Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-07-30

under discussion, Mr.. Grundy, IN the
course Of some observations on that sub
iscr, took occasion to read a statement
which he held in bis hand, which he said
was in the hand writing of the Secretars
of State, in reference to the time wbes
and mannsr the mediation was OF
fered by the Russian minister, and ae'
cepted by this government. He said he
Gid this to correct erroneous statements
heretofore made, both IN and out OF the
House. He said he had before made
this statement to the House at time
which he dare not name, but he thought
proper to do it again in this public man
ner. The following is the substance OF
the statement made by Mr.. G.
On me goth OF February last, Mr..
Dashkeff wrote note to the Secretary
OF State requesting an interview, without
stating its object. On the first days OF
March the interview took place, at which
time he informed the Secretary ne was
authorised TO offer the mediation OF Rus
STA, il it would be acceptable to this go
vernment, A cabinet, council was call
cd in FIVE or six days after that time,
when the proposition was laid before
them, and it was determined 10 accept
the proposal, and he was given to under
stand that it would he accepted. o. the
9th Of March lie made al offer IN writ
Ing, and On the llth our government &C
cepted il in writing.
In reply to this statement, MIR Colds
borough said, it was not his intention
to engage in the debate on the subject
Immediately under the consideration OF
the committee. He rose only for the
purpose OF noticing what had been said
by the gentleman from Tenessee mir.
Grundy) on the subject of the Russian
mediation. 1t was Obvious, Mr.. 6. said,
l,iat history Of the time when and
manner in which the Russian minister
had rendered 10 our government the
good Offices Of his imperial master, as a
mediator between the United States and
Great Britain, had nothing to do with
the question now before the committee,
which was, what sum should be appro.
priated to detray the expences OF the
mission to which that mediation had
given rise. Yet the gentleman from
Tennessee had thought proper to pre-
duce to the committee a paper which,
as he said, was furnished by and in the
hand writing OF the secretary OF state
himself, and from it to make statement,
the direct and evident objecl OF which
was to dispreve the truth of statement
made a few days ago respecting the
Russian mediation BY his friend and col
league (Mr. Hapson) and thus 10 i'm
peach the veraCiiy of that gentleman,
who happened at this time to be absent
from the House. Mr.. g.. said, that he
had the most entire confidence In the
veracity and general integrity OF his col.
league, and as he was not here to vim.
dictate himself, he (Mr. G deemed it
his duty to repei the attack thus made
upon the correctness OF bis trlcnd.-
This, Mr.. G. said, II was very easy to
do, as a recollection of what had been
stated somr days ago on this subject by
his colleague, and all attention TO the
statement now given to the committee,
under the authority of the secretary OF
state, would at once shew that the latter
was not inconsistent with and did not
cou.royert the former The statement
from the secretary Of state, now com
municated through the gentleman from
Tennessee, is, said Mr.. q. III substance.
There follows the statement as given a.
6oye.
Now this statement, Mr.. G said,
might all be true, (and it certainly was
not his intention u conlrovcrt It's truth,
for he knew nothing about the facts ard
vet what had been SAID in relation to the
same subject by his colleague remained
wholly uncontradicled. That gentle
man bad not attempted TO girea history
of wha, had passed between the sscre.
,ary of state and the Russian minister
relative to the mediation OF the empe-.
ror. The material point in the state.
men, of bis colleague was, that scme
con siderable time the believed SIX weeks
were men,ioned) before the adjourn
men, of the last session OF congress,
the Russian minister had made tender
to the President of the United States
himself, not to the Secretary of state, OF
the mediation Of the Emperor OF Rus
STA; that the President did not appear
we'll pleased with this proffcred inter-
position, and replied, testify, that the
United States. were only lighting lor
their Just rights, which they were
determined to have, and that they
rs