Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-24

Woe range OF acton which was assigned 10 him, !
and the confidence reposed in him BY our 90
vernment ami country. More important trusts
have rarely been committed 20 any Individual
The result proved, that this confidence was not
misplaced A view of his various negotiations
has been at different times exhibited to congress
and to the public by the president. IN lis Official
communications, and the appreciation ofhis con.
duct expressed by the administration, has been
confirmed by the public opinion. We shall offer
few remarks on his conduct in each negocia
ton, and then proceed to occurrences of more
recent date
During sir. MS stay to England. previous to
his Journey to Spain, the conduct of the British
government had been concilatory, If not friendly
The objects OF his mission to that government
were to provide against impressment, to agree
upon definition of neutral rights. and demarca-
ton OF boundaries. The negotiation respecting
these objects had been commenced. When he
went TO spain, it was agreed between himself
and the British secretary of state that, while the
negotiation was suspended. the conduct of En-
gland should correspond with what il had been
from. the commenment of that war During this
period, our neutral rights had been respected
and there was but little complaint on am other
eibJect. MIR. NJ. remained at Paris but slor,
unexpectedly not more than two months. The
conduct OF the French government, though in
the main conciliatOry, was less satisfactory than
had been expected. With The Spanish govern.
ment no arrangement was made. Mr.. NJ. exert
ed HIMSELF in conjunction with Mr. c. Pinkney.
but without effect, to settle all our differences
with Spain. For the objects end the result of
his mission to that country, we refer to his late
letter to the Spanish minister at Washington
IL needless to repeat what is there so fully
\ stated.
The first subject to which the az ent on Of Mr..
Monre, on his return to London, was called, was
the violation of our neutral rights, by the sell
zure and condemnation of our vessels, under or.
ders OF council which had been recently issued.
butnot promulgated to the world, nor even mott.
ned to our government. The ministry had been
changed. MIR. Pitt had succeeded Mr.. Adding
ton, and the Policyof 1898 still formed part of
his system. The opposition made by Mr. Nj. TO
this i"easure has been seen in several letters adj
dressed by him to the British secretary of foreign
affairs. These have been published; and we par.
ticularly refer to the letters dated the DAY
Tor and day of 1905.
In the autumn of that year Mr.. NJ il was ex
pected, would leave England forthe United States
but the state of our affairs with that country for
babe his return. Mr.. Pitt died in the winter of
1866, and was succeeded in the ministry by Mr.
Fox. With him the negotiation was resumed
with better prospect of success but his indis-
position and death deprived both nations of the
benefit anticipated from his friendly policy and
councils. In the spring of 1906 special mission
II.
with Mr.. Pinkney, of Maryland, who arrived in
London early in the summer of that year. Lords
Holland and Auckland were appointed commissi-
oners to meet them. A treaty was finally conud-
ed, which, although il failed in some important
objects, and particularly in relation TO the sub
Ject OF impressment, and was, therefore, not au.
thorized by the instructions of our government.
(of which fact the British government was duly
and fully informed) was yet such a treaty as Mfr
Nj will
NIT to the consideration of the president. For
the seasonjust stated the president rejected the
treaty, and instructed our commissioners to make
another attempt, by negotiation, to put an end
to practice so humiliating as well as injurious.
Another attempt was made, but with the same
resuit.-'rhe attack on the Chesapeake, which
occurred soon afterwards, excited a fame which
spread throughout the union. Mr.. M. as resident
minister, was instructed to demand reparation
tor this insult and injury, and to insist that
provision against impressment should be a part
OF such reparation. This demand was made with
promptitude and decision, and the special missi.
on OF MIR. Rose to the U. States was the conse
quence. Here ended Mr.. Ms mission to I'm.
gland, after al absence OF nearly FIVE years from
this country.
The conduct of Mr. NJ in all these important
transactions, received the Observation-Disclosures
OF our government In the negotiation for Louisi
ana he contributed 10 render TO this colntrv a
service OF inestimabie value. By the treaty
winch terminated that negotiation, war, appar
emily inevitable, was prevented and the prosperi.
~ and happiness of our western brethren were
Permanently secured.
When it is recollected that, in the early mart
OF his political career, the free navigation of the
Mississippi had called forth in the Old congress
ms best exertons, and that he had, at other neri
DDS, pursued the same object with undated en-.
ergy and solitude, it will readily be conceived.
that its final accomplishment must have afforded
INN, and no doubt, continues to afford him.
satisfaction which does not often fall TO the lot of
the most successful negotiator.
In his diplomatic transactions with Great Br;-
tain and Spain, Mr.. NJ. performed his duty with
unwearied assiduity While acting bv himself
he pressed our claims with each power. To the
full extent of our rights in a manner which was
no less decided than conciliatory; and while ac-
ting with his colleagues, he pursued the same
course with Their intire and cordial cooperation
The rejection of the treaty concluded with the
British commissioners by himself and his collea
que Mr.. Pinkney, gave him, as we infer from his
subsequent correspondence With Mr. Jefferson
much concernJ but we have seen. with great
satisfaction, that it produced no change in his
public orprlyate conduct. 1t is but Justice TO
conclude this part Of the sketch, by remarking,
that MIR. NJ during the whole period of his var.
Gus missions abroad, is belived to have maintained
the dignity of his official, as well as te purity of
his private character.
| Mr.. Monroe remained the two succeeding years
on his farm in the county Of Albemarle. Virginia
engaged inthe arrangement of his private affairs.
which il may be presumed, had experienced no
lnconsiderabie arrangement In Apr! 1910, he