The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-08-15


surmises of psrtislty in Mr.. Jefferson TO-.
wards France for an acquiescence II, the truth
of them.
might with truth have spoken Of Mr..
Madison, not as feeling any psrticuIr adrnifa-
tion'ior the British constitution and instiiu4
ton, but as having neither bias or enmity ic.
wards, France or England. But never could
or did contrast his sentiments in that respect,
our foreign relations at variance with those of
Mr.. Jefferson.
/ knew those surmiscs respecting Mr.. !.
Jefferson, 20 be altogether destitute OF founda4
ton. To have, in the most indirect manner,
suggested or countenanced belief in them
would have been direct falsehood. So fur al
having, even by my silence, acquieSced in in.
situations OF that nature when Mr.. Erskine,
once, and once only, dropt q hint TO that ef.
feet, inumaling a Supposed hostility to EngA
land, and that the Preident had not placed
her conduct in fair light before the publck,
Immediately repealed the charge. and, "
mongst other observations, reminded him
that the only time whc,i,he Br .ish govern.
ment had, by the proposed equalization Of du.
ties, made an approach Of liberal and Goa.
ciliatOry nature towards America, it was i'm
medialely met by the Presidcnt, who had ex.
prcssly Recommended TIC subject 10 congress
in his message; and that the plan had been
defeated BY the Glamour of that party in A.
mcrica, which was considered the best dispose
ed towards G'sat-Britain. That, on that oc.
casion, change took place In my ,pAnhcris
vcsy probable but Mr. Erskine has Inscribed
il to source very different from thar which
occasioned It. had very lately been xeAlousIy
employed In repelling the charge q CHARGE
which never could hear without indignation.
Eight years of the most intimate in,ercontssS
during which not an act, or hardly tloughts
respecting the foreign relations Of Amsrixa
was concealed, enable me confidently 10 say,
that Mr.. Jefferson never had in that, respect,
any other object in view but the pro,e CliOn Of
the rights of the United States against cvety
foreign aggression or injury, from xhatesst
nation 1t procccdcd,and has, in every INSTANCE,
observed towards all the .beiligerents .,hd
most strict justice and most scrupulous ims
partially. His character stands moi In need
Of this declaration it is due to myself
The groundIess accusations Of foreign bias
and influence, have been generated solely by
virulence Of party spiri, and they were az
dopted abroad as an apology or pret0nce fox
unpruvokcd aRgrcssiuns.t = a just sxnsc Of DC
/ injuries received, and the most temperate efs
forts to obtain redress, constitute what hae
been calleG partially. And il seems TO havu
been forgotten, that, from the time Mr.. Jcfa
ferson became President, till the month ,of
August, 1907, no actual aggression on the
neutral rights cf America, had been commits
(. ted by Prsrfce while during the same peks
cd, the nominal blockadcs of enemies ports
by England, and tho annual actual blocksdes, 4,
as they n,Gy be called, Of our own; the re.
ncwal, contrary to express and mutual cx+
plantations, of the deprcdations on the inas4
rect colonial trade, the continued impress.
ment Of our seamen, and the attack on the
Chesapeake, had actually taken place. Dut<
ing that period, the laws, the executive acts,
the negotiations of the American govern
,nent, could have been directed to that govs
ernment alone from whom injuries had been
received. But from the time when fhs
rights Of the United States. were invaded ty
both the belligercnts, every pubIick measure
has equally embraced both the like efforts,
founded OF the same basis, have upi6tmly,
though without success, been made TO obtain
redress from both And the corr srondcncs
now published furnishes at least ire iragab.c
proofs of the earnest desire Of Mr., JcAerson's
admin inistratioa to adjust the differences with
Great-I Britain, and OF their Disposition 10 re-
move, for that purpose, whatever might setys
as the shadow Of pretsnce for denial Of JUS
ALBERT GALLATiN
Washingior, sist Of .1frii, 1910. z ~