Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-11-11

pend upon the good or evil motives, which
dictated them. / would also remark, that
in examining. and judging of, the measures OF
the President, it is but common justice to
him, always to reCoilect, thar he has
been called to the administration of the go
vernment, under circumstances presenting
the most unexampied difficulties. Difficult
ties, arising from internal, as well as -exter-
nal causes, and both equally beyond his con-
troll /; and therefore, his measures ought to be
viewed with the most liberal Indulgence
even by those who confidently i,ncy, they
see in them, unfortunate alterations from
the true interests OF his country. Nor do
believe, amidst all his surrounding difficult
ties, that the President has received that as
sistance, from what is generally called, his
cabinet, which at other times, and under
other circumstances, might have been ex
pected from it. Its organization at this time,
believe to be peculiarly unfortunate. Nor
DO believe, that his genuine, original views
of the national interests, have been at all
improved, by the intrusions OF other self
created advisers.
Amidst SO many embarrassments, too Ii
beral allowances for uninteutional errors,
cannot be INDUCED. In this spirit of liberal
indulgence, and with no other object III view,
than the discovering of truth, ! shall pro
ing so, propose 20 invert the ordsr of time,
By bringing first TO your consideration, toA
pics OF more recent dates, and these will
probably throw back our reflections, to
theirs, more remote ia point of time, but not
less interesting in point OF characser.-Let
me then first call your attentisn to the mes
sage of the President, nominating MIR. Rus
sell, to be minister plenitotentiary TO Swe-
den, and the proceedings of the Senate
thereupUn.
The message is as follows.
NoNDAr, Nay 81.
The following written message was received
from the President OF the United, BY Mr.. Ora,
ham:
To the Senate Of the United States.
The Swedish government having repeatedly
manifested desire to Interchange public mi
mister with the United States, and having late
ly appointed one with that view, aud other
considerations concurring to render it advisable
at this period to make 4 corresp 7ndent aps
ponment, l nominate Jonathan Russell, OF
Rhode Island, to be minister plenipotentiary of
the United States to Sweden.
.7Iay %. 1913.
Circumstances, which it is rot necessary
to mention here, prevented me from taking
my seat Ia the Senate, till about the 4th OF
June /; the Senate had previously adopted the
following resolution, amongst other proceed
ings in relation to the message:
Reso!ved, That the President of the United
States be requested to cause TO be laid before
the Senate the correspondence which may have
passed between the United States and the King
OF Sweden respecting the interchange of public
ministers between the said governments.
The reply to which, was laid before the
Senate on the 7th. in the following words:
The Secretary of State, to whom was refer
red the resolution OF the Senate Of the third in.
slant, requesting the President to cause 70 be
laid before the Senate the correspondence
which may have passed between the United
States and the King of Sweden. respecting the
Interchange ofpublic ministers, has the honor
to report TO tie President, that no direct cor
respondence las taken place on the subject
In reference 10 the object OF tic resolution,
the Secretary OF State submits several extracts
otleuers from MIR Speyer, consul Of the Uni
ted States at Stockholm, and letter from Mr.
BeaSiey, cOmnissary of prisoners at London,
by which the wishes aud Infections of the Swe
DISH government in relation TO the interchange
of ministers, have been made knopA to this
Department.
Respectfully submitteds
J,3ATES MONROE.
I'N' '"'S''' " S'"f1, J"''I . ''1 40 A2'
Inthis stage of the business it became my
duty to enter into the consideration OF the
subject.
Ii will not escape observation, that this
report disclaims ali direct communicates
ons between the two governments respects
ing the interchange Of public minister's
The desire OF Swedenin that respect, is stas
ted to be contained in the extracts accom>
panying the report, OF correspondence from
our consul at Stockholm, and our Cummissa-
ny of prisoners at London. Upon examines
nation, it will be found, that the terms of
the Presidents message. arc somewhat Pc
cuhar in several respects. They profess 70
intend to make a correspondent appoints
ment,' on the part OF the United States with
the one already made Oh the part of Swc-
den; and they contain some intimaticn OF an
intention TO invest our minister with powers
for some objects, without specifying the
precise powers 70 be given, or the objects
to be effected by them. These circumstan
ces produced some difficulties in expound.
ing the real objects olthe nomination, which
were rather increased, thaa lcsscned, by
the report Of tho Secretary Of State The
correspondence disclosed w tha. report, as.
Certained a fact, which Jclorc as only
conjecture, that the public minister appoint
ed on the part Of eden, was not of equal
grade with the ono nominated on the part
of The u. States; and Of course, such no.
mination cOsld not carry into effect the pros
fesscd object of the message, to VIE: TO
makea correspondent appointment equality
~ grade being deemed an cssentialrequisitc,