen's own
decision. We have long experienced Injustice.
and u we are oniy capsule Of being firm to our
purpose, and adhe.iug to the principles of nett
rality, which have hitherto guided the councils
OF our country, aud especially the enlightened