Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-08-06


81 nroeeed to an important fact, as
dosea Inv Mr.. Smith. Mr.. Madison TOOK
-reat credit to himself for being SO reaay
,pparently to negotiate with Greai-bil-
ain, but like all other cunning anu uls
,onest men, he is unfortunately de'ee.eu'
Uhas turned out in evidence, that Ers-
inc had no powers to make the arrahse-
.ae,t. Madison cannot say that he was
,porant of this fact, because the duty OF
he negotiating officers is to see and JuaSes
or themselves, and exchange their iaii
covers. So far from doing this, 1t IS IN
violence before the public, that Ersk'ne,s
riders were in substance made known u
ur cabinet, and that Of course they knew
hat he departed from every one OF them.
Bat Madison resolved never to break
With France, and as resolute never to set.
le with Great Britain, after this deluded
secretary. Mr.. Smith, had written his let
erto Erskine, of April II, 1909. agree
no to Erskine's arrangement, insisted up
N inserting the following insolent ana Oh.
;ensive paragraph in settlement OF Oil
Iprences contrary to the opinion OF his Sc
,retary--viZ.
4" But I have it in express charge
rom the President, to state, that wiiile lie
.orbears to insist on farther punishment
# the offending officer, he is not the less
sensible of the justice and utility vi stlch
m example. nor the less persuaded that
Il would best comport with what is due
rom his Britannia majesty to bis oxen no.
nor"
The English language cannot furnish
expressions which would be thought more
attentive between gentlemen, much more
between sovereigns. Before any notice
fit was taken by G. Britain, every no
norable man in this country foresaw that
even if the agreement had been in other
respects acceptable to Great-Britain, she
would be compelled to reject it solely on
account Of these afrontive terms-sO, in
deed. it turned out. His majesty has for
nally declared to our cabinet. that even
# Erskine had been empowered to form
such treaty, and had conformed pre-
cisely to his instructions, he could never
have ratified it, so long as such an insult
ing and offensive clause remained without
apology.
Mr.. Smiths reasons for opposing it, are
precisely the same as were urged here in
! political pamphlet published soon after
.he arrangement with Erskine, entitled
:. Madison's Policy Unveiled" This fact
mentioned merely to prove, that to men
IF all parties the same reflections natu-
ally occurred upon the insertion of so Of
aensive paragraph.
Mr.. Smiths objections were these
1st. SIT is not reconcilable to that dig
1ifed decorum which the comfy OF go
yernments in their intercourse with each
ether ought to observe"
That is to say, in plain English, it was
indccorous and undigniiied-and destruc-
tive Of that comfy. that politeness, that
common civiIity, which the usages of all
civilized nations has rendered absolutely
necessary.
I'd. Mr.. Smith says, that " as in case
of individuals, so in case Of nations
where repatriation may be rendered for an
aggravated insult, the party insulted can
not accept a PREPARATION, and in the same
letter insists that it is not as satisfactory
as in honor it ought to be. 1t would ap-
pear that the pusilanimity of the party in
suited had induced him to yield to what
he thought at the same time an INSULT.
cient at0nement."
This argument is so far as see, I'M
answerable, and shows that Mr.. Madison
degraded himself and the nation while en-
deavoring to affront Great Britain.
But shall add third reason, Which
Mr.. S. from regard to the prejudices of
his party did not dare to add, and that is,
that these terms implied, that his Britanic
majesty either did not know, or if he did
know, he was not sensible to what concern
ed his ozcn honor-that MIR. Madison had
a more correct sense oft, and could teach
him what belonged to his honor-and that
the effect of such words would be not mere
" to cause the rejection Of that arpanoe.