Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-11-25
OBSERVATIONS
on TEE address, no 1, ofme Hon Ipntianl p. Giles.
n, o. Hnt.rerhnnlIetrt

~ a CoTTespohde7ft1
Trere is great deal apparent frankness and sin
cerity in No. l. of Mr. CHESS address to the people OF
Virginia, and great deal of real arthce. lie vindi
Gates the purity of Mr. Madsons notices, but than
insnuates the feebleness of the Presidents conduct He
is willing 10 allow the executive of the United States
GOOD hart If he can only persuade the nation that the
chief magistrates hsddis weak. This to be sure, is TO
d with faint praise" and too much 10 practice,
under the auspce of considerable nae ;he very art
of which Mr.. Giles complains as prevailing under
" anonymous disg1ises," Our distinguished Senator
has very clearly demonstrated that he does not think as
Mr.. Madison thinks, which, according 10 celebrates
writer only proves that Mr. Madison does not think as
Mr.. Giles thinks Bot whether the President or the
honorable Senator, is rs still remains tor the people
TO determine.
Mr. Giles rests the defence of his votes upon the
animation of Mr. Russell minister Sweden, two
points FIRST because the grade of ieniofentfdry pro-
posed by the President, did not correspond with the
grade OF resident proposed By the king of Sweden,
And second because the President declined revealing
the Senate the considerations which induced him at
this time to nominate miEister to Sweden
On the first point Mr. Giles brings to his aid various
reflections calculated shew that it has been hitherto
held sacred maxim, not to increase our diplomatic "a
gents in Europe, especially among the minor powers
But here his argument into contradictions Tor he
admits, il the sequel that the Senate would cheeruly
have voted for minister resident, which gives up the
objection concerning the enson of diplomatic agents,
in much minister resident is diplomatic agent
Mr. Giles appears have had glimpse of this logical
defect in his address No l. and obviae it displays,
what am very much surprised at singular ignorance
of the qualities of different grades OF public minister's
Thus he asserts that minister resident is mere min
iser OF ceremony whereas the very reverse is the Fact
A minister resident is, indeed or less dignity than an
Ambassador, an envoy extraordinary, and perhaps
less than minister Plenpotentiary Not, however, IN
relation real BUSINESS but only in relation 10 sovereign
importance. minister resident is always charged
with the affairs of his government near the govern
ment with whom he resides; and a minister pienipo~
tentary is charged with As 10 mere ceremo-
NAL the higher the diplomatic dignity the ceremo-
n.y. SO that if it Mr.. CHESS intention 70 shew the
king of Sweden little courtesy he ought N contor-
itY with custom, have voted fer the plenipoentla
ry in preference the residents But there is one
thing touching this esitensn of political agencies abroad
which ne has not considered. 1t it this: 20 have
minated Minister resident in Sweden, would have been
have departed from the usual practice of the Amer
lean government in more important particular than
the addition OF penpotentiary to our list 1t
would nave heen 7e70 grade Of ministers,
which, being ola character 10 correspond with the mi
nor sovereign dignies of Europe, would have epeued
the door for 5axony, Wesphaa, Bavaria &c &C. and
have consequently led the way that very increase Of
ministers which Mr. Giles strenuCusly Condemns
Aud then to strengthen his deficient reasoning lie
draws attention TO the supposed little Importance OF
Sweden her small influence with the British, and to
the unstable policy of the President in attempting to
seek peace through her means: Sweden 1t is admitted
is small kingdom yet from her peculiar position on
the Baltic, fron the military reputation OF her crown
prince and the singular situation OF the European states
her friendship was at the time when Mr. Russell was
nominated and is even OF vast advantage to Great
Britain The best proof of this is the conduct of Great
paying large subsidy in money to Sweden, cetng tC
her the Island of Guadaoupc, and offering violence tc
Denmark in order to CRAFTY the crown prince. Would
Sweden, then, have no influence with tJreat Britain
think she would nave great deal And this influence
added to that of Russia might have weighed with
enemy effective purpose 1t is not because Swe
den is small resources, that she is insigniH, ant
The smallest things, in certain positions, exceeding
ly consequential. grain OF gravel, which we treaC
With contempt under our feet locaedin certain way
will compel us TO confess by excrciatiug pains, tha
in hs is or m
to circumstances, and the relation which thods witt
regard other things But, then, again, the INSTABILITY
ofA7r. 17adisCn's h0hcy Seek peace through Swe
den What wickedness! There is a straw for drown
ing catch at Inform me, Mr. Giles, what is th
object of this WARP Peace is it not Peace, 7vh
rights secured. Did the President offer TO surrende
those rightsf Did he relax in military preparation
At the very moment when MIR. Russell was nominated
the driven with vigur unprecedented q
any previous period of its existence Ship-buding O
the lakes and the sesboard, and recruiting, weT
they not pushed with arcor Where the adversar
-~rUquspect weakness in the government How wa
that veakness to be concealed by negative on Nj
Russell Our elections, which are the sole strength
this govrnment AZ all times open the acts OF IT,
government itself always notorious there could
nothing unknown to the adversary. Besides, the admin
istraon md uniformly asserted its devotion to peace II
aversion to war. IL had invariably proclaimed tla
the deCiaratIa OF act Of necessity, an
that the momentGreat Britain could be induced I
return 90 sense ot justice ''ae war .sould cease
These we're the avowBd sentiments OF the executive
There was, therefore, degradation in seeking peace
terHrS, through tive profered mediation
Russia any-mafk Of instability in cuItyatng, wi;
that view the friendship OF Sweden.
With these observations upon Mr. Giles's first pciT
Justification, proceed the second. On this attC
point there is, il mustbe confessed, strange criticism
IN speaking this subject Yattel q ., c., gives the ~
eEoinege % s5aaaads Of which grade Of public ministers y
United States have of ministers resident be says III
word resident formerly relgtedony the Continuance the mi
listers sny, and frequent m history for ambassadors in
binary be styled ony residents Bot since the estabsme
ofdhetent urets ministers, ihc OF resident hes been
Inicd ministers third order, te character Of Which
neral practice bias annexed lesser degree Of regard The
dent dOesuO represent tho princes person 10 hs dignity III
ot fn hsa9is II representation is iu reality, o. the
uatyr ,. Of the envoy aad be r., sceorngll, toEeib
with envoy, often termed minister OF te second order
che public ministers distinguished onf mto classes,
bassadors Who have The Representative character, termed