The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-08-10
FRoM THE AURORA.
THE DIPLOMACY EXAMINED.
No I'LL


versaions with Mr.. Erskinc, we now propose
examining. His name rst'sppears in his dis
patch No 1. in which Mr.. Erskine states he had
collected from Mr.. Galiatin and Mr. Smith in
several private interviews, that their sentiments
conceded with MIR. Madison, detailed in the
preceding number Upon that number we yes
terday offered our remarks.
There is one point of some moment in the first
paragraph OF this second dispatch; after stating
that they concurred in the proper course of con
duct tobe pursued by the United States in their
present situation, although they had d. feyed as
TO me f'ob,iety Of laying on 'he em6@se, and
had thought measures OF more decided nature
should have been taken. The mode of expires
sion employed BY Mr.. Erskne does not desig-
nate which was III favor ofthe embargo, or which
Tor stronger measures, point OF which he could
not be ignorant, and which would shed much
light on the subject under discussion.
Mr.. Gallatin is the burthen of the whole of the
remaining part of,he long dispatch No. IL. All
that we discover so far exceptionablc in Mr..
Smiths conduct, is, that he. while secretary of
the navy, held these irregular conversations on
aiialrs out OF his department
In the dispatch No VII we again find Mr..
Erskine reporting to MIR Canning that both Mr.
Madison and Mr. Smith lad expressed their SEN
tinen,s ce,y freely; at this time Mr.. Smith had
become secretary of state but in subse uuent
pragraph we find Mr.. Erskne referring To pre-.
vious conversations with MIR Smith.
There is an expression i'll this paragraph which
has met with much severe ammadvcrsion (; it is
IN these words" He iMr SMITH declared to
ne also that he knows that war would have been
instantly declared against France, upon Eng
lands relaxing her orders. &c.
In order TO ascertain the value of the empha
tic word knoSps we must ask hosp he could kno1p
the power of declaring war IS vested by the
constitution Of the United Ststes in congress
there might have been men disposed to go to
war, as no doubt there were in both houses but
, there certainly was not any evidence given by
Che proceedings, or Ivy the treatment which the
most energetic measures received, which were
brought before congress, to engage in any shape
in war; this knowledge of Mr. Smith therefore
must have been knowledge ofthe dispositions of
some ofthe influential members of congress to
propose such measure and no doubt such a
disposition was consistent with the measures of
fered TO both the beiligerents, as contingent eff
feet ofthe refusal ofthe other, and the consent of
one.
Another expression has been censured-it is
as follows" Gle Mr. Smith) was unwilling to
see the United States thrown into an alliance
with nationl which he thought already too
powerful for the interest ofthe world He did
d not pretend to entertain any Partially towards
England, but considered that the interest of the
United States tke same at the present mo.
ment with that of G. B."
There are two sentiments in this extract which
are undoubtedly objectionable, taken in any O..
ther light than as the language of dplomstist :;
and even in the latitude which custom allows for
diplomatic augmentation, it will be very ques
fiCnable, whether it would not have been prefer
able to employ the force of this sentiment the We
~ opposite way With the growth or dirninu
e lion ofthe powers Of Europe, it would seem to
to our best policy TO have no concern, to be in
thought as we'll as in deed severely neutral But
II u disputng upon our own rights, and MAN.
tanning them against power which was the
oyoA and or fall
siOns, an American minister could not he consi.
dered as speaking beyond the bounds of fitness,
ifhe were to say that the power of France was
too powerful for the whole continent of Europe
and that although we were solcitous above all
things 10 avoid involvement either for or against
either power, that the aggressions of England
were calculated to lead US, without wishing il,
into situation which would have all the effects
Of an alliance with the powers which held forth
che promises and which had a real interest. az
least for the time, in he freedom of the seas
AS the expression of Mr. Smith stands, 1t is uD
drubtedly the amount of sentiment common to
al! public men, who are impressed upon by that
phantom OF pmbltion, the balance Of power #
there is now any foundation, or IT tbere ever was
Any such thing in reality as balance Of boxser in
Europe, undoubtedly the EXPRESSION is ~ that
sense strictly conformable to diplomatic notions
and language; and then Nj ninth mig be
supposed either to speak according to his own
understanding OF beliei of the balance ofpower
OF o address himself 20 Mr. Erskine in the idium
which he might have known 10 he best under
stood and orthodox with Mr Ersklne
4 The second sentiment Of common interest on
shat time, between Great Britain and lie United
States, is not better founded than the preceding
ard the mind is lost in search facts upon which
to form even plausible argument in support of
such an opinion a common interest in what p
How, in what respect is their interest the same
Have an interest in stirring up nations to
make war and plumber each other Have we
the same interest in destroying the freedom of the
Have the interest IN the colonial & carry
ing trade Have we the same interest in the block
ade Of the ports ct Europe by an order of :oun
Gil Have we the same interest in being pro. ibi
ted from going TO any other ports than those of
Great Britain Search the whole range OF hui
affairs, and except il be in peace alone there
is point, in which British interests are not
adverse 10 those Of America even our prospe
Tity is in their eyes the greatest of all the evils
that menace the British We appeal TO lord
Sheffield, TO lord Liverpool TO the author of Is ar
an disguise, which contains the bskiticaI creed of
thp HrltIsA Government. Hear what this oracle
declares
" Such is the position Of the United States
and such tie effect of the trade winds, that Eu.
fOpean vessels, homeward bound from the West
indies, can touch at their ports with very little
Inconvenience or delay and the same is the
case, though in less degree in regard to YES
sells coming from the Iemotest parts of South
America or East Indies. The passage from the
Gulph vt Mexico, eSpscialLy runs so close along
The North American shore, that ships bound
from the Havana, from Vera Cruz, and other
Spanish ports in that Culph, TO Europe, can
touch at certain ports in the United States, with