Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-08-02

as colonies, but as the Independent United
States Of America.
Bat although the terms OF the treaty
| of peace thus obtained were advantageous
| to the United States perhaps beyond the
expectations Of the most sangulne, yet
many members ofcongress were extreme
ly Observation-Disclosures the French court
was displeased-because the treaty lad
been made without the advice, and con-
trary to the interested opinion and wishes
Of the French ministers-and because
| our negociators regarded the dignity and
great interests of their country more than
instructions by which both were lad pros
trate 1T the feet of the ministers OF France.
Among these parlisans OF France In the
congress of that day, no one perhaps, was
| more conspicuous than Mr.. Madison
And were his conduct at this time fully
displayed, his serviIity now would appear
to be a continuation Of his early attach
ment and devotion to France, a: the ex-
pense of the honor and liberty OF his
country.
Nv information on the subject is to
this effect: That there were three points
for which the independent patriots OF the
day strenuously contended. First, that
our independence should be considered as
given point, and that Great Britain
should, al the outset, treat with us as mde-
pendent states; it being considered that
TO enter on negotiation without this ad-
mission, would be to descend from The
high and honorable ground oil independent,
10 the former condition oil colonies; and
also to be the means Of protoagins the
car; for the direct object of our alliance
with France beng to maintain eitectually
the liberty, sovereignty and independence,
absolute and unlimited. OF the U. states;'
as soon us ,hal o .ect should be 90 aned-
in other w0ris, as soon as Great hfitaih
should acknowledge and treat with us as
independent. the United States would nave
no reason. on their Ozou account, 10 con
.inue the war. But France and SPAN
vii h fn"ly became a party In the war
might have. and in fact had, cti o,Jects
Of their ozcn 10 accomplish by a continu-
ance OF the war: anu therefore the French
cour: 50 earnestly endeavored to prevent
our insisting upon the admission OF our
independence as preliminary to our com
mencing "a negotiation with Great bri'
tain. Two other points were in like man,
ner insisted on by the same independent
putriote-oatr right to the fisheries and our
claims to boundaries. which were west
ward as far as the Mississippi; with the
free navigation of that river. And
me mber Of the old congress has stated TO
ne, that against these most important
rIaims. the French minister in Philadel-
,hia demonstrated by memorials to con-
yress; that Mr.. Madison supported these
memorials and that to prevent our ne
.sotia,o,s IN Paris insisting on these three
oirts. the disgraceful. instructions be-
core Quoted were ultimately given; by
which they were ANONYMOUSLY placed un-
der the direction, and their country at the
mercy of the French prime minister, the
count de Vergennes; and That when the
treaty Tof peace] admitting and securing
those great points was received, lie Mr..
Madison was the leader of the opposi-
ton in congress to its icing ratified /;
because those points were obtained with
out the concurrence and against the
views of Versennes. And that he Ma
dison1 even contended that ii should
be sent back TO France for the consent OF
Ver:.epnes before the ratification That
there was 4 Jealous opposition to the rati-
tira,ion Of the treaty. on the grounds d
boye mentioned, is unquestionable. A
vote Of ceasure against Mr.. Adams and
Mr.. .Jay vas not oblained; but-convers-
sing once on this subject. and mention
in. re, ,ort maLe b. the then Secretary
for soreiyn Affairs Chancellor Livingstone
a,;ains. ne ,,raty, or the conduct vi the
nr.ucia,o!'s. Mr.. Adams told me That he
EsG .,,a..;, received a letter of reproof
from Tie secretary. and that it was then
among his papers at Quincy. Why the
Fieach government was SD strenu0Hsly
opposed TO tie concessions OF the three
points above mentioned. Oh the part Of u.
n:,:, -, III I,.,,.a, flor hp shown