Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-16

with powers largely interchangeable dis
tances seldom permitting opportunities to The
minister 0f consulting his government for ia
structions, during the progress Of the nesoiia.
ton. Were there no other check or control
over this power, and were there an obligation,
even Of de!icacy, requiring the unqualified
sanction Ut every treaty sO negotiated, The
result would be- an authority possessed by ey- |
cry minister Uf the United States entrusted
with full power for neg Itiatins treaty Ia
change the laws Of this Union, upon objects Of
the Il st magnitude to the interests Of the na. |
ton.
la their negotiations with each other, the
European nations are generally near, aud
The communications between them are ea-
~ and regular, that negotiatUr can seldom
have Justiiiable occasion 20 agree to any I'M
portant stipulation, without having an Oppor
tunitJ OF asking and receiy ing the Instructions
OF his government practice always and Pc
culiar'y resortsd to by British plenipoten,ia
rlcs. With an intervening ocean, this is sell
iotn possible, and it is, therefore, just and pro-
per, that the right Of Judgment upon al! the
stipulations agreed To by minister, should
he reserved, in the most unqualified manner,
TO both governments, parties 10 the treaty !;
aud that every compact, SO negotiated, should
be understood to be signed by the minister
remote from his own country, only sub spe
ITS government shall have passed sentence Of
appreciation upon it.
THESE general observations are submitted,
IN order that you may make such use ofihem
AS you shall deem expedept 10 satisfy the
D,iiish Government, that, in this established
P'hciple of our constitution, there is nothing
4" which any foreign government can Justly
take exception : and tina, il only reserves 10
our government power Of super, sion ne
far
pean governments effectively reserve to them
selves, aud none mvre cautiously than Giea,
Britain.
am, with great respect, sir, your very
humble and obedi-nt servant,
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
X. Rush, Esq. Envoy, &c London.
No. VIII -;M .4ddington, to M. .7d1ms
WAsHiNGrON, 9th Nov. 1924.
SIX: You have already been appraised of
1he circumstance of his Majesty, my sove-
Fe'gn, having declined atfixing his ratification
To the Convention concluded in LOndun on
the 18th of March last, between the British
anu American Pieniputentiaries, for the more
euettual suppression of the slave trade, a.
amended aud qualified as that instrument had
oeen by the Senate of the United States.
In lieu Ut that conventions, however, His
Majesty proposes to the American govern
nent To substitute another, verbatim the sd me
as Tue amended instrument, one point alone
excepted that exception is, the erasure Of
The word q America" in the first article, a
word which stood in the original proiet Of
me article, as proposed by the President to
Tue BRUSH Government, but which the United
states thought III after the mutual acquies-
cence Ut both parties in it, to expunse.
In announcing 10 you The fact of my having
oeen furnished with full powers to conclude
ana sign with the American Government a
new treaty, such ns l have above described,
u VIII De unnecessary Tor me to enter al
,en1t:l INTO the motives which have actuated
1913 Majesty in coming TO this decision. as
you have already been made acquainted
WIN those motives through the MEDIUM of AN
othcIai letter, addressed, ON the eth August
.s'' ny Ills alalesty's Secretary of State, to
the American Envoy in London, in which all
'ue grounds Ut that determination are fully
cxpuuuded
lew observations, on my part, however, in
oriet aus'on To one or two points connec ted
with this subject, may here be not misplaced.
In the acquiescence of His Majesty in all the
alterations, with one only exception, effected
10y 'he Senate In treaty originally projected
ny ms government, at the spontaneous re-
commentator Ofthe House ofRepresentatiyes
tue resident WI, doubt not, see the clearest
manifestation ofthe earnest desire Of His Ma
important and saIutaFy object for which the
treaty was designed howe, or they NAV hay.
oe"hed Inc original form in which that treaty.
was presented TOR the ratification Of this pn
Verniueut, the best calculated TO attain thar
object. '''
TO the amendment which would exsmn,
the shores OF America from that vigilance
which Is 10 be employed on those of the
british West Indies, thereby destroying tina,
eIaa'ity winch Is the prevailing principle OF
me provisions of the treaty, and which cannot
be Withdrawn on the one side, or on ,he Other
consistently with the mutual respect and con.
hdence which sul,sst between the two con
tracing parties, His Ma jesty has found himself
unable to accede and doubt not, that upop
fair and unbiased reconsideration of that
20 n'the rican gov ernment will see and az
knowledge the justice of His Msjesty's views
ana VIII not hesitate to prove that acknwledy-
ment, by conserving TO re-admt the expuDged
word America" into the treaty.
Ii will not fail, sir, to occur to YOU. that
i!he Condition required of Great Britain. prior
10 the signature of the treaty by the American
TlenIpotentlary. namely, the Remuneration as
piracy, oy The British Parliament, of the slave
trade, when exercised by British subjects. has
uiready been fulfilled.
On the justice Ofacceptipg the value already
J'+id for stipulated aci, and withholding IN.
oerforniaace Of that act, leave it with con.
iideoce To your own sense Of honor and
equity 20 determine.
The sanction Of this government of the
original provisions of the treaty in (uH was
the equivalent to be received by his Majesty.
ior ms performance OF the condition reGr,ired
sfhien, namely, his sanction Of an Act ofParlia-
lpeot, declaring the slave trade piracy. Those
1Toyisions have been, 10 part rrjectd, in part
snod'hed, by this government and yet His
MAJESTY 70 still willing TO abide by his original