Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-10-19

multitudes Of others who not pos
,,es,iue the means of discovering the
truth, implicitly believe whatever
men in such exalted stations o'hclai-
ly and roundly assert or artfnlly dis
play. -,
Tn the ease Of the "arrangmeut"
before mentioned with Mr.. Erskine.
as have already had occasion to
remark, Mr.. Madisoa in . public
message to Congress, praetised an
article which man Of honor, per-
fsctly understanding the subject as
he did, would have disdained to use:
insinaating that MIR. Erskine being
q minister plenipotentiary. therefore
he had authority to negotiate ana
conclude special agreement. MT.
Madison knew this was incorrect.
Nav, in communicating that I" ar
range ment' TO Congress. he actual
" refers to Mr.. Erskine's "provi-
sional Instructions from his govern
ment as the authority on which he
had agreed to the arrangement
Here I desire il may be particularly
notified, that the essential part OF
MIR. Erskine's instructions, contain
ing the conditions on which alone he
was authosised to make the car
rangement," were previously com.
muniea,ed to our administration
and they say. that if it had been
kno,ou that those 1oere the only ones
on ,chich he zcas authorised to make
an arrangement. the arrangement
1could not hape been made Why!
because it was utterly Incompatible
with those conditions. Neverthe-
less. Mr.. Erskine became a party TO
the arrangement; I should say, jaag-
ing from my knowledge ofboth par
ties. wheedled into it by the cunning
men with whom he had to negotiate.
Their excuse, that Mr.. Erskins said
and believed he had sufficient autho.
Yity to conclude the arrangement viii
not avail them; because as have
before said, Mr.. Madison knew It
was his duty to demand the evidence
Ut that authority-the Instructions
in full-seeins Mr.. Erskine had no
other powers TO show. And this du-
" was the more indispensable after
Mr.. Madison had seen that the in
struetions. so far as exhibited, were
irreeoneilable with the arrangement
he desired.
With this Erskine- precedent before
our eyes, and without bringing into
view the many other instances OF
article practised for a series OF
years, by which the people of the U.
States have been deceived,-it will
be easy to understand the intrigue
hy which the Russian mediation has
been got up.
From the evidence I have exhi-
bited, I presume no one will question
the correctness ofths followins state
melt.
l.. That early in January last, DR.. Lo.
gan recommended to Mr.. DaschkoH the
Russian minister at Washington, to use
his influence with Mr.. Madison to re-
store peace between the United States
and Great Britain although MIR Dasch-
koff had no instructions to do it from his
government. Keeping this in mind.
2. presume no candid man will find
any difficulty in believing the fact next
stated tina, near the close of that same
month of January. Mr.. Daschkoff' did
offer to Mr.. M.dison himself, the inter-
ference of the emperor of Russia, as a
mediator IN effect a peace between the
United States and Great Britain; telling
him at the same tine Gas he bad told DIR.
Logan that he dad no instructions from
HI, government; but would make the
Offer ON his own risk. This very decls.
ration that he had no instructions, might
be one reason why, on this hrst upex-
peCted overture, Mr.. Madison waved, or
rejected the offer as was stated in the
Federal Republican in the beginning Of
February.
3. Seeing Mr.. DaschkoG, DESTROYS of
bringing about peace between the u
nited States and Great Britain, on the
2Sth of January, did unquestionably Of.
fer the emperor's mediation, although
he lad no instructiens from RS govern
TO authorize IL, theirs can be no difficulty
in believing bin di. posed, though still
aninssruc,e3 to renew that oHer two
months aftsrUard, on an intimaiion of
some member or agent of the admins.
tration that renewal ofthe offer would
be acceptable To this strong presumP-
ton add she positive testimony / have
exhibited that Mr.. Dashkoff himself as