Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-01-19

81
Of her minister, thsn we can justly boast
that our policy. sur restrictive, pacific, EN-
srgetic policy, has brought 70 oar feet ths
nroud mistress of shesoeeap ,sny praise
will be in all the cities and France, CRATE.
full for my co. opvrstnts will add praises
and new laurels 70 10Y brow. But i Great.
Britain, indignant as the 'ccndnet Sof her
minister, shall refuse 70 rasiGx We shall
have created new cause ofcomplains [; I
shali be fixed more firmly than ever in the
affections Of my party, and'in the good will
Of France.
Though these eonsideratiops we're sufi.
Gent 10 any reasonable calculating poli,ici.
M. vet MI. Madison looked ssil deeper.
..The passions Of pcpulaes (he must have
said; TO himself) are not so easily controlled
The leaders must consult these passions,
no, attempt TO direct them. 1t 10 TO" Her.
culean task to hope TO render state OF
peace with c.. Britain populxr. The fe-
deralists and men Of property will support
me, TO be sure, but an honest peace with
England will DESTROY the 6rncst admins.
srasiou. To avoid then, this rock, upon
which even Washipgton's administration
had almost split, Twill take care (said MIR.
Madison so to conduct this negotiation,
that it shall be impossible, absolutely i'm
POSSIBLE, for Great Britain to accede to the
arrangement" .....,. -.
In examining Mr.. Erskines agreement
we accordingly find q language adopted by
our cabinet which breathes the spirit of de-
fance, rather than of friendship; which
resembles rather manifesto Of wnr than
friendly discussion leading to permanent
peace. ~
When parties suppose they are about to
settle their differences, it is common and II
is ma, al to adopt language OF concilia-
ton. In this case we find no courtesy, but
a spirit of reproof. Great-Britain had coz
tended, that it was our duty, to rePel the
aggressions of France, and she had mani
tested disposition uniformly to withdraw
her orders in council whenever we should
take any eEectual steps to vindicate our
own rights against France. in the vind'ca-
ton of which she herself had direct inter
est-For her orders in council were no.
thing mere than retaliating upon her. ene-
my that injustice which neutrals (she only
one Of which remaining was America per.
mitted France to infliss upon her through
their flags.
AS soon then as Great Britain fouad we
were disposed to resist the. DEGREES of
France, she was ready to withdraw her
orders in council, inasmuch as our laws, if
duly enforced, would supercede the neces.
sisy Of her blockade.
Upon this basis Mr.. Erskine's arrange
m: ut is professedly founded bu, although
thi. was the only ground upon which Great
Britain could with any honor as it RESP ect-
ed her enemy Withdraw her orders in coun-
Gil, vet our ministers inserted in this Pre-.
teaded effected pacific arrangement, clause
which took away from Great Britain the
only saluo to her pride-the only apology
for her honor. They declared that the act
prohibiting intercourse with France did
not proceed from any disposition to pro.
duce an equality between the two nations,
but arose from separate and distinct consi-
derations." In other words, lest you should
presume that we were actuated by sense
of Justice to YOU or by your remonstrances
on that subject, we declare we had no in
tention to do you justice, and, your ac'
acknowledgement and repeal we choose to
have considered rs pure coucessionsto US
and to our forcible and energetic measures.
A still more aaroniive clause was added
to the acceptance of satisfaction for the
Chesapeake.
The governments of the United States
did accept, as full and complete satisfac.
ton, the terms which G.. Britain offered.
If peace had been the object it should have
been received with good will. but in lieu Of
this, our minister told MIR. Erskine, alter
agreeing to the term, !" that it would have
been more for~tht honor Of his Britannia
majesty to have punished admiral Berke-
ley. ..',
:" Admit she fact thus Extensively aliedged,
if you choose: Admit it was disreputablc
in his Britannia majesty not to punish adj
- ID. -. c. 4