Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-03-23
.,o,,t tbs time when he rejected the
.h;.h HE own fayourite ministers,

account for the rejection "i'hou' -"
Iayiup i, before the Senate for their al,
vice. For Notwithstanding the Ia P'acea I
confidence of some, anti the devo'io'i o.
others, to his system OF administrator
!, was possible the Senate might nave
advised its ratification. 60, :.
MIR. Jefferson well knowing inc III
tr;n.ic difficulties attending the qucs'io"
of imfressments, and the former unsuo
cessful attempts, as well as the long ana
frui,less efforts of its own minister's 10
settle it by treaty-it must nave ap
peared to him highly probable nay
morally certain, that Great Britain wouiu
never rcnounce it's claim of right nor
BY formal treaty stipulation absolute
ly relinqaish the practice OF impressins
her own seamen from neutral merchant
vessels on the high seas. Hence ARISES
the presumption, that Mr.. Jefferson
made that REIMBURSEMENT sine qua "0N'
an INDISPENSABLE condition, in any treaty
to be negociated with that country; De-
cause j, you'd insure the gratltcatioh o.
his wish {" to have no treaty with Eng
land"
The British commissioners frankly
told Monroe and Pinckney, that the
board Of admiralty, and the law ofhcers
of the crown, were united IN the OPINION
that the RICH, in question (of taking bri'
fish seamen from neutral merchant YES
seis) was we'll founded, and ought not
to be reIinauished; and that under SUN
circumstances no ministry would ven
ture to relinquish it, however pressing
the emergency might be. with THIS
knowledge of the fact, and with the OH
cial document in his hand, MIR Madison
might very safely renew the warm pro-
fessions of his predecessor and fellow
labourer, of his sincere desire to ADJUST
all differences, and to settle the terms
of friendly and commercial intercourse
with Great Britain-wlthout the hazard
of being surprised into treaty, While
he continued to insist on the rellnquish'
ment Of impressments OF British sea-
men from American merchant vessels:
a remuneration which he was morally
certain would never be made: rcnun-
citation which he now continues to insist
on as the condition of peace as 1t Is the
only remaining alledged cause or pre-
teace Tor persisting in the war: which
therefore ms st continue during the tour
coming years of MIR. Madison's presl-
dency--unless the people, in the cxer-
else Of their rightEul and constitutional
powers compel him to make peace.
With my personal knowledge OF the
characters and conduct Of the men who
for twelve years have directed aid con-
troled the affairs of our country, and
with the evidences existing of the real
origin Of the s,r--ct which the a'ledged
causes we e b sf4!gncet-i have had
TO hesitation Ii pTonoancing it an un-
Necessary, unjust, and now especially,
wanton and proalgate war. With such
views OF the nature and origin OF the
war, it will he impossible for me, as a
member OF the national Legislature, TO
give my vote Tor men or money to con-
tirue it. We have seen that the men
uho declared the war-iearful Of losing
tneir popularity, and OF hazavding the
reelection of AR. Maids on-last year re-
fused to lay The taxes indisPensably ne
cessafy to support it, or even to pay the
i,ie est Of the monies loaned for that
p&rpose. Another session has passed
ay.ay, and still no taxes has been laid
although taxes alone, and those heavy
beyond ali example, can furnish fund.-
equa! to the .dSthption Of the enormous
public deb: trey have incurred and are
incurrinr,
1t is ali acknowledged maxim, found
ed in reason and experience, that funds,
actually provided for the relmbui scment
of public loans, are essential to the es-
adjustment and supper, of public credit.
Those therefore who lend their money
to the government without such funds
and so without any security-actins
with their eyes open-wilI merit 20
consideration hereafter. Will il be said
that the .faUh Of the United States Is
tledged for the repayment of the loans F.!
SO was their fuHh ttcdSed to redeem
the Continental Money, which Congress
isaued, to the amount of two hundred
MILLIONS CT dollars, to carry on the war
Of our revosution--a just and necessary
war: yet that pledge was never re.
deemed.
TIMOTHY PICKERING.
March 8, 1918.