Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-11-07

made by either party without the consen' oi
both. When England had become sufficiently
prrpared by her reverses to listen to amicaDie
propositions, the American government oroer-
ed their minister in Spain MI. Jay') and 'ne',
minister in Holland Mr.. Adams,) To proceed
10 Paris, and by uniting themselves 10 Tue
minister in France DIR. Franklin0 10 form
commission authorized TO manage the eapec,eo
ne goc ia,ion on the part of the new republic. Inc
latter of these gentlemen had been long accreci''
ed near the court Of Versailles, where, by happy
union Of grea, simplicity Of manners, wisdom,
and wit, he had become an object OF singular
admiration and affection. But the Americans
saw: that Franklin was much better philoso-
pher than politician. Be this as IL might, the
story adds, that France, now the drama was
abou, to close began to cast about her Tor tue
profits Of the presentation. The C0un, oe
Vergrnnes had early succeeded in persuad'ng
DR. Franklin, that as England could not, nor
would not, formally acknowledge the 'ndepen-
denee Of America, his better course would Of
to accept truce, for swen,y years, at the END
OF which period his country would be sum
cientIy strong TO TAKE what she needed for her :
self. The philosopher is said 10 have acqui-
esced in his opinion, and began to stir his Nigh
! " reason in maturing the terms OF this remark.
able truce In this state Of mind he was found
| by MIR. Jay, on his arrival from Madrid. me
| latter was not slow 10 perceive the ettcts o'
| such a course, nor TO defect the secret source
whence the insiduous counsel flowed. dis eyes
had not been dazzed by the splendor oil a lux
urious courr, nor his ears soothed by the Hate
nv OF polished nation For long time he had
been content to dwell in ohscuriIy in Spain, sa'
cri6cing every thing but his coun,ry's interests
| to his manliness and directness OF character
| 4 q 4 l.. into soeu
king Of the latter country, brcause he could not
be received openly as an accredited minister.
In short, he had too long patiently submitted TO
morti6c atoms and retirement, rather than com
| promise the character of his nation, to see the
substance at which he aimed so easily convert
ed to shadow Mr.. Jay denounced the poll
! cy Of the Count de Vergennes, and declared
tina, the unqualified independence OF his country
must be sine qua non in any treaty which bore
! his name. Mr. Adams soon Joined the nego-
| tiation, and took the side of Independence
Franklin, who was at heart true patriot, suit
| fpred the film to be drawn from his eyes, and
perfect union soon presided IN their councils
| But England had not been unapprised OF the
disposition of America 10 receive a truce. Her
commissioner, Mr. Oswald, appeared with in
structions to go no further. In this dilemma,
a step is ascrbed TO Mr.. Jay, that believe is as
remarkable for its boldnrss as forts good sense.
He is said to have written, with his own hand,
TO the English Secretary Of State, pointing on,
the bad consequences 10 England herself, if she
adhered To the present policy By keeping the
truce suspended over America, she forced
tina, country to lean on F'ance Tor supper, !;
whereas, by admitting her, at once, into the
rank Of nations, England would obtain val
liable customer, and might elsa usea4Fe pal RAi{:
cy, the English minister saw his error, and The
same Courier who conveyed the letter Of Mr..
jaw, returned instructions to Mr. Oswald to
acknowledge the inde2e ndence Of the United
States. Finding Themselves embarrassed BY
the evasions Ut Coun, &c Vergennes belle ing
they were betrayed, in the spiri: Of their ,ll
ance at least, and knowing that France could
not find the smallest difficulty in settling her
own affairs without their agency, lhe American
commissioners proceeded 10 sign treaty of
peace In the very teeth of tn IT. instructions,
without the knowledge Of the French minister.
When the latter found that his policy had no,
succeeded he wrote sharp note OF re nom
STRANGE, which Dr. Franklin laid before his bros
ther commissioners. Ii was tnuc h easier 20 per-
form great act, like The one in which they
had been engaged, than 10 word proper
reply TO this communication. There was but
one ground on which their apparent want Of
faith could b. justified, and TO give that to
the Count de Frrgennes might probably he
much more true than 2nllie After good deal
Of hesitation, they discovered that the letter
bore rh- simple supersr rip,ion Of Dr.. Franklin,
and the colleagues of the latter imposed ON him
the duty of answering note which they grave
ly insisted was not officially addressed to the
commissioners. How well The philosopher &C
qaitted himself Of this delicate fl ,ir, my infor.
nation does mol say; but though vote of cen.
sure on the commissioners was proposed in |
Congress, their conduct was thought under tn.
circumstances, SO very justi6abe that it was
never passed"
The reader, il one such there be, unacouain-
ted with The history OF The stormy period which
almost Immediately succeeded the adoption of
the federal constitution, (Which measure was
ably advocated by NJ Jay, in conjunction with
Mr.. Madison and M. Hamilton. in the papers
called ',he Fedrralis'," now an acknowledged |
standard Of interpretation will naturally en-.
gu re it NJ. Jay committed any great mral or
political Off nee thus speedily to oblI,era,e the