Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-09-13

the defence or that lnsoIent produGtion
by General Duane. What opinion could
an intelligent stranger entertain Of US,
when he saw that the executive magis-
trate not only submits in slayish silence
to the haughiness of an imperial agent,
but that he quietly suffers also the SCOTS
and lashes of his own servant The meek
spirit of Christianity certainly justifies
iorbearaace under persecution; but there
is no divine precept, / believe, by which
we are commanded to reward the perse.
cutor. Mr.. Madison is not, therefore
under any moral obligation to patronise
the American General, whatever might
have been his gentle submission to the
Frenchman's reproaches.
II is worthy of remark, Messrs. Ed.
tors, that while democratic rulers can
thus passively regard the scorn of their
pretended supporters. they are unable
TO bear the smallest reproof from their
avowed opponents. Nothing could con.
vey higher compliment to the integri.
ty of the opposition, than this single fact.
That censure must be founded in truth,
which stings the heart with terror: and
despicabie must be that satire, which can
be considered with indifference.
By what method, or by whose agency,
the letter of Gen. Turreau was brought
to light, tits not necessary for me to in4
quire. The private characters of the
writer and receiver of that letter have
nothing to do with the question: the go.
vernments of the two countries are alone
concerned. Setting that consideration
aside, then, it appears obviously, that a
schism, Of very alarming nature, has
for long time existed, and at present
prevails. amongst those who have un-
dertaScD to manage the affairs OF this
nation. We have some consolation in
the reflection that "a house divided o.
sainst itself cannot stand" am well
satisfied from comparing circumstances,
.
that Gen. Duane, III the free animadver-
sions which he has made upon the CON-
duct of the President, his superior Off.
Ger, the commander in chief, has the
counfenance Of some other ferson. I
will not pretend to assert who that other
persoo is,-whether it is General Arm.
strong, or General Wilkinson, or Gen.
Smith, or Mr.. Giles. or Mr.. Russell, or
Mr.. Gallatin, or the French minister.
know not which Of these, say, may be
at the bottom Ct this affair; ! shall not
undertake to declare that either of them
is; but repeat my conviction, that a very
serious schism prevails amongst the pre-.
sent administration and their ailies. Fer
the present shall content myself with
calling your attention to ONE PROOF Of
my assertion.
On the slst Of May last, the president
of the United States sent message to
the Sena te, nominating Mr.. Jonathan
Russell as Minister Plenipoten;iary to
Sweden. No person could imagine at
That time for what purpose such an en-
bassy was considered necessary, when
eur commerce was nearly annihilaled by
the var, and when ii was k1own to be in
the contemplation of the government to
abolish our remaining trade,-a fact
which was afterwards amply ascertained
by the formal recommsndation to Con.
gress to lay an Embargo: In addition to
these considerations, the senate, it seems
were not fully satisfied with the charac-
ter Of Mr.. Russell, and accordingly aP.
pointed a committee to confer with the
Secretary Of State on the subject. The
result of this conference was SO unsatis.
factory TO the Senate, that on the l4th
Of June they appointed another commit
tee, with instruction respectfully to con.
fer with the president upon the subject
of the nomination The chairman Of
that committee sent copy OF the resolu.
ton to the president, and inquired of him
when it would be convenient for him to
rer~s,a t,. rnr,,nittee The nres idant